I didn’t take up drinking tea until very late in life – my twenties, as it happens.
Yes, I know that one’s twenties don’t exactly qualify as autumn years, but so engrained is the concept of The Tay in Ireland, not supping of a cuppa until you’ve moved out from home is as alien as growing feet on your ears. I taught myself to like tea because I was sick of various mammies dropping the pot in terror when I refused a splash. Whole armies of Missus Doyles stood against me. I couldn’t beat them. Not with reason, not with stroppiness, not with grandiose fabrications of horrible allergies; it was easier just to temper my tastebuds and get on with it.
Well, to an extent anyway. I drink my tea black without sugar, which wrecks their heads to an degree I’m placated by.
I began drinking tea. A little after that, I stopped eating meat. And the whole frantic rìrà began anew.
“You don’t eat meat? You … wha’? I don’t understand. How can you not eat meat? What do you eat instead?”
It started, as most things do, with my mother, who was amazed and appalled in equal measure, as if I’d suddenly become able to peel my face off at will. “Would you not have a bit of ham?” she would offer, as ham is, in her mind, not Real Meat and therefore perfectly acceptable fare for vegetarians. And in a sense, she has a point. Commercial ham slices are mostly salted water mixed with márla.
“I won’t have a bit of ham, no.”
“Chicken?”
“No, Mam. Vegetarians don’t eat chicken.”
“Mary Flaherty’s daughter eats chicken and she’s a vegetarian.”
“She’s not a vegetarian, Mam; she’s just health-conscious.”
“Jaysus. Well, what will I feed you?” And she’d stand in the middle of her kitchen, arms and eyes to heaven, hoping for divine intervention to recondition her unconventional spawn, praying for a celestial cow to fall into my gullet.
In the end she got used to the idea, and now, whenever I travel home to see her, she heats up two frozen veggie burgers and sticks them in the middle of a big white plate for me. Small mercies, dear reader. Baby steps.
It’s not just my mammy, who’s so set in her ways you could use her as a mathematical constant. Vegetarianism is not an uncommon lifestyle choice, but it still provokes some befuddling reactions here in Ireland. Let’s face it, this is a country where you were always expected to eat-that-up-it’s-good-for-you and thank the Lawrd above that you weren’t a starving child in Africa who’d have been only too delighted to finish that cabbage. We come from a long line of putter-ups or shutter-ups. The Celtic Tiger, and foreign holidays, and the influx of English bohemians who gave our comely maidens funny ideas about animal rights and breastfeeding – sure what else could you blame for this generation of Irish who have particular tastes and strong notions?
It’s not as if I’m a raw food fanatic, or fruitarian, or even a plain ole’ vegan. I just don’t eat dead things. I don’t give a (living, breathing) monkey who else eats meat. I don’t. That’s all.
“Do you eat fish?” is the most common question I’m asked.
“Nope.”
“But fish aren’t animals!”
“They are.”
“Fish have no memories,” I’m informed.
“Evidence suggests that they do,” I reply. “And anyway, I know plenty of people with terrible memories and I don’t go about attacking them with chilli sauce and cutlery.”
“Are you one of those mad people that won’t eat eggs?”
“I love eggs.”
“Well, I suppose that’s ok so,” they say, backing away slowly.
None of this is because vegetarians are considered dangerously insane, mind. I firmly believe that such bewildered reactions to my diet come from our hospitable culture – you wouldn’t have visitors to your house without offering them refreshment, and it’s a pain in your homely bosom if your visitors have unpredictable attitude towards dead pigs. Worse if you’ve got a veggie coming to dinner; what on earth can they eat, if not steak/chops/chicken/salmon? You cannot leave a guest hungry at an Irish table. It would be mortifying.
There’s also an attitude, not confined to Ireland, that vegetarians are prissy, overly-principled, preachy and awkward. All of which apply to me on a general basis, but my vegetarianism genuinely isn’t something I prop my chin up on. I’m really easy to please. Just give me spuds and salt. Job done.
The lack of understanding what a vegetarian is, as opposed to having to understand their motivations, is what flummoxes me. Vegetarians don’t eat dead animals. Dead animals are what meat’s cut from, so no meat. The most complicated thing is cheese, and in fairness, I do understand that many carnivores won’t be aware that some cheese isn’t vegetarian – I don’t understand why Irish restaurants don’t know this, though. Surely chefs know the difference between vegetarian rennet and animal rennet? The amount of veggie dishes in Irish restaurants liberally and lovingly sprinkled with parmesan really confounds me – parmesan is made to a traditional recipe which includes calf rennet – but then again, I recently bought Jamie Oliver’s 30 Minute Meals (I’m the only veggie in my house) and the majority of his “vegetarian” recipes had more parmesan in than a waddling procession of overfed Italians. If Jamie Oliver, the world’s most famous chef, doesn’t know what parmesan is, then I can’t really blame the local beee-strow.
