16 January 2014

21 Things That Happen When You Don't Eat Meat

I have not eaten any meat or chicken in over twenty years. Strictly speaking, I am not a vegetarian, since I do occasionally eat fish, which is clearly not a vegetable. People often ask me why I keep this diet. There are a number of reasons people commonly give:

1.    Health: This is clearly not my motivation, because I continue to enjoy many foods that are far less healthy than meat.
2.   Animal rights: I continue to wear leather belts and shoes and carry a leather purse, and I am not so naïve as to think that the hides of those animals are only available due to other peoples’ meat consumption. In any case, I do not believe that throwing red paint on people is acceptable behavior in a civilized society.
3.   Environment: It would be hypocritical to say that I shun meat because I am concerned about the environment while I sit in my large, well heated/air-conditioned house living a typical American life of over-consumption.

At the end of the day, I do not eat meat simply because I am in some vague way happier not eating it. Perhaps I could say that I am at least mildly concerned about the points above, and not eating meat is the way I can best express that concern. And as a friend pointed out years ago, for someone who eats kosher, and thus separates meat and milk products, the best thing about being a vegetarian is that you can always eat a dessert made with real butter!

People often make “funny” remarks about vegetarians, but more often than not they are laughing at vegetarians rather than with them. I think we may have a reputation as being a bit too serious, as if eating animals is what brings about a good sense of humor. So when I see something about vegetarians that I find amusing, I just have to share it.

So here goes! It was posted on the facebook page of one of our daughters’ friends.
  

Love,

Rebecca



1. You will get overwhelmed at a vegetarian restaurant because you can order ANYTHING from the menu.

21 Things That Happen When You Don't Eat Meat
And not just the token vegetarian entree!

2. Someone will be confused about why you can’t just remove the pepperonis from the pepperoni pizza.

Someone will be confused about why you can't just remove the pepperonis from the pepperoni pizza.
FOUR WORDS: PITS OF PEPPERONI GREASE.

3. You’ll eat your weight in hummus.

21 Things That Happen When You Don't Eat Meat

4. The server will enthusiastically explain the restaurant’s specials (which include filet mignon and pork chops), and you’ll have to smile politely the whole time.

21 Things That Happen When You Don't Eat Meat
Lol, not ordering that.

5. Jokes about “rabbit food.”

21 Things That Happen When You Don't Eat Meat

6. People will constantly tell you how they could “NEVER stop eating bacon.”

People will constantly tell you how they could "NEVER stop eating bacon."

7. You will get paranoid about your roommate using your pans to cook meat.

You will get paranoid about your roommate using your pans to cook meat.
Omelette residue :(

8. You will develop laser-sharp vision for identifying meat in buffet salads and sandwiches.

You will develop laser-sharp vision for identifying meat in buffet salads and sandwiches.
Thanks for NOTHING, potato salad with secret bacon.

9. Someone will apologize for eating meat in your presence.

21 Things That Happen When You Don't Eat Meat

10. Everyone will tell you about that time they stopped eating meat for “like six months.”

21 Things That Happen When You Don't Eat Meat

11. You will eat this at every steakhouse:

You will eat this at every steakhouse:

12. You develop fervent preferences for store-bought veggie burger brands.

You develop fervent preferences for store-bought veggie burger brands.

13. You will be secretly ashamed of how much you look forward to French fries.

 

14. You will have to decline three-quarters of hors d’oeuvres.

You will have to decline three-quarters of hors d'oeuvres.
And then you’ll get drunk twice as fast as everyone else because you’re not eating.

15. You will develop an overreliance on peanut butter and jelly.

You will develop an overreliance on peanut butter and jelly.

16. You will develop a really good elevator pitch for “So, why are you a vegetarian?”

21 Things That Happen When You Don't Eat Meat

17. You will realize that vegetarian sushi is both super tasty and not good at filling you up.

21 Things That Happen When You Don't Eat Meat
2 p.m.: cucumber roll
4 p.m.: ENTIRE PIZZA

18. You will become hyper-paranoid about chicken broth.

You will become hyper-paranoid about chicken broth.
Is this soup made with chicken broth? Was this rice cooked with chicken broth? Are there chicken broth particles floating through the air???

19. You will leave weddings being totally hungry.

You will leave weddings being totally hungry.
Also, choosing between the steak and chicken options is kind of hilarious, because you’re just going to scarf the mashed potatoes regardless.

20. You will be able to scan ingredient labels for problems in the blink of an eye.

You will be able to scan ingredient labels for problems in the blink of an eye.

21. You will forget what meat actually tastes like.

21 Things That Happen When You Don't Eat Meat



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