What do you say to someone who asks you why you became a vegetarian?

Okay, the thing is friends/family ask me why I choose to become a vegetarian, they say I'm stupid,ect. So what do you say to that...?

Just tell them why you decided to be vegetarian.
It doesnt matter if they agree with you or not. as long as your happy and doing what you believe in.

Honestly, I don't care what anyone else eats and I don't think it's any of their business what I eat. I usually tell them "I don't like meat."

Wow. I'd hate to go to one of Joseph C's parties.

EDIT: I see that he's less than happy about those thumbs down.

Well, I'd just like to say that it's incredibly rude of him to say it's rude of us to refuse to eat something that's totally disgusting to us.

It's not like I'd go to a party where meat is being served and start berating the meat-eaters for their choice to eat meat. I'd just politely refuse it.

I mean, you'd think the host, knowing I'm a vegetarian, would give me at least a salad or something. But if they serve me meat when they know I don't eat it, I'd say they're the rude one.

But, you know, I wouldn't be caught dead at a party hosted by a guy like Joseph C anyway. I don't hang out with people who think "gay adoption" should be banned, people who call people who own certain breeds of dogs "low-lifes," people who call sex education classes a disgrace, etc.

No wonder people judge him! LOL!

This is what I say; it is short, sweet, nonjudgmental, and gets them off my back.

"I don't need meat to survive, and I don't need it to be healthy; therefore, is is a luxury. I ate it because I thought it tasted good. And no one/ nothing should have to suffer so I can have a luxury."

If they feel the need to be rude, simply say "I don't bother you about your dinner, so why don't you leave me alone."
It also works well with "Your dinner is none of my business, and my dinner is none of your business."

If you are going to become engaged with these people, it is best to be packed full of knowledge, but I still find it is best to stop the conversation. Most often, they don't want to learn; they want to treat you poorly for having views/lifestyle different from theirs.

EDIT- people are often under the misconception that those who are minorities need to explain themselves. With so many people having heart issues and colon issues, no meat eater has to explain why they eat the dinner they do. There is no reason you should have to explain why you are eating veggies. They are food; they taste good; they are good for you.

Being a vegetarian is a personal choice...you do not have to justify it!

i would say because i care about animals and dont want them to suffer....

Ok, for your case, the person or people asking why you changed to vegetarian is your friends and family so, you just point out to them the good things about being a vegetarien.Obviously, there isn't any bad things about being a vegetarien. However, if its a person who questions you just for the sake of asking something or to critizize you, you can just answer lamely, Why musn't I become a vegetarien when you choose to be a non-vegetarien? and just keep away from them.
Well,the first good thing about being a vegetarien is that, you are more caring towards another species like chicken, or goat because, you don't eat them which is a cruelty like what non-vegetariens do.
Secondly, animals don't eat humans, so why must we humans eat them?
Thirdly, and and also scientifically, if you look at our human digestive system, our intestines are very long and thin.Same goes to even animals like goat or horse which is a herbivore(plant eating animals.) However if you see the intestines of a carnivore(animal that feeds on flesh) like tiger and lion, its intestines are big, bulky and short. And if u look at each and every animal carefully, they'll eat either flesh or plants.They will not eat both. Not even a single animal is a ominivore(feeding on both plant and animal material) But only mankind is a omnivore(thinks he is an ominivore), which is a great mistake. So when looking at our digestive system itsel, it is very clear that we are herbivore, and so we should eat only non-animal material.
Furthermore, there are more than enough nutritions in vegetarien foods itself.So don't need to worry that you'll not get enought nutritions if you stop eating non-vegetarien items. Calcium is in both fish and milk. So we have to choose what we want...If you have any more querys, you can ask me...

have them see this video on factory farm abuses
http://www.meat.org/

I usually decline to discuss it....when people ask that question, they're usually looking for an argument and the last thing I need to do is defend my eating habits.

It's taken me many years and many futile arguments to realize this.

its simple... ask urself y u r vegetarian... what makes u vegetarian..... Just put your thoughts into words....

My answer to your question will be... I am a vegetarian as i don't like to kill any living object in order to feed myself.... Every living object like animals can provide you food without harming them... like from cow, we get milk..... Also, the vegetable & fruits are rich in protein & are very healthy food.... Then y to be a non vegetraian.....

Ask them who is going to be stupid when they form every cancer on the planet while you are power walking down the street until you're 95.

Not really, that would be too harsh.

Explain to them all the health benefits of being a vegan or vegetarian.

Explain the harm that meat, dairy, and the egg industries have on the environment (global warming, rainforest destruction, etc.).

I'd like to say for you to explain animal rights, but if these people think it's stupid to be vegetarian or vegan, then they obviously don't care about animals, so I'd steer clear of that speech and go mostly for the health stuff.

