I get the same reaction. I've met very few male vegetarians, and most are gay but I do know some who have fabulous vegetarian restaurants.
My theory is that traditionally, men hunted and women gathered vegetable or gardened. So men like to eat