Who cares about vegetarians?(read description)?!

Some people are just immature and insensitive. Fortunately, nothing like that has happened to me (yet), but if I was in your situation, I probably would've just shaken my head and not said anything. But then, I've always been a peacemaker. Live and let live, you know?

Vegan.

Maybe she just meant that "needs/wants" of the majority, to have meat is more important than catering to "wants/needs" of the few. Think in reverse: if there were 5 vegetarians and one omnivore, would you as a vegetarian consent to serve a meat dish or would yo have taken the same attitude "who cares if you want meat?"

What I am curious abut though is why you took the confrontational attitude immediately and was greatly offended just because she made mention of your lifestyle albeit in a negative manner? Very shallow friendship if saying something is like a minefield: one wrong comment and you get your head/skull bashed in. You guys don't joke around or tease each other?

Hah! Try living my life. I've been a vegetarian for three years. I was born and raised in WEST TEXAS. My stepmother was married for 35 years to a cattle rancher, so you can imagine my family doesn't approve. It's not like I'm gay or something.

And you should have been there when I visited them for Thanksgiving! My theory is that they're jealous. Seriously. Jealous that I have the determination to live a healthier life and to actually know what I'm putting into my body. I'm by far the healthiest person in my family, no joke. Just ignore it when ignorant people start talking sh-t about what you eat.

Certain people get extremely defensive about food. As a society we put a lot of importance in celebrating events, and that often includes the consumption of large quantities of tasty food.

A lot of people also never think about what they say, they are immature or ignorant. Ignorant doesn't have to be a bad thing either - they just never put the thought in their head, you can help them with that.

It is understandable to be upset by this, but understand that you are vegetarian because you either have religious beliefs which match this, love animals, love the environment, don't like meat... whatever your reason - the best way to get others to understand is to just explain it.

If they poke fun of your more then just hope they will someday get it.

Vegan
Not much support with it either...

She's kidding