How to Have a Conversation with a Vegetarian

How we get our protein, and other questions answered.

I’ve been a vegetarian for about four years as of this writing. Those who know me best are very used to it by now and, living in a big city, it’s usually a non-issue. However, I recently travelled back home to Pennsylvania and Ohio (the carnivorous Midwest / Northeast) to visit family and friends, and found myself having the same conversations over and over.

While veganism and vegetarianism are more socially accepted than they used to be, I’m frequently surprised at the general lack of knowledge surrounding these lifestyles. This is largely our own fault — diet-restrictive people from pescatarians to flexitarians seem to identify on an bewildering, ambiguous spectrum. (Ever heard of a Beegan?)

So here I am to dispense knowledge and, hopefully, ease the pain of vegetarians everywhere the next time you want to ask them, “how do you get your protein?”

A couple of admissions right up front:

1. The burden of explanation does fall on the dietarily-restricted, as we’re still in the vast minority. Therefore, I will try to keep any indignation and sarcasm to a minimum.
2. This is not a science-based post. While I’ve figured my own diet out for myself, I’m not a nutritionist or doctor, so I don’t pretend to know the nuances of amino acid and B vitamins.
3. This is also not a post about animal rights or a “cruelty-free” lifestyle. While those are wonderful side effects to being vegetarian, I’m not here to dance on a soapbox.

I’m a vegetarian, not vegan, but it still surprises me how many people don’t know the difference. So we’ll start there.

Veggies vs. Vegans

Generally speaking, vegetarians don’t eat meat while vegans don’t eat any animal-based products at all. (“Real” vegans also don’t even wear clothing made from animal products.) As with anything, there are subsets: Lacto-ovo vegetarians don’t eat meat, but do eat eggs and dairy products…