In the meantime, I’ve resigned myself to sticking to coffee in McDonalds and nibbling my fingernails at catered events. Oh, and surviving on the occasional, lonely veggie burger when at the homestead. One day, we’ll get the hang of these alternative lifestyles.
And on that day, I intend to stuff. My. Face.
Anthea McTeirnan
Croí na Duibhlinn
Aoife Barry
Aoife McLysaght
Arlene Hunt
Attracta McCarthy-McKenna
clairehennessy
Ann Cronin
Amanda Brown
Eleanor Fitzsimons
Edel Coffey
Anna Carey
Lauren Murphy
Jennie Ridyard
Jude Leavy
Hazel Katherine Larkin
Léan Ní Chuilleanáin
Leigh
Lisa McInerney
Laura Slattery
Maman Poulet
Megan McGurk
Clare Kleinedler
Molly
Rosita Boland
Catherine Crichton
Sinéad Gleeson
sarahefranklin
siobhandowling
Susan Daly
theantiroom
Nuala Ní Chonchúir
As in many things, I am a vegetarian in principle but not in practice. Arguments from principle are moving but often unconvincing. How about plants? I am informed by others that plants respond to good music and human voices. Oh dear, not even all humans respond to voices and good music. Is it safe, is it wise and is it principled to eat vegetables. I put things off. Next week I shall save the planet and the following week I shall become a vegetarian.
I thoroughly enjoyed this blog. With the exception of a cup in the morning (which is decaf – not real tea apparently), I don’t drink tea either. It drives my friends mad, they feel stingy just giving me water (which I am ok with).
I do eat meat however, not a lot of it mind, but I won’t be giving it up. I know how you feel when you try to explain you don’t eat something though. I am coeliac and trying to explain that to people is like trying to teach a cat to tap dance (not easy, but maybe not impossible).
Great post Lisa. And yes, as far as wanting to make sure you eat as much as possible in case of instant starvation – that pretty much sounds like my own folks and most of my numerous aunts/uncles in general (though they all mean well). Not a vegetarian myself, though i don’t appreciate being told what i should eat or how much of it either. I’m one of these people who can eat a small sandwich and feel completely full for the day!
“There’s also an attitude, not confined to Ireland, that vegetarians are prissy, overly-principled, preachy and awkward.”
God, what a tiresome old meme that is. I’ve been in close proximity to a vegetarian for coming on seven years now, and the amount of hectoring, badgering, bullying and condescension she’s got from outraged omnivores beggars belief. And then they turn around and complain about vegetarians being obnoxious.
Relevant: http://www.flickr.com/photos/smiteme/4170866438/
Poor woman! how does she put up with that?
That bingo card was spot on: I have definitely accumulated a full house over the years.
I am not a vegetarian, but I don’t eat meat any longer and agree that some folk have a difficult time coming to terms with this.
The question I get asked most -usually in an incredulous tone- is, ‘do you not miss it?’ And when I say ‘nope’ I then get the matching incredulous look.
It was a single striploin steak that did for me a few years back, sitting grey and slab-like on a plate. Turned my stomach so much I fed it to the delighted dog. Then I watched the film Earthlings and that was it. No more meat, no missing it either. Much like I don’t miss smoking.
Lots of people seem shocked that I don’t miss it, either. I mean, c’mon, lads. It’s not taytos. It’s only meat.
I missed chicken liver pate until my brilliant other half found some strange yeast paste in a tube (no, really) that tasted just like it. I never thought I’d see the day I’d be feasting on yeast paste from health food shops, but there you go.
I don’t eat meat either! But I eat fish. Which makes me a pesquetarian, so I’m a vegetarian who’s not a vegetarian because it’s easier to explain to people that I’m a vegetarian rather than a pesquetarian cos that way they won’t feed me chicken when I go to their houses on the onus that I already eat fish. It can and does get very complicated. I gave up meat back in London in 1988 during a beef scare and never bothered going back on it. I stayed a non-fish eating veggie for years till the lack of protein (lentils, lentils, you only take me so far) during hormonal times sent me wild for McD’s fillet-0-fishies which are really quite tasty-awful and from there I graduated onto proper seafood but am in total denial that this is meat so still consider myself a vegetarian despite not being a vegetarian. Maybe I’m a culinary bisexual? Great post by the way!
