I’ve always been a vegetarian, for cultural reasons. Growing up in a vegetarian household is a very different experience than those who decided to become a vegetarian later in life experience. With a sudden surge of celebrities and public figures becoming vegetarian and vegan, more people seem to be aware of the lifestyle of a vegetarian. However, there are some questions that I’ve gotten a lot!

1. Have you ever eaten meat? How do you know what you’re missing out on?

Yes, I’ve eaten meat, by accident. And no, I didn’t like it. I’m not saying that it doesn’t taste good for anyone. But, imagine going your whole life and then someone asking you to eat a piece of rubber, expecting you to say that you’ve been missing this your whole life! Really, for someone who has ingested minimal amounts of meat, by accident, it really does seem like eating rubber!

2. Plants are living things too! And, then why aren’t you a vegan?

I feel like most time people find out that I’m a vegetarian and automatically associate it with religious restrictions and the fact that I don’t want to harm animals. This is true to an extent, but really it is a cultural aspect for my family. So, yes I know that plants are living organisms too, but instead of trying to find flaws in the way I eat, just chow down on your rack or ribs, while I do the same on my black bean burger.

3. That’s unhealthy, you’re meant to eat meat.

Humans are equipped to eat meat, but that doesn’t mean if I don’t that I’m not healthy. My favorite response to this is what my dad always says, “an elephant is one of the largest animals on earth, yet all it eats grasses, small plants, fruit, and bark… no meat!” Also, let it be a known fact that beans are not the only means of protein for vegetarians!

4. What if you wanted to eat meat? Would your parents let you?

I grew up in a meatless household, so naturally, it is expected that I don’t bring meat into the home. But, in reality, if I really wanted to eat meat outside the house, who are my parents to stop me? I’m not bound by familial restrictions, rather I see no incentive in eating food that’s supposedly good but my body doesn’t even know how to digest!

5. What if you were stuck on an island with no food, would you eat meat?

I don’t really know. I’d hope to find a coconut or something, and I’m pretty sure that I know many omnivores who’d probably have the same answer as me. As a vegetarian, my first priority is checking the menu to make sure there is a vegetarian option at the restaurant I’m going to tonight, over thinking about getting stuck on an island.