Choosing not to eat meat is a personal decision, but some people seem to really have a problem with it.
Carnivores are entitled to enjoy a nice steak without criticism (though the impact of the world’s obsession with carnivorous diets is worth discussing as a whole), so why do vegetarians have to listen to so much hate and ignorance about their own dietary choices? Here are some of the most annoying things you probably hear if you follow a plant-based (or at least a meat-free) diet.
1. “But where do you get your protein?”
This is easily the most common question you’ll get, usually asked with a look of genuine concern as if you’re about to waste away on the spot. It’s a bit of a myth that you need a chicken breast with every meal to stay upright. There are loads of ways to get what you need from beans, lentils, nuts, and tofu.
Most people who’ve made the switch have actually put a fair bit of thought into their nutrition and know exactly what they’re doing. It’s funny how people who live on crisps and lager suddenly become really worried about your amino acid intake the second you mention you’re skipping the bacon.
2. “I could never give up bacon.”
You’ll hear this one constantly, often delivered with a bit of a smug grin. While it might be true for them, it’s not particularly helpful or relevant to why you’ve made your choice. Everyone has different priorities and tastes, and for most vegetarians, the reasons they’ve stopped, whether it’s for the animals or the environment, outweigh any fleeting craving for a breakfast roll. It’s a bit like telling someone who’s quit smoking that you really enjoy a cigarette; it doesn’t really add much to the conversation.
3. “Don’t you miss meat?”
Some people do, especially when they first start out, and others don’t miss it one bit. Either way, the decision to stay away from it is usually more important to them than a passing fancy for a burger. Most vegetarians have thought about their choices for a long time, so they’re not going to cave just because they’ve walked past a kebab shop. It’s a deliberate life choice, and while a certain smell might remind them of a meal they used to enjoy, it’s not enough to make them pack the whole thing in.
4. “Plants have feelings too, you know.”
Source: Unsplash This one is usually brought up by someone trying to be a bit clever and point out some kind of “gotcha” moment. It’s a bit of a reach, though, as there’s no real evidence that a carrot feels the same kind of pain or panic as a cow does. Most vegetarians have heard this line a thousand times and already dismissed it as a bit of a silly argument. It’s a classic way of trying to make a vegetarian feel like a hypocrite, but it usually just ends in a lot of eye-rolling.
5. “Just pick the meat out, it won’t kill you.”
Source: Unsplash For a lot of people, it’s not just about the physical act of chewing meat; it’s about the fact that they don’t want to support the industry in the first place. Suggesting they just move the ham to the side of the plate completely misses the point of why they’re doing this. It can feel a bit disrespectful when someone treats an ethical stance like it’s just a fussy eating habit. If they’ve told you they don’t eat animals, expecting them to just pick around the carcass is a bit of a low blow.
6. “How do you know someone’s a vegetarian? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you.”
This joke has been done to death, and it wasn’t even that funny the first time. In reality, most vegetarians only mention it when it’s actually necessary, like when they’re checking a menu or being offered a sausage roll at a party. They aren’t looking for a medal or a spotlight; they’re just trying to navigate a world that’s obsessed with meat. Usually, it’s the meat eaters who end up making the biggest deal out of it by asking a million questions.
7. “Humans are meant to eat meat.”
Source: Unsplash While it’s true that humans can digest meat, it’s also a fact that we can do perfectly well without it. We’ve got the choice now, which our ancestors probably didn’t have when they were just trying to survive. Most vegetarians are well aware of human history, but they’re more interested in how they can live healthily and ethically in the modern world. Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we have to do it for every single meal.
8. “You’re not getting enough nutrients.”
Source: Unsplash A balanced vegetarian diet can actually be a lot healthier than one that’s packed with processed meats and fast food. Most people who skip the meat are very conscious of what’s on their plate and make sure they’re getting their vitamins and minerals. Getting unsolicited advice about your health from someone who hasn’t seen a vegetable in three days can feel a bit patronising. It’s perfectly possible to be a very healthy vegetarian, just as it’s possible to be a very unhealthy meat eater.
