As a vegetarian/vegan, what question are you most commonly asked and what is your usual response?!
As a vegetarian/vegan, what question are you most commonly asked and what is your usual response?
Mine are:
Them: Where do you get your protein?
Me: Many things, including beans, nuts, soy and fortified foods have protein in them. I get more than enough.
Them: I thought vegans were all sickly thin, how come you're not?
Me: Being a vegan does not have to mean less calories. Calories in + exercise = calories burned. It's as simple as that.
Them:What do you eat then?
Me: Everything you do, but without the animal products. In fact, my diet is probably more varied than yours since I tried to incorporate a lot of exotic foods.
Them: Why don't you eat meat?
Me: I don't like it for any reason.
Them: Oh, so it's not for ethical reasons?
Me: Not exactly
Them: Well, that's ok then (as if it weren't ok if it were for ethical reasons).
Answers:
The most common question I'm asked is about protein & I explain that most ppl actually eat *way* more than they need & tell them about soy, beans & nuts as well as let them know that all fruits & veggies have *some* protein in them.
Occasionally someone will say something like: "But you still eat chicken & fish, right?" My response is simply that I don't eat *any* animals.
Probably the strangest question that crops up is: "So, you can't eat nuts?" I'm guessing that ppl are thinking of the term, 'nut meat.' Depending on how interested the person actually is, I either simply say that I do eat nuts, or I'll go into the genesis of the word 'meat' & maybe add that I'm not a nominalist so just calling something 'meat' doesn't make it so (some of my friends enjoy this kind of discussion, which may be why that question gets asked as much as it does).