That bingo game is brilliant.
“Expresses concern for plant suffering”
We got you, charliechops1!
Kerri, I’d happily pay to watch you teach a cat to tapdance. I can’t be alone in that, either.
And I would happily take your money Lisa. However, I don’t like cats so I am rarely in their company… which might explain why I find it so difficult to teach them to tapdance!
Great post, hey. I’m personally not vegetarian, but I live with people who are. And often the most tricky thing to get around is gelatine. It’s in everything!
Great post – a lot of it hit home with me as I’ve been a veggie for 19 years.
Older generations in particular can find it difficult to cater for veggies – as you mention, being hospitable is their number one aim. My grandmother used to load me up with oranges because I couldn’t have turkey sandwiches at Christmas!
I think some people expect you to be a preachy vegetarian and are surprised if you don’t try to convert them.
I also think that for meat-eaters, talking to a vegetarian opens up a chink – that perhaps eating animals isn’t the only way.
Each to their own but personally, I gave up eating meat when I was 14, around the time we got a dog. For me, it seemed hypocritical to be so attached to this dog and care about endangered animals in the wild but then to chomp down on pigs, cows, chickens, fish etc. like they were not really animals at all.
The trigger for me was an episode of The Simpsons (hence the picture above).
As embarrassing as that is, it’s the truth. Y’know the episode where Bart joins the 4H club and adopts a weak calf, only to be horrified when his efforts at making him strong and healthy win the calf a trip to the abattoir? Yeah.
One cannot underestimate the influence The Simpsons has on me.
My boyfriend doesn’t eat meat and I didn’t know about the parmesan! Somehow I don’t think he doesn’t either, considering the amount he includes in his dishes.
Ignorance is bliss. The ethical question is: do you tell him, respecting his principals but ruining his life?
Or principles. One should respect one’s principals as well, though, or expect a horrid time at school.
I haven’t decided. Dilemna!
Or dilemma even!
Been a veggie for 21 years (I’m the ripe old age of 33 now) – travelling in Asia and South America last year was by far my biggest challenge to say the least. I had people hide meat in rice, under potatoes, disguised it in sauce and liquefied – all in an attempt to ‘correct me’. The worst was an angry little Bolivian man who thought I was insulting him and his nation’s cooking!
Coincidentally I also only began drinking tea in my 20s when I was living in The Netherlands. I discovered it didn’t have to be diluted with gallons of milk or a field of cane sugar and I finaly began to enjoy it.
I’ve always wondered if it would be possible to travel the world as a vegetarian.
Everyone keeps telling me not to bother, as I’d starve.
I made the mistake of thinking everywhere was going to be like India where one third of the 1+ billion are vegetarian and thought it was going to be a breeze. It’s all worth it though – if you can get used to eating paddy fields of rice
I once said to the mother, isn’t it odd that not one of your six children turned out a vegetarian?
And I received a look of such confusion, insult, and horror, it was as if I’d asked her did she not think it odd that none of her children had turned out a serial killer.
Haven’t been to much of the developing world, where I would hazard it might be difficult for a vegetarian to find food. Worst country so far was France – really struggled to find veggie options on menus. Couple of good veggie restaurants in Paris but I couldn’t get to them (or perhaps even find them on the map!)
Best one ever was in Malaga one year on family holiday – my Spanish is okay so was able to communicate that I wanted the salad but not with the tuna (there was no veggie option on the menu). 10 minutes later, salad arrives with tuna – I explained no tuna please.
3 minutes later, salad arrives back minus the tuna but little bits of it under the lettuce leaves.
I admitted defeat and ate around the tuna shreds!
That’s gas about Lisa Simpson influencing you. I do wonder how much Charlotte’s Web left an impression on me growing up. Maybe Babe has had the same effect on some youngsters growing up now?
that’s hilarious … i could have written that post. i find france really difficult and had the same awful experience with tuna / salad . can’t remember whether i ate around it. probably not, but maybe just to make a point to the chef!
