How do I respond to meat eaters who are critical?

One of the most common questions I get from meat eaters is, "where do you get your protein?". When I answer them and tell them the vegetarian foods that provide protein, they say that I still need meat. I tell them that I do not, but they say my diet is just not healthy. What should I say to these people?

Marie, I have reported you to Yahoo!
How dare you mention roast beef! Do you have any idea the suffering a cow goes through to bring you that roast beef?

Just ignore them! They're eating an animal carcass for goodness sake - what do they know about health!

In the same way that meat eaters should respond to non meat eaters - with respect and tolerance, without being rude or dictatorial. Your food preference is your choice and if you can live without meat then so be it.

If your 'critics' are just curious, then educate them by explaining where you get your protein from.

Tell them that one of the main problems with the Western diet nowadays is more often too much, rather than too little protein - excessve amounts of which have been known to cause kidney damage and contribute to weak bones.

The World Cancer Research Fund have said that "Vegetarian groups have been shown to have lower risk of cardiovascular disease, lower rates of obesity and longer life expectancy than meat-eaters."

So you could just say to them, "Let's see who gets sick first."

all the non meat eaters i know have a much better diet than most meat eaters i know! tell them to worry about their own diet before having a go at yours!

but saying that, i do love a good bit of roast beef!

I have been vegertarian for 15 years, i also get harrassed by people saying the same thing.
I simply say cheese and eggs.
I am one of the most healthiest people i know and a fab figure and its down to not eating meat.
plus, i am totally against killing animals for our taste buds!

OH DEAR 2 THUMBS DOWN FOR ME....... SOME PEOPLE NEED TO GET A LIFE....U MUST BE JELOUS..... HA HA HA HA

Tell them that you know of no vegetarians that have died as a result of malnutrition.

Believe me, some people are very narrow minded when it comes to understanding vegetarianism. My colleagues are always asking me why I'm veggie, saying I'm mad and a hypocrite because I'm not a vegan. Unfortunately they don't undersand the difference... Ah well, we're all different and they can hardly criticise my diet when they shovel in carcasses like they're going out of fashion. Best thing to do is just ignore them.

Don't say anything, you don't need to justify anything you do. Just smile and say; "You know you're right! Give me a cow NOW!" OR "Yes. I guess that's why I only have 4 days left to live!" OR "Actually I'm a modern vampire, I get my protein between dusk & dawn..."

Why say anything, you don't have to justify your decisions to anyone. I eat meat because that's my choice, i wouldn't justify my choice to you so why do you have to justify yours to me. If you're happy then that's all that matters.

I was a ignorant meat eater till I meet my vegy girlfriend who has explained all the foods that have protein, and I am very tempted to hope the fence where the animals live in peace with out fear off the axe wielding meat eaters.

Meat eaters who will not listen to the truth that you do not need to slaughter Innocent animals for protein are just stuffing there arteries with fats and hormones that they inject the animals with to grow big and strong. Maybe all the animal products they eat are making them stupid, but in the olden days meat was a luxury and not required in the diet as we ate other protein richer foods.

Good luck tyring to explain this to the meat heads!

Then they say that you need meat, ask well there does a cow get its protein from?

Whats the point Foxy ?

This is a normal veggie question.

Are you just trying to build up a set of normal questions and lull us into a false security before you hit us with some "can i eat my neighbours dead horse and still be vegetarian " story ?

Just tell them that a balanced veggie diet contains all the protein you need. ( just thought i'd better throw that bit in incase you report me for not answering your question )

oh its easy,only takes one finger

Do you ask them to justify why the eat meat to you? If you do, then you can hardly expect them to not question your own diet.

However, if you just get it with it yourself and let them do what they want, then you shouldn't say anything to them - you don't have to justify a personal decision to them.

Good grief; why do some people care so much that other people don't eat meat?!?! I don't get the big deal. Food is food. Vegetarian food isn't some mystical diet that vegetarians eat; it's literally everything that doesn't include meat.

As for a healthy diet....I bet if you asked most people (vegetarians & meat-eaters alike) if they know whether their diet is healthy and if they're getting enough vitamins & minerals they wouldn't have a clue. However, people just latch onto the 'enough protein' argument because it's fairly common knowledge that meat is a major source of protein. However, plenty of other foods contain protein as well.

Lastly, I'm vegetarian but don't dispute that we're naturally meant to eat meat. Much of our biology suggests that we are natural omnivores. However, I would argue that we are not naturally meant to consume as much meat as we do today, and most meat is also pretty unnatural with all the steriods and hormones that are injected into the cattle.

Having said that, I bet most of my vegetables are coated in pesticides or are genetically modified as well.....can't win!!!

Hi. i've not eaten meat for 7 years now,i got on fine with my diet. my Aunty keeps telling me to eat some meat cause i'm always ill since not eating it(wot a load of rubbish). i just say whatever!!!!!

Tell them its your choice to eat what you want and they should respect that. You dont tell them what to eat do you?

Why do you have to explain yourself?

Im a meat eater and luv the taste.... i will not give it up and dont expect anyone to try and convince me to or bore me with their views on eating meat... same as i would not be bothered or try and convince a vegy to eat meat.

Ive just read your added bit that your reporting someone for saying 'roast beef'.... For starters thats just makes you look so sad, childish and a pointless thing to do and its that sort of crap reporting that ruins this site... get a life dude!

tell them mind you own business! i am seriously considering going veggie as it is a healthier diet and the foods yum! do you know any good veggie cook books?

answer them honestly when they ask you where you get your protein

If you are willing to be more patient you could explain how lots of foods like tofu can be a healthier supply of protein than say a steak.

f.h.g. may i suggest that you look up the good answers that were giving to you, when you were critical meat eater.

Hey, first of all.. Why is your screen name "FOX HUNTER GUY" ? I'm assuming you're vegetarian... I hope you do not hunt foxes because that would be highly ironic (and very cruel!)

Now getting to your question... RDA for protein is .36 grams per pound of body weight. For example, if you weigh 160 lbs, you would only need about 58 grams of protein. Do you know how little that is? In just a very simple vegetarian meal such as a boca burger patty, brown rice, and some veggies, you can get anywhere from about 23-27 grams of protein depending on the types of veggies and how many and how much brown rice. If every meal you have is like this, you will have more than enough protein. I think it is RIDICULOUS that people think that the only source of protein is meat. Absolutely ludicrous! I'm in the dietetics field and have done many nutritional analyses of my diet.. diet records and such... and I've found that I actually get on average about 20 grams more protein per day than I need without even trying. There is protein in foods that you don't even think about being high protein foods. Whole wheat pasta actually is very high in protein, along with quinoa. Let's not forget to mention all of those delicious soy products out there like Yves, Light life, and Tofurky. Awesome!

You have the right to eat whichever diet you are most comfortable with.

Personally I am a carnavore - if we arn't supposed to eat animals then why are they made of meat?

Only joking!

you say, "hey, your right. eating just vegetables and fruits is wrong and unnatural. I WAS born with incisor teeth like all other meat eaters and I guess I will have to go back to what is natural for my body, thanks so much for waking me up"