9. “It’s just a phase, you’ll grow out of it.”
This is a classic for anyone who stops eating meat in their teens or twenties. It’s a bit dismissive because it treats a thought-out, ethical decision like a temporary fashion choice. For many, this isn’t a passing fad or a bit of rebellion; it’s a lifelong commitment based on what they actually believe in. Being told you’ll “come to your senses” once you’re older is just a way of shutting down a conversation about something that actually matters to you.
10. “But you eat fish, right?”
It’s amazing how many people still think fish grow on trees. Vegetarians don’t eat animals, and fish are, funnily enough, animals. This is where people get confused between a vegetarian and a pescatarian, but for someone who has ditched all meat, having to explain for the hundredth time that tuna doesn’t count as a vegetable is exhausting. It’s a common mix-up, but it’s one that gets a bit grating when you’re just trying to order a sandwich.
11. “What if you were stranded on a desert island with only animals to eat?”
Unless you’re planning a particularly risky boat trip in the near future, this is completely irrelevant to your day-to-day life. It’s another “gotcha” question that people use to try to find a breaking point in your ethics. Most vegetarians make their choices based on the reality of living in a world where supermarkets are full of beans and pasta, not some extreme survival film scenario. If you ever actually find yourself stuck on a remote island, you’ll worry about it then; until then, it’s just a daft hypothetical.
12. “You must be so healthy.”
Source: Unsplash While eating more veg is generally a good move, being a vegetarian doesn’t automatically make you a health guru. You can live entirely on cheesy chips, pizza, and crisps and still be a vegetarian. This assumption puts a weird amount of pressure on people to be the picture of health at all times. Just like anyone else, vegetarians have days when they want to eat a load of rubbish, and they shouldn’t have to defend their diet just because they’ve decided to have a biscuit.
13. “Isn’t it boring to eat vegetables all the time?”
Source: Unsplash This usually comes from someone whose idea of vegetarian food is a soggy side salad or a plain baked potato. In reality, vegetarian cooking is incredibly varied—think of all the brilliant curries, pasta dishes, and middle-eastern food that doesn’t need meat to be amazing. There’s a whole world of flavour out there that doesn’t involve a chicken breast. If your diet is boring, that’s a cooking problem, not a vegetarian problem.
14. “A little bit won’t hurt you.”
This one is a bit of a slap in the face if your choice is based on your morals. It’s not about whether a tiny bit of ham will physically make you ill; it’s about the fact that you’ve decided you don’t want to be part of that system. Asking someone to compromise their beliefs just to make a social situation easier is pretty disrespectful. You wouldn’t ask someone to “just have a little bit” of something they were allergic to, and an ethical boundary should be treated with the same level of seriousness.
15. “Do you judge me for eating meat?”
Most vegetarians are far too busy worrying about their own shopping list to care what’s on yours. This question usually comes from a place of defensiveness, as if your presence at the table is a silent protest. It puts you in a really awkward spot where you’re forced to reassure someone else about their choices. Unless they’re waving a steak in your face and making cow noises, most vegetarians are happy to just let everyone get on with their lunch in peace.
16. “What if this plant was fertilised with animal manure?”
This is the ultimate “well, actually” move from people who want to prove that it’s impossible to be a perfect vegetarian. No one is claiming to be 100% pure; most people are just doing their best to reduce the harm they cause. Picking apart every tiny detail of how a plant was grown is just a way to try to make the whole effort seem pointless. It’s about making better choices where you can, not about being a saint.
17. “I feel bad for you.”
There’s absolutely no need for the pity. Most vegetarians are perfectly happy with what they’re eating and don’t feel like they’re missing out on anything. Being told that your life must be miserable without a Sunday roast is just condescending. If they’re enjoying their food and feeling good about their choices, they don’t need anyone feeling sorry for them. A bit of understanding and a decent veggie option on the menu is all they’re really looking for.
