Is being a vegetarian hard at times..?

I'm not actually talking about the fact of giving up animal products because obviously that's a matter of will power and such, but it seems like so many people are against vegetarians. I've been researching a bit because I've recently decided to cut meat from my diet and a lot of people can't accept that it's just food and we can each choose to eat what we want no matter what our reasons are. Vegetarians seem to be stereotyped as pushy and annoying which is the polar opposite of me, I'd never try to force my values onto someone else because it's not in my nature, I'm also not one for preaching things to people because it's always accompanied by some backlash. So I'm just wondering if people give you a lot of grief over your food choice? Does the stereotype annoy you? ect.|||It all depends on your environment. I grew up in a small, conservative town, and everyone was very much against vegetarianism. I used to deal with kids telling me I was stupid, waving meat at me, etc. My family gave me hell for choosing not to eat meat.





Now that I'm out of high school and living on my own I don't have to deal with those things anymore. The people I associate with all eat meat but they are old enough and wise enough to understand that people aren't all the same, and don't all eat the same way. I can't even remember the last time I was criticized.





It's mostly just internet trolls and sheltered people who label vegetarians as pushy etc. so I don't let it get to me. Granted some people may have only encountered obnoxious militant veg*ns but if they have half a brain they will see that you're not like those people, as opposed to lumping you in with them before they even get to know you.|||i don't care what people eat because it's their business and not mine and i'm not against anyone for anything. i just wonder in my mind sometimes what's wrong with meat? and my thoughts goes to chicken soup. during the depression, didn't FDR say to the usa when he was running for president, there will be a chicken in every pot if i win the election for president? i think it was him that said that. we the people are free, eat what you want to eat.|||Yes, being a vegetarian is hard at times. I am a vegetarian because I believe it's wrong to kill animals for food. I stick with that and I don't care what anyone else thinks.|||its sometimes hard Ive been a vegetarian for four years im 14 and i cant have meat or fish as it makes it easier|||no. not hard at all. it's easier.|||no cuz it gives me a chance to educate meat eaters|||I guess I am a bit different than most... because I am a bit of a loner.I have always been different with clothes and always liked punk and goth music, and never gave much though to what people said about me. So, my food choices are no different. I make choices based on my beliefs. I don't care what other people eat, nor do I push the vegetarian thing on people. It is kind of weird because the vegetarian thing has become such a part of me I feel it is part of my own personal religion. It isn't hard for me, it is just who I am, if that makes sense.|||No, I don't find it hard. Once you make up your mind about it and you are determined then that's that. What is hard is when restaurants just don't take it seriously. Some really do try hard and offer a choice of two or three dishes but it really annoys me when there is nothing on the menu and you have to ask - and they call it the veggie choice. Choice?! There is no choice. It's that or nothing, while meat eaters can choose between 7 or 8 dishes. Also some menus for Sunday lunch offer pasta as the veggie option! So boring and unimaginative. Why can't vegetarians have an option which means they can have the roast veg with everybody else. Having said that I can usually find something I can eat but it all gets a bit samey and boring.|||Depends on how serious you are about the Diet


as you continue your diet it becomes a life style.


Stand your Ground!





So





Not at all. Unless you let the people around you boss you around.


I've been a vegetarian for 2 years. when i finally decided to to tell my family (aunts uncles etc) they freaked and started Giving me all the B.S about how its not healthy meanwhile these People are diabetic and obese -_- Wow





my parents are pretty supportive


they didnt think i was gonna stick with it


but after i talked with them and told them i was serious they started buying products that are considered Vegan!!!


and i'm not even a vegan yet|||The only time it's difficult is when you're not really into it.


I have many reasons for being a vegetarian: it's cheaper, it's healthier (when done right), I firmly believe humans are not evolved to eat meat the way we do, and I have a severe problem with the slaughter industry.


The automatic assumption is that people are vegetarian without cause, which is often the case. A girl I used to work with watched some documentary and decided that meat was gross, and she and a friend of hers became vegetarians for about a week. Because they had no real reason to be vegetarian outside of trend and temporarily being grossed out, it didn't last. So for them, yes, it was very difficult to be vegetarian.





For someone like me, however, who is very staunch in their beliefs, and used to having to put up with harassment for it, it's not so tough. Especially once you reach a certain point and you realize you're not really missing anything, and the people who are giving you grief don't know **** about being a vegetarian.|||The only times when it's hard for me is when I either go to someones house and the only thing to eat is steamed vegetables ( and you usually just have to work around the butter or cheese ), going to restaurants and all you can order is french fries and when I'm with people who are confrontational about it. That doesn't normally happen in real life, more on yahoo answers lol, but it has happened.





Another thing that is hard sometimes is dating someone with different beliefs. If the subject of kids ever comes up even if you both respect each others decisions, it can be a battle. If you are a vegan and animal rights activist and say they want to go to Sea World...that can be tough lol But they are things you will eventually deal with and get over.





As long as you are firm in your beliefs, these problems are only hard for a minute. :) And besides you are vegetarian so you have way more options food wise at places. Anything can have meat taken out of it or off it and you don't have to worry about ; does this have eggs in it? does it come with cheese? is it on whole grain? lol|||Well yes the stereotype annoys me but all stereotypes have some truth to them. It's not the majority of vegetarians or vegans. Like I said in my last answer, it doesn't take, nor has it ever taken any will power for me to give up eating meat. The mere thought of eating it makes me cringe. A week ago I was eating some fried out of my boyfriend's takeout and mistook a piece of bacon for a burnt french fry (I love burnt fries). I bit into it and spent 2 minutes dousing my mouth with water, it was revolting. =(