Great post! Coming up to my 9th veggiversary myself. I agree that a lot of people expect vegetarians to be preachy tut-tutters. You can immediately spot the sort of smirking meat-eater who tries to get a rise out of veggies by asking silly, cliched question after silly, cliched question (the ‘But what about plants? They’re alive, too’ one is one I’ve heard a million times). It’s funny to see their reaction when I tell them that I couldn’t give a farmer’s fart whether they eat meat or not. My take on it is that people know where meat comes from, if they choose to eat it, that’s their decision.
And I laughed at the bit where you said most carnivores who give that sort of grilling (pun intended) seem to be strangely placated when you say you’re not a vegan. God forbid they should try and wrap their heads around that concept!
I eat a mostly vegetarian diet since a) mass-produced meat tastes like shite and b) my boyfriend’s a vegetarian.
His parents were hippies who raised their kids as vegetarians, so he has never – ever ever – tasted meat. The thing is, he doesn’t actually care that much about animal welfare and stuff – it’s just that the thought of eating flesh repulses him because it’s never been in his system.
I do like the taste of proper free-range meat, but I reckon if we’re going to eat it we should be eating it as the cavemen types ate it, as in, once a week or fortnight as opposed to THREE TIMES A DAY.
Good point, Ali! If carnivorous types bang on about cavemen again I shall fling it at ‘em.
I have to say that the comments on this post have been brilliantly entertaining. You’re all great; thank you!
This is such a good post! Found myself nodding along with it. I recently started a new job and had to go through all the explanations again with a new set of people. The funniest thing I find is the wegetarian conversation quickly turns into a group of people telling you what their favourite meats are! Also, I travelled in Argentina recently, before going I was assured I would starve because I wouldn’t eat “the steak” but it was fine. Lots of pizza but definitely do-able.
A veggie I know went to South America – he said the everyday food is rice and beans, while the Sunday/celebration food was meat (usually goat). He *said* he managed to persuade everyone to feed him the beans (under protest) – maybe in fact he didn’t O.O
Re parmesan cheese, there’s a vegan alternative (called Parma iirc). Vegan pal says it’s lovely fwiw.
Thanks for the tip – will look out for it!
south america is a massive continent… and there is a huge difference between its countries, what they eat, etc… there is no “everyday food”
The decision to not eat meat is understandable.What I don’t get is how at a dinner party with other people, you can’t help yourself from a plate of ham? The ham or chicken or whatever is already dead. Either you eat it or someone else at the party eats it or it goes in the bin. I have a lot of food I really hate and avoid eating at all costs, but if it’s served in front of me, I’ll eat a good part of it. The fact that vegetarians seem to never break their rule for any reason seems like it’s more of a case of “don’t like” than “it’s wrong.”I get why you would be a veggie, but I don’t see why you don’t just avoid eating meat where possible and chill out the rest of the time. What’s annoying isn’t the idea that it’s wrong to kill animals, the annoying thing is being so strict in any one belief.
That makes no sense at all. If a person does not eat meat because of ethical or personal taste reasons why on earth would they eat it just for the sake of eating it because it is before them? For what purpose? To make someone else happy? To save it from the bin?
I hate parsley, I sure as hell wouldn’t touch the stuff to save someone’s feelings or to save it from the bin, I feel the same way about slices of dead pig.
It’s not my opinion that veggies are insane for being veggies and sticking to it, I just said that’s what’s annoying about it to other people. I have vegetarian friends and don’t have a problem with their decision not to eat meat, but I am pretty adamant I don’t eat Soy products because I think they’re dodgy as hell, and I hate sprouts and broccolli with a vengeance. Yet, when served to me, I’ll eat what I can and not make a big deal out of it. All of us are descended from millions of years of animals who ate meat, and it seems to me that if that meat eating that let to your birth was ok, the odd slice of ham shouldn’t be an issue. If it is, fine, that makes sense too. But it can be annoying, that’s all. I don’t really care about this too much, I’m only trying to explain why it’s annoying to omnivores. It’s the same with any strict lifestyle choice, whatever it is. Your friends accept it, but sometimes it’s annoying.
But why should it be annoying to an omnivore what someone else eats? I don’t get upset if someone doesn’t drink alcohol, or if someone doesn’t eat bread, why would I care if a person eats meat or does not eat meat?
My husband eats meat and would eat meat with most meals, it doesn’t bother me and indeed why should it? I can’t find the logic to your idea that people might be justified in finding a non meat eater annoying.
Yes, I don’t get it either. I’m an omnivore and have never once been annoyed by anyone’s vegetarianism. And god knows I have plenty of vegetarian friends. I don’t expect anyone to be annoyed by the fact I can’t stand coriander, and I don’t get annoyed by people not eating bacon. Mmmm, bacon.
