It’s been about a year since I made the choice to cut meat out of my diet, and I’ve heard some pretty absurd things since I made that decision. For me, becoming a vegetarian was something that was a long time coming—I never ate red meat and I was always very picky about what kind of meat I consumed.

Nope. I feel great, because I know I’m doing something amazing for my body, the environment, and all of the cute little critters out there that won’t have to be sacrificed to end up on my plate. In terms of my nutrition, I take a multivitamin every day and get the right amount of nutrients from all of the fruits and vegetables I consume on a daily basis.

2. "So are you, like, iron deficient?"

No. Again, going along with the nutrition thing, it’s perfectly possible to have a balanced diet without meat in it.

3. "How do you even get your protein?"

I’ll admit I do struggle with this, but only because I love carbs so much, so I’d rather have a plate of garlic bread and spaghetti than some lentils and veggies. However, that’s not to say that plant-based protein isn’t easily accessible, because it is. Vegetarian diets are abundant with high protein foods, like quinoa, Quorn, and Chia.

Source: Greatist.com.

4. "Are you obsessed with animals?"

Yeah, a little bit…but that’s not the case for all vegetarians. Being an animal lover isn’t the only reason for going meat-free. Some people do it because they recognize it’s better for their health, and others just see how disgusting the meatpacking industry is. It’s all about your personal values and beliefs.

5. "Do you judge people for eating meat?"

Uh, no. I ate meat for over 16 years. Chicken fingers were my favorite food at one point. I respect everyone’s lifestyle choices, no matter how different they are from mine, because I want people to do the same for me.

6. "Do you miss meat?"

Sometimes I do, but not very often. I’m sure there are vegetarians that miss it like crazy, and there are others you couldn’t pay to take a bite of a burger. For me, the hardest time was the month after I decided to become a vegetarian. I started to crave meats I never even liked when I ate meat. My mouth watered at the mere mention of a cheeseburger. But now I’m repulsed by the idea of even taking a single bite of meat.

7. "Are you sure you don't want a bite of my steak?"

Nope. Not even a little bit.