To wonder why so many people try to 'convert' vegetarians into eating meat?

[justnotaballetmum]

I have not eaten meat for a number of years but for a period of time did eat fish.

I am now vegetarian. I am not vegan, but I try to avoid dairy.

As such, I choose not to give my children meat and fish although they do eat dairy.

I get a number of comments/stories like 'Ooh, I had this friend who was veggie - Until I gave her BACON! And now, she can't stop eating it!' I also get people commenting on I must miss roast lamb (I miss chicken more, actually!) and passing judgement on my children.

Since moving more towards veganism the critical comments have multiplied.

What are people's problems with my diet?

Why are there so many people in your life who are not very nice to you?

I think the issue is more that people can't imagine why anyone would want to make different choices from them (I see it on here all the time).

They like bacon, lamb, whatever so it is unthinkable that you shouldn't.

I'm a vegetarian too - although I'm not raising my dd as one. I get it too, all the time. It's like im constantly being made fun at for being one!

It always seems a bit defensive to me.

No idea- I don't try to convert people to vegetarianism, but I have experienced the same as you.

Also people seem fascinated by what my favourite meat meal would be- what would make me give up being veggie. I keep being told I must be desperate for a bacon sandwich! No, I'm not- I supervise DS make them regularly!

Because some people are dicks. My dad's been a vegetarian for over 30 years and nobody says this to him so either you're friends are dicks or it stops eventually.
My friend has been vegan for just over a year and she's not too preachy but her mil is always literally waving meat under her nose and scoffing at her. I've warned my friend that when she has kids she should never leave them alone with her mil or they will be fed meat!

I think that's true, Cru - it is a lack of imagination but then, I liked meat, but I also love so many other foods that I can't imagine being bereft without one of them!

I don't eat meat and no one has tried to change my mind recently, although it did happen as you describe when I first gave up meat many years ago. These days, people find it par for the course and not very interesting.

It's because your choices make them question their own and feel bad about them.

It's like with drinking. If I don't drink its "go on, one won't hurt, what's wrong with you" I just don't want a drink ok!

They feel you are judging them with your different decisions and choices.

That's what I've found anyway.

I've had a few people try to feed the kids meat it's so rude.

Oh, that's so true about alcohol. I'm not a big drinker at all and again, people behave as if they are personally affronted if you politely say no, you're happier with lemonade!

I clicked on the thread to say exactly what SellMySoul said.

I couldn't care less what you eat.

I'm afraid that many vegans/vegetarians believe that their lifestyles are superior to everyone else's (speaking from experience here). That's irritating. Despite it being contrary to my own beliefs, I have the utmost respect for people who live a vegan lifestyle - as long as they don't tell me what I should eat

unless I've organised to cook for a crowd, and a friend announces on the day that they've brought two vegans

People are dicks. It's simple.

Learn the following:

Don't explain
Don't excuse yourself
Laugh if you can muster it at all the jokes that you would have heard a 100 times before
To shut idiots down and change the subject
To not give a shit
And unfortunately, check your food. I've had people try to hide meat in my food in the past to prove I like it. they are no longer friends.

I don't know people do it. It's not only meat eaters to veggies.

I've got a fair friends that are vegan/veggie, and I've never commented on there choice, offered them meat and always cook something they can eat when they come round but they comment on me eating meat and drinking milk and telling me how cruel it is I am a 39 year old women and my choice is eating meat because I like it.

That should say. I don't know why people do it

I have never tried to convince a vegetarian to eat meat.
I have had the "Eeewww disgusting! How can you eat THAT?" type comments from vegetarians and vegans.
It works both ways.

I certainly don't preach, mainly because it's counter productive - that said, if someone asks me why I don't eat meat and they do, a lot I'll tell them :)

Why do vegans try and convert meat eaters?

I've no idea but as a former veggie of many years, if asked I would say that I feel a lot healthier as an omnivore so based in my own personal experience I do believe the human body functions best with meat. I wouldn't try to convert you though. Each to their own. My decision not to eat meat for many years was respected.

It's the same for me, people keep trying to get me to convert vegetarianism/veganism then whinge when I refuse.

My body, my diet, my choice.

I'm a vegetarian and have been for 20 years. I have never, and will never pass comment on what friends are eating except to say that something looks nice or such like. I couldn't give two shits what someone else eats.

Like the OP I have had comments like 'don't you miss bacon?' but no one has every tried to convince me to eat meat.

Yes I get this too! I never ever try to convert people to vegetarianism or get preachy but for some reason some people like to go on ot me about how much they love their steak "oh yummy, why don't you have some it will be good for you" etc and about bacon too.

Protein, Colin

Aren't you low on PROTEIN?