I don’t know about other Vegans, but the single most annoying question I get is “What do you eat*?”
I’m not as bothered by the question as I am by my answer. And by “answer” I mean stammering, hemming and hawing and trying to think of anything I ate in the last 24 hours.
It goes something like this:
Inquisitor: What do you eat?
Me: (shit, what do I eat? I can’t say a lot of broccoli and sprouts. Oh! Veggie Burgers! No, then the next question will be, if meat is so bad, why are you eating fake meat? Damn. Ok, pizza without cheese? Hell no. That’s not gonna appeal to anyone and I’m trying to sell this veganism thing. I don’t want them thinking I’m deprived. Crap) Oh, I eat lots of things mumble mumble.
In an attempt to avoid this kind of panic, I’m thinking I might start flogging a little. No, not with whips or thorn bushes (not a very Jewish thing to do, anyway) I mean a food log….but you knew that already, right?
Yes, it’s super boring and a blog cop-out so I don’t plan to make it my only content or for it to go on forever. It’s just an exercise in paying even MORE attention to what I eat so when someone asks, I’m more prepared. Oh, and I wouldn’t mind a little input from readers, either….(ha ha. Like I have readers.)
*ahem*
Captain’s Food Log Stardate 5770
Breakfast
Hot cereal: Quinoa Flakes with raisins, brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon and a dash of vanilla
Lunch
Baked potato topped with manwich stuff (made with Smart Ground), Brocoli
Dinner
Went to our favorite burrtio lounge: El Rey and had the Cali (rice, black beans, tomatoes and guac.) Thank heaven for this place…they know what I mean when I tell ‘em I’mvegan.
*Which, by the way, I’ve come to believe is a loaded question. Yes, they are asking, but they aren’t at all open to the idea of a vegan diet, so no matter what I say they will dismiss it.
i was JUST talking to my mom about this the other day. you summed up my exact thoughts. i don’t get annoyed that they are asking, i’m glad when people are curious about it and not being a jerk about it, but it is such a hard question for me to answer. what would they say if i asked them “what they eat”??
And isn’t it ironic that our diets aren’t really THAT different? I usually end up listing a bunch of commercially available foods that are accidentally vegan.
As someone that does eat meat, for the record, I would never question why you would eat a meat substitute product. What you do or do not eat is completely up to you. It would be like you asking me why I choose to eat beef, chicken, etc.
That is just plain rude.
Actually, I stand corrected. I had a co-worker that became a vegetarian overnight. OK, whatever. Then she would proceed to lecture everyone that we worked with on why eating meat was horrible. *Uhhhhh, no*. That doesn’t fly with me. So I asked her…if she was so concerned with what *I* chose to eat, why is it that she has no problem wearing leather products (shoes, jacket, etc.) ?! She gave me a dirty look, but it shut her right up!
This is so very frustrating. I tend to just stammer so I don’t have any input on composing a good answer! Another question I hate, “Well, what about protein?” Grrrr….don’t worry about me…worry about yourself! I’m vegetarian now, but plan to go vegan for lent (and hopefully beyond…I have a major cheese addiction that I need to break.) and am very thankful to have your blog to turn to for food ideas/inspiration.
OMG I hate the protein question! Hello? Protein is the building block of all life so even brocoli has some. Tofu is actually the best source of protein (even better than meat.) Mentioning that usually shuts folks up. I get a lot of “where do you get your calcium?”, too. Again, brocoli is a good source (as are other greens) and quinoa is a calcium source too. Besides, the countries with the highest incidences of osteoporosis (sp?) also ironically have the highest dairy consumption. hmmmmm……