That’s such a cazy comment and completely sums up certain peoples lack of understanding re vegetarianism. Reminds me of once being asked if I would eat roadkill – same logic, it’s already dead. The meat in any restaurant or home is generally already dead also. The decision to become vegetarian (for me) had nothing to do with anyone else, meat eater or not and is not intended to either offend or appease anyone elses feelings.
So if a Jewish person is at your table you’d expect them to eat pig cos it’s already dead then? Ditto Muslims. And let the Hindus eat beef and be grateful too, because it’s just going to waste if they don’t.
Most folk give up meat for ethical reasons. I did.
great article lisa.your writing is just getting better and better.i am jealous.
Aww! Thank you!
Best reaction – 6th class, a year or so into being vegetarian, attacked by a kid in class – ‘What about all the orphans in Africa with nothing in their nappies?’
..WHAT?
Just saw the omnivore bingo – “Expresses an unrelated concern for starving children somewhere”
I’m guessing that’s what she was trying to do, in a really weird, disgusting way? I think I may have to print that out to hand to the next person who demands an explanation for my eating habits..
@Jules – Of the places I’ve lived Spain is definitely the hardest to be vegetarian in – there aren’t many options if you’re eating out, unless you like living on sandwiches. It’s easier to pretend not to be hungry than to use the v-word
This reminds me of when I was little, and my mam would try to shame me into eating all my dinner by talking about the starving babies in Africa. And my stock, 7-year-old whine was “Can’t we send it to them?” genuinely thinking we could post my spuds and carrots in an envelope to Concern.
Do none of you veggies get the annual ‘what are you having for your christmas dinner question?’ sometimes said out of curiousity/to have something to talk about and sometimes to underline your weirdness but always asked frequently at Christmas time?
On the side of sympathy for the host, my son and I were visiting a friend (who also reads this blog – hi!)who had been invited to a christening barbecue in one of her friend’s house the same day as our visit to her. The barbecue host very kindly invited us along too. The host’s mouth dropped open when he realised his three unplanned-for additional guests were a coeliac, a vegetarian diabetic and an egg and peanut allergic child. Sometimes it is hard to be a host!
Absolutely! I’m always careful to be as easy-going as I can about veggie options when going to a friend’s house. I generally just ask for whatever they’re having, without the meat. Like a plate of veg or salad. It’s difficult planning for a visiting veggie/coeliac/allergic!
I ALWAYS get asked about the turkey/ham thing at Christmas. My other half and daughter are omnivores, so they have some turkey, and I have a huge plate of roast parsnips. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I LOVE ROAST PARSNIPS.
Great post Lisa. As per Aoife Gillespie, your posts are great and I look forward to them!
Being a veggie in Ireland almosts needs a license. Am surprised that people cannot see the large V on my forehead and my malnourished bones (not the case at all, sad to say re: generous rump
Is very shocking that most restaurants don’t recognise veggie and non-veggie cheese. When you ask specifically, you feel like a tool and that you’re doing a prima donna all over the set. But come on!
Travelling with veggitarianism is interesting. Asia would seem to be good but China and Vietnam have an unnatural affinity with pork, so boo to that
And there’s also fun stuff like prawn extract, oyster sauce and fish sauce. But proper Asian veggie food is to be found, and yes, dump the macaroni cheese,
it’s like heaven.
Thanks!
I suspect that a lot of waiting staff in Irish restaurants would think you were simple if you asked about veggie cheese. “Shure there’s no mate in cheese, what are y’on about?”
And like I say, if the illustrious Jamie Oliver hasn’t a clue, what hope for the rest of us?
I’ve been a vegetarian for 26 years now. It started off as an animal rights thing but I stopped being particularly concerned with animal rights a long time ago. I just don’t look at dead animal bits and see “food”.
More recently, I’ve begun reading about food insecurity in the developing world and the extent to which this is linked to the meat industry. For me that is a compelling ethical reason to avoid meat, although I would still consider it a secondary reason in my case.
I’ve done a fair bit of travelling and have found that as long as you’re eating in commercial establishments it’s usually easy enough to find something I can eat, although in some countries it requires skipping the “main dishes” section of the menu and combining a few starters instead. I have never had a problem in France or Spain because there are always ethnic restaurants around with cuisines that have vegetarian options. Vegans (like my sister) have a lot more difficulty.
