Being vegan can be one of the most beneficial lifestyle changes you can make, or it can be one of the most irritating... but not for reasons you might think. We all have our opinions, all think we know what we're talking about when it comes to certain topics, but it does not mean you're right all of the time. When it comes to telling people you're vegan, get ready for an influx of people thinking they know what's best for you...
1. "Where do you get your protein??"
I set this as number one because it's the question you will be asked most often, and the one you'll bang your head against the table to hardest. I've been vegan for about two months, and I'm not even sure how many times this question has been asked of me. I simply say that I get my protein from the main source, which is plants, and exactly where animals get it.
2. "What do you eat?"
This is one of the hardest questions to answer because I still eat a lot of the same food, it's just a vegan version of it. I also make a lot of foods that don't necessarily have a defining name because most of the time I'm throwing stuff together.
3. "Why do you eat products that look like meat?"
Believe it or not, just because someone went vegan doesn't mean they hated the taste of meat. I, for example, went vegan for the animals and the environment. If there is an option of steak that looks and tastes like actual steak but doesn't harm animals, why would you choose the animal steak?
4. "Why did you do it?"
People are naturally curious, so this question never bothers me. I happen to enjoy telling people I decided to ditch meat for the animals, because I want them to understand my thought process. At least they are showing curiosity towards my cause and I am very happy to share.
5. "Is it hard?"
Everything is a challenge when you start something new. Going into it you don't know what to expect, nor do you really have as much information as you might have once thought. As a vegan for around two months, I can honestly say it's gotten much easier. It absolutely helps to live in a town that has such a vast amount of vegan options.
6. "Isn't it expensive?"
There are expensive items you can buy, of course. If you're living off of only those then you will be spending quite a lot, but you know what's vegan? Fruit and vegetables, some of the cheapest food items you can buy. Being vegan can be very budget friendly.
7. "But plants have feelings too!"
No, no, no, and no. Plants do not have feelings. I can remember back to 7th grade when someone told me by eating plants I'm just as bad as if I eat animals. This is honestly one of the worst things you can say to a vegan. Please don't do it. Ever.
8. "But what about humanly killed animals? Free range?"
It can't be humane if the animals did not give you the permission to kill them. Also, when it comes to eggs or meat that is labeled as humanly killed or free range, the truth behind it will shock you. Free range only means they are not locked up in tiny cages, but they're still shoved into a tiny warehouse and still suffering.
9. "Save the dogs!"
It is true that in certain countries, people eat dogs. As a dog lover myself, it, of course, makes me sad to think about... but it also makes me sad to think about all of the other animals that Americans eat on a daily basis. What's the difference between a dog and a pig? Well, a pig is smarter than a dog.
10. "I could never go vegan."
That's something almost every vegan has thought before they decided to go vegan. During this day and age, veganism is growing tremendously and it's getting easier to buy completely animal free. Maybe at one time it would have been too difficult, but not anymore.
11. "BACON!!!"
Everyone I talk to who enjoy meat, bring up the topic of bacon. No, I don't miss it. No, it wasn't hard to give up. There are plenty of suitable bacon alternatives, so please keep your you bacon loving thoughts to yourselves.
I understand the reasoning behind some of these questions, but other questions are asked by people who have closed minds. Sometimes it's hard to keep from arguing back or yelling, you just have to remember why you went vegan in the first place.
