Why do people always think I'm a vegetarian?

[rubydoobydoo]

This is something I have had all my life! I shall start by saying I decided I was a vegetarian when I was 10 years old, and this lasted for about a year - however during this phase I also decided that McDonald's cheeseburgers and my mum's stew and dumplings were exempt! I eventually realised I wasn't actually vegetarian so just carried on eating all things as normal (to my mum's relief 😅)

The people who assume I am a vegetarian now are people who didn't even know me then - however it has been happening for the last 20 years - mainly at work but not exclusively! I eat meat at work regularly, never really discuss food or dietary requirements with anyone, and I think I eat pretty normally - but it still happens! To the extent that I've started to wonder, is there something particularly vegetarian-looking about me? Or acting?

I ordered the nut roast at a work Christmas meal a few years ago, but that's just because I fancied it! And when I got there it had ran out and I just told them it's ok I'm not actually a vegetarian- I'll just have the turkey.

What would make you assume someone is a vegetarian it they've never told you that they are? I have even been asked if I'm a vegan twice in the last year!

Ooh bloody love Glamorganshire sausages - I'd forgotten about them! Tea for tomorrow sorted. Thank you!

People often think I'm a vegetarian and are confused when they see me eating meat. Nothing to do with my appearance, just the fact that I often eat veggie food. It's not just vegetarians who order the veggie option. Often the veggie options are nicer IMO than the meat ones.

I like vegetables, OK?

It would seem that many meat-eaters cannot believe that a meal can be a proper meal without meat. Unless you're a vegetarian. There must be something in the makeup of a vegetarian that means they don't need meat, unlike proper people, who must eat meat. 🤔🤪

I have people assume I am vegetarian or vegan many times.
I had one exhange with a woman at work who saw me eating a wagon wheel, she gasped at me and said "oh no a wagon wheel! Don't they have gelatin in them!!"
I said I wasn't sure but kept eating it and she told me to stop because vegetarians cant eat gelatin.
I smiled and said thanks but its okay, as I am not a vegetarian.
She then told me that of course I was a vegetarian because she had seen me eat carrot sticks last week.

People always think I'm vegetarian too! People who've known me for a while are surprised when I order meat in a restaurant.

I do have red hair and a nose piercing but I'm not really slim (unfortunatley) 😁

I've been told by quite a few (unconnected) people that I 'don't look like a vegetarian', despite having been one for almost half a century.

After giving it considerable thought, I can only conclude that people are odd.

I was once asked if I was veg because I ordered a vegetarian main, I pointed out I'd just had the meat starter.

I am pale and if I don't eat meat for a while I look like a ghost.

Vegetarians are often pale

You could be right. People are often surprised that I’m veggie (17 years so not a new thing) which could be because I’m quite a “substantial” person.

I had this but I think it was because I ordered oat milk with my coffee.

I’m lactose intolerant, not vegetarian!

Probably cos of style of dress/attitude?
people think dd is veggie (she was for a bit but is a big carnivore again) cos she looks ‘alternative’.
I have expected people to be veggie when I met them by their politics/attitude/appearance but then they’re not & vice versa.

Wow! That person helpfully identified themselves as a prat straight off.

Maybe they think you look like a raging hypocrite?

It's just conversation. I eat a lot of vege food too and don't mind at all being asked. It's not like it's an insult to be called a vegan!

That's a nasty thing to write. Care to share your reason?

Nothing says 'veggie' like a folded Guardian and a Grayson Perry hairstyle (either sex!). God how I hate stereotypes.

They're vegan.

Just playing with the stereotype by telling us they're a vegan without telling us they're a vegan.

I got this all the time when I was younger - I was very thin, pale and had long black hair, a bit Goth/Morticia. So no hippy vibes whatsoever.

It became something of a running joke with all my mates. I don’t see the old gang so much these days, many have moved away, but whenever we see each other, they always ask “you still veggie?”

I get people thinking I’m veggie all the time too.
Ironically I’m a farmers daughter and mostly ate pigeon, rabbit and pheasant growing up.
I think some might be consider me “one of those people” who like to be different and a bit superior. And I’m a bit scruffy.

Pierced nose, tendencies towards goth, purple hair....yep deffo vegan or veggie!

If people are a bit 'dfifferent', does that automatically mean they 'think they are superior'? Me and DP are terribly 'different', but we don't have any notion of being superior, I hope.

Im a vegan and I've had some really surprised reactions to people when they find out. I think because I don't seem like the stereotype?
I've been vegan over 20 years.

I work out a fair bit so I'm quite athletic looking(muscular limbs) but I also have a bit of a belly and I'm not skinny by any stretch. I've got dyed blonde hair and wear a lot of quite dramatic make up and I dress alternative but more in the glamorous way than the goth or hippy way. Everyone who learns I'm vegan nearly falls of their chair.

@CharlottenBerg No of course not. Some people are different and don’t have a superior attitude. But that’s not the veggie stereotype I think people are relating to me.
I also know vegetarians that are nothing like any stereotypes as I’m sure you do.

My MIL was the opposite, insisting another family member was overweight because of "all that pasta" she ate because she was vegetarian! (Ignoring the fact that MIL herself was also overweight despite not eating pasta or being vegetarian....and plenty of meat eaters also eat pasta ...)
The family member is not vegetarian any more but is still overweight so that's blown MIL theory out the window....😂

But they're not vegan and don't claim to be, so have nothing to be hypocritical about.

They're a normal omnivore, eating a normal omnivore diet, a signifier of nothing at all unless you're one of the thickos who think a meal needs to have meat in it.

Yeah, I get the same. Farmer's daughter, grew eating meat twice a day and constantly asked if I'm a veggie. No idea why.

I have the opposite. Move bern veggies since the 1980s, and people who didn't know me as a child/teen are always astonished that I don't eat meat., even if they've known me for years. I think it's because I'm a bit chubby and hate goats's cheese!