Whatever you do, DO NOT TELL THEM THAT PETA IS YOUR SOURCE OF INFORMATION--get information from other sources. I am a member of PETA, but I try not to use PETA as a source because a lot of people do not take PETA seriously. Use smaller organizations like Vegan Outreach, COK, etc...

you just say its my choice .. and well it is and you should be proud of it ... or you can say i am doing my bit to save the planet ... they ll ask how ... then u tell them a few facts ... cattle and poultry, including chicken, are the major contributors of global warming ( i hope they know what it is - if they dont u explain that too ). their excreta (or ****) emitts methane, which warms the earth 46 % more than carbon di oxide ... and the number of animals for slaughter are more than humans on this earth ... so in a sense u r discouraging the whole thing ...

cool ????

i say "Because i dont wanna eat something that could once look at me"


My family's pretty much the same way...im used to it though, been dealin with it for 4 years..i just ignore it now. But what really does make me mad is when i'll be like "Im hungry" and my sister or someone will be like "Here, want a hamburger". Ya, that gets me annoyed, you'd figure it got old after the first couple months, but with them..nope!

If you don't feel comfortable telling a close
relative that you chose this lifestyle for
ethical , humane or health reasons,
then simply say you lost the taste for
meat.

If it's nobody that close or important
to you and you feel it will turn into
a long debate you don't want to get
into you simply say:
I'd rather not get into my reasons
because I get tired of hearing myself
talk about it.

The last answer is good from thwarting
hecklers and ridiculers. It gives them no
place to go.

By the way, I honestly do get tired of
hearing myself talk about vegetarianism.
I reserve conversations about it to other
veggies and potential veggies who are
honestly seeking a way out from their
current diet.

If a friend asks, don't preach to them. Tell a white lie, example "The doctor told my dad that eating meat would make his cholesterol get too high, so now the whole family sort of stays away from meats."

You tell them your reason. If it's stupid, well who cares. Tell them to get stuffed

Tell them that you really hate plants, and you want to eat as many as possible to get them off this planet! LOL

My family told me I was stupid too until they saw that I am healthier than everyone else. Now they tell me that they are trying to cut out meat themselves. It's a long haul but persevere because it's worth it. My mother and grandmother had their gallbladders removed, my sister is a diabetic and has high blood pressure, my uncle has asthma etc. These are all genetic and I don't have any of these.

I tell people that it's wrong to kill animals and it's healthier for me.

My ex-mother-in-law gave me a hard time about this too. I simply told her that she has too much if the wrong kind of nerve to make negative comments about about my adult food choices. I also told her that if she made the right food choices, she wouldn't look like a prize hog (you are what you eat).

i'm not a vegetarian and the only times ive thought someones reasons for being a vegetarian were dumb was when they had no real clue why they were doing it and it seemed more as if they did it to be cool. otherwise being a vegetarian isn't crazy.
on the other side there aren't very many good arguments for eating meat, its expensive at times and sometimes difficult, but most of the time all people can sight is the taste.
so is it more dumb to say mmmm me like good meat or to say I don't like the idea of animals being butchered, etc. etc.

I got so tired of answering that now I simply say "why not" that way it puts the onus on them to tell me why i shouldn't be a vegetarian. The vast majority of the time it just shuts them up though.

Its cheaper and healthier (less salt, more fiber, no cholesterol, more varied vitamins), than an carnivorous diet!
tell 'em they're "stupid"

It's just your food choice, & 'why' is your own business. (you may not like the taste of meat, it may be an altruistic choice, or a health choice). If pressed for a reason & you'd rather not get 'into' it, just say you FEEL better sticking with mostly fruits, vegetables, and grains.

Just keep healthy! (what you put into YOUR mouth is your own business!)
.

well my friends say that too sometimes.but i dont care what they think.
its my decision.and i dont need to owe them a anwser.i think im alot better off as a vegetarian.it befits me and one animal i dont eat every meal.

You say NO WAY! Protein is a necessary part of a balanced diet.

Tell them you like healthy food and not crap. Other than tell tell them it's none of their business. You really don't have to tell them, anyway.

I do think it's NOT a good thing, however, to not eat meat as a guest, if that's what's served. That's rude and ridiculous in my opinion, and reeks of a lack of sense.

Now, I see this has already incurred a couple of thumbs down. Does that mean when you go to someone's home, you insult them by snubbing what's served? Again, I think that eating a vegetarian diet is wise, but not in that instance. I detect a lot of self-righteousness here. NO WONDER THEY JUDGE YOU!

"because im on a diet" many people says that but do you know that being a vegetarian is not good for your body because it makes you weak like a vegetable?