Oh, yes. There are a lot of ethical/environmental reasons one might stop eating meat, without even having to think of animal welfare. Rearing meat takes up huge resources.
I fear that if I travelled anywhere, I’d have to live on bananas and rice. Woe!
“Vegetarians don’t eat dead animals. Dead animals are what meat’s cut from, so no meat. The most complicated thing is cheese, and in fairness, I do understand that many carnivores won’t be aware that some cheese isn’t vegetarian – I don’t understand why Irish restaurants don’t know this, though. Surely chefs know the difference between vegetarian rennet and animal rennet?”
In fairness now, the milk for the lovely cheese does not come from a dead animal. Might this make your argument a little soft? Cows experience incredible udder pain if not milked twice daily. By eating cheese, you are doing them a favour and relieving their pain, thereby helping them live a happier existence.
Obviously I am not a vegetarian but I am a huge animal welfare activist. I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
Móna
Mona, the difference between veggie cheese and non-veggie cheese is the rennet used to make it. Loads of cheeses use vegetarian rennet these days, including most commercial cheddars. But it’s impossible to get vegetarian parmesan. It’s like champagne; you can only call it parmesan if it’s made in a particular way, etc, and it requires calf rennet. That’s rennet taken from the stomach of a newly-slaughtered calf.
To a veggie, it’s like eating veal. Ewww!
To be honest, I keep putting off the leap into veganism; the nastiness behind commercial milk production is a little hard for me to – excuse the pun – stomach. The only thing stopping me is cheese. Lovely, lovely cheese. I’m such a wimp.
Great post Lisa. I was a vegetarian for most of my teens into my early twenties and whilst I gave up (bacon called me back :$) I am so grateful I did it as it forced me to learn how to cook. I do not see the point of eating fake meat and wanted to learn how to make proper food that didn’t require meat to be complete.
I got a chuckle a few months ago when I ordered the “vegetarian option” at a Sunday lunch – I find it’s usually the only thing prepared fresh – and was reminded three times that there was no meat in it.
Interesting post! I had never realised that about cheese (and I think some vegetarians haven’t either).
I am not a vegetarian, but I’m not a big fan of meat either. I must admit that I am more concerned about the way our food is produced than about if it’s animal or vegetable, therefore, I try to make informed choices: eat less, but better quality (free-range, organic, etc).
I’m not a vegetarian, but I wouldn’t be a big potato eater and your mother’s reaction to your vegetarianism made me giggle because of my own mother’s denunciation of my dinners if they don’t include the good ould Irish staple of the spud!
Pasta was a huge leap for my mother. I don’t think she even attempted spag bol until I was in my late teens. It was unthinkable not to have shpuds with the dinner!
I became a veggie 26 years ago… I remember the trauma at the time as I was but 13, and my father took himself off to the family doctor to get a medical opinion on this madness, and possibly to see if I could be sectioned.
And what did the doc say? “Good for her!”
Turned out he didn’t eat meat either.
Now, he did encourage me to include fish in my diet and I did so to keep the peace — and also so I could actually eat in carnivorous South Africa, where the only non-animal offering in restaurants at the time was a baked potato with the exotic choice of butter or sour cream.
Alas, I have never given up the fish though, but I console myself by only buying it from the fishmonger, or M&S, and trying non-endangered fish like mackerel. Don’t imagine that is any salve, but it’s all I can offer, shame-faced.
Excellent piece Lisa, and very funny.
Brilliant post Lisa!!! I went veggie in ’09, then vegan – might seem it happened pretty swiftly but I was sort of a vegan by default once I gave up chicken.
It took me a few years to ‘transition’, (that word sounds a bit silly but anyway) as I’d wanted to go veg for years but really didn’t know much about cooking, was a very picky eater and couldn’t imagine life without chicken.
I ate red meat very rarely, so cut that out, then about a year or two later cut down chicken then cut it out completely.
Then as I didn’t eat eggs or much dairy I ended up going for vegan recipe books and now I’m a vegan. It’s taken me about a year to call me that though as it’s a pretty loaded word in a way.
Anyway I thought your post was hilarious and it shows that not all veggies are po-faced or in-your-face! At Christmas last year my gran asked me did I want some turkey as it wasn’t ‘real meat’
Also, the parmesan thing is baffling – it’s in every bloody veggie dish in Ireland….
Getting vegan food when you eat out here can be a right pain in the arse but I love my food and have only had a few big probs like rude waiters.