I became a vegetarian in 1971 and what you describe is how people often react; men and women. In some restaurants i'm even shown the seafood portion of the menu. That's when i ask them if they grow their seafood in their garden. hahaha

But generally people can't seem to understand why i made or make the choice, and the fact that i've been healthy and continue to be super-active confuses some even more. LLOL

How do i handle their curiosity, if that's what it is? I used respond with smart ass responses but got bored with doing that long ago. So when someone persisted on the subject, i just asked why my vegetarianism seemed so important to them? That usually changed the subject, or just ended the conversation. Either outcome works for me.

On the whole, men tend to be bigger jerks about most things than women - not that some women can't give us a run for our money.
I'm vegetarian, but not preachy about it. If someone wants to eat meat - that's their choice. However, if I'm paying for the meal I wouldn't feel good about buying someone else's meat or fish. How we use our money is an ethical choice and may affect pollution, child labour, corruption, cruelty, exploitation, human rights and climate change just to name a few examples. Sometimes in relationships you just let things go rather than make an issue of them, but if I was close enough for long enough to someone who had a meat-eating habit that I was supporting there would come a point where it would need to be addressed.

I'm a guy and have always viewed being vegetarian or vegan as a personal choice. As long as you are happy and getting enough nutrients (protein, vitamins, etc), that's all that really matters. To be honest, I've always found it baffling as to why people have trouble accepting those who are different from themselves.

Don’t ever try to change aspects of whom you are just to fit in to a group. Instead, let your true colors show. The people who will love the real you are the people with whom you should be friends with. Life’s too short to try to make everyone like you. Once an individual stops seeking validation from others, true growth begins to shine through. We are all different people who have different tastes, different ideals, different perspectives and different opinions. Just accept that some people are bound to dislike you, and it’s nobody’s fault.

A true relationship (friendship or romantic interest) will keep it real and won't lie, now that's real talk!! I truly believe talking and sharing all important decisions together can keep a healthy relationship. Don't start in the habit of lying for your friends or romantic interest because it can and will make it so easy to start lying to them. Speak what's on your mind and what's in your heart in the beginning of your relationship and continue this habit in the future. Never ever bring someone else's problem into your life and household. Sometimes it's okay to say nothing when the other partner is wrong especially when they are upset. Not everything has to be said all the time. Sometimes we must realize that some things happen out of our control. Remember, misery loves company so keep some things to yourself. We all will have trials and tribulations, so keep an open mind and make good judgement calls and your relationship with your friend or romantic interest will have less bumps.

At the end of the day, what matters is that we VALUE and LOVE the people that are in our lives. We need to learn that happiness is more than just a feeling. It is also a choice and the result of a series of choices. We have to choose to appreciate and love those around us.

I have no idea. Frankly, it’s your choice. I would like you despite your choice of food. I don’t care for vegetables, but I certainly don’t care if my date chooses to eat them.

You frighten me and I feel threatened. Heheheh.

Because most guys have a deep love affair with meat and if you don't eat meat they feel like it's going to inhibit their ability to eat meat

I give praise to anyone who can go full vegan. Vegetarian is hard enough, I chose pescatarian. It's what fits me best. I do get odd reactions from different people and most times it is concern that I'm not getting what I need. Yet here we are living and shit. I get the reactions from both sexes but I do notice more people giving vegetarians shit than the other way around. I will answer questions but I'll never try to convince someone to be like me. I hope not anyway. Just do you girl.

Vegetarians and Omnivores... the Montagues and Capulets of food.

There's so much judgment related to what people eat. If it's not one thing, it's another. For example, I'd like to live long enough to see the decriminalization of bread.

I don't know that men necessarily react more. I think either a man or woman will react if the person they are reacting to could be a potential partner. In other words, my vegetarian girlfriends don't care that I eat meat, but they also won't date someone who does. This may be because it matters more when you have to live with someone, share meals with them, or eventually raise children together, etc..

Having said that, I've seen both men and women push back hard regarding the consumption of meat; whether to consume it or not. Not even related to vegetarianism, I've struggled being in a relationship with someone who had very limited tastes. He was a "meat and potatoes" guy who was uncomfortable watching anyone eat sushi. The social impact of food is significant. This could be why you notice it more with men than women.

Too many people, I guess especially men, take another's food choices as an affront to their own. Often, even mentioning I am vegetarian/vegan brings up all kinds of comments and often defenses of their own choices. Unfortunately, there is no excuse for meat as a food choice! It is simply a matter of one's own sensual desire.

It's funny but next to religion the next controversial topic is one's food choices. With a little bit of critical thinking and looking at evidence both choices are clear.

I wouldn’t care what the person ate.

Vegetarian diet makes sense. Vegan diet is over the top and doesn't make much sense. We are omnivores and need animal protein and that all important B-12. How we get it means nothing to me until one goes through all sorts of machinations to supplement what is needed, then it makes no sense. So, I as a man who loves a good steak occasionally, would not question your diet. Why other men might, I have no idea.

