Reasons for food choices

[tristan]

Unlike most people who are vegetarian, I made the decision when I was about 3, so I didn't have to undo any habitual patterns. I really can't remember what meat tastes like, so I don't ever crave it, or have any desire to eat it. I accidentally ate some once a few years ago (took a bite and the almost was sick and spat it out) and I really felt sick. I don't think I could eat meat if I tried. I know this is not the case for many vegetarians, especially those people who made the decision later in life.

For many reasons, I don't have to think about why I am vegetarian (having no desire to eat meat). When I do think about it I am as committed to the reasons as any non-meat eating person (I use this term because there are so many terms for vegetarians). For me there are three main reasons, each enough on its own. Health, Environment, Animal Rights.

For me that is enough said, but many people still have the 'yeah buts'. Does anyone push the issue in discussions with the 'nons'? I find some people are very pushy, and at times I have been very pushy back.

[kokonutmama]

Actually, I don't push the issue.  Maybe I used to, in my angry teen years, but since then I've found that people who do choose to eat meat either have convinced themselves that it's the best thing for them to do for some reason (very few, I'm only thinking of two people) or they simply choose not to think about it.  In the former case I feel I should respect their decision as I would expect them to respect mine, and in the latter it just pisses me off and I feel like I'm beating my head against a wall.  Which I don't enjoy.  Particularly if they're someone I otherwise get along with.  There have been a couple of people who actually decided to become vegetarian or vegan due to my influence, but they didn't come at me with the "Yeah, buts."  I'll talk about it and defend my choices, but will no longer argue.
Good question.

[tristan]

I agree with that. I think 9 out 10 people eat meat out of ignorance and misconceptions brought about by the media and driven by the meat industry. Just like the dairy industry telling us our kids MUST eat cheese and drink milk or they will not be healthy. This is of course completely untrue, yet it is so entrenched into our culture. The same with meat. I am frequently asked in relation to my not eating meat, 'so how do you get your protein/iron?' like there must be some magical secret to life without meat. My usual response is 'the same way you do. from amino acids mostly from plants, and iron mostly from green leafly vegetables.' This is usually met with a puzzled look - the mis-information is so entrenched in our reality.

I don't push it either. I never used to, even when 'attacked' but now if provoked I let them have it. It comes from being so confident and secure in my rationale for it. I respect anyones decision to do whatever they like, but when they attack my beliefs, then I feel it is appropriate to set the record straight.

I have often wondered whether by talking about it opening with people, whether we are helping to raise their awareness of an issue that they may want to know about. We just need to be able to spot the 1 in 10 that know it all and still eat meat. There is also another group that are blissfully ignorant and really don't want to be awakened from their slumber. What of these people? Compassion?