I get the same reaction. I've met very few male vegetarians, and most are gay but I do know some who have fabulous vegetarian restaurants.
My theory is that traditionally, men hunted and women gathered vegetable or gardened. So men like to eat meat more than women. Women are more accepting but men provide meat, type of thinking.
I've been vegetarian most or my life. I live it and have no desire to eat meat except seafood on occasion.
You'll meet someone who either doesn't care or perhaps wants to try it. Not all men are asshole. Lol.

A factor is possibly wondering where to go for dinner or lunch. All my favorites don't really offer non-meat based meals. I lean towards taco stands and food trucks. Or they just never dated a veggie. My sister is, and going out to eat with her posed some challenges.

Interesting! I too eat a vegetarian diet and am surprised at how difficult it is for others to deal with. Like you I don't care what others do, I do this for me and my reasons. I ate meat most of my life so get what it is like.

Guess it means I cannot help you.

Maybe they see you being a vegetarian as a threat to their "perfect life" in the future. No home cooked steak dinners, no grilling burgers with friends on game day, having to eat stuff like "rabbit food" (aka salads and vegetables), tofu, quinoa, tempeh, or other foods they can't pronounce. I really have no idea. People can be overly cautious to things that seem "strange" and "not normal" to them, which can lead to rudeness and aggression.

As a vegetarian myself, I've had people (mostly women because I work with 98% women and date women) tell me I'm missing out by not eating meat. They'll try to tease me by saying their food (whatever meat dish they are having) is sooooo goooood and will offer me a piece as if I'm punishing myself by not eating meat and if I tried it, I would go back to eating meat.

Sorry you are going through this. I guess it's to be expected living in the South. As for myself, I'm part of the unholy Southern trifecta: atheist, liberal, vegetarian.

I think it might be that some people have experienced what I call almost a condescending, superior attitude from some vegetarians. I don't care what people eat. I can see by their choices whether they are making healthier choices which might include meat/animal products or not, but unless they start lecturing me, it doesn't bother me in the least. Maybe they think you are going to try to change them? You seem to have the best attitude, so I would say it is them, not you...let them go...if they can't deal with food, how will they deal with the more important things in life?

I'm a guy that is an ovo-lacto vegetarian... You'd be welcome at our table.

Some people create an image based on stereotypes. The questions are probably just curiosity because you aren't preachy about it. Of course, some people see it as a power issue to influence what other people eat. There are a lot of different potential motivators.

When I went vegan I mentioned it to a coworker and he asked me if I had told my mother I was gay yet? He was an asshole, not only doesn’t he work there anymore I can’t remember his name.

People tend to ridicule what they don't understand. There is definitely truth to the whole machismo thing as well. There are so many fallacies about vegetarianism propagated by the uneducated that the general populace just choose to believe what they've always been told, rather than being skeptical & doing their own research... Kind of akin to religious indoctrination. Funny that so many non believers who often pride themselves on their skepticism fall into the same traps as everyone else. "Where do you get your B12 from" Fact: B12 comes from bacteria, not plants or animals. Farmed meat most commonly gets its B12 from supplements & fecal contamination. "Vegetarians don't get enough protein" Fact: No case of protein deficiency has ever been recorded in any human who eats a sufficient number of calories from whole food sources. "You need essential fatty acids" Fact: All essential fatty acids come from plants. No animal can produce them. I could go on, but I'm sure there are plenty here who already will try to claim I'm wrong based on things they've heard rather than from their own research & conclusions. I prefer to stick with the proven science.

That's interesting. I looked at your profile. Is this a big deal in your age group? At my really advanced years, and IF I was looking for a potential permanent partner... I'd be concerned about someone's health from that diet. A simple solution is to ask the fellows why they keep asking YOU about it.
PS: I'm not looking for a date. If I was it wouldn't be with someone my daughter's age.

Gurl. I was vegetarian for several years (chose to start eating meat again in the last couple of months to combat some persistent anemia, that was not caused by diet, but also wasn't improving) and men (most of whom I wasn't dating because I was married until about a year ago) were always in awe and need of an explanation. Like "homie, I choose not to consume meat, end of story."

Men are probably commenting because somewhere in their heads they are thinking how it would be tough for them to date you.

I'm a veggie, too. I don't get a lot of comments and, on the rare occasion that I do, I consider the source. Usually, it comes from people that feel disempowered in life and need someone to mess with. It's usually some asshole masturbating about bacon... and he is related to me. In this case, I gently inform him that it's my business and that he isn't paying for or cooking my food and is it going to date me shi mind his business.

My favorite is when it is done by an obese person with diabetes saying my diet isn't healthy. I address that, too - I tell them that they need to watch their own protein/fat/sugar macros themselves before giving me any advice. At the end of the day, the proof is in the proverbial pudding.

Carry yourself with confidence. Your diet causes less misery and pollution in the world - it's a fact. If you think you're diet could be better, then make it better! Be the best you can be.

All the best to you!

I never thought of it before but I do believe you are right. Meat eating has long been associated with masculinity though it's not as obvious in our cultures as others. Except how men, even ones that never cook, just LOVE to barbecue. Also more hunters & fishers are men.

Perhaps it's a testosterone thing. Lol. I'm a meat eater, but do not have problems with someone who is a vegetarian.. it's just a diet preference choice.

Because some men believe it's a woman's job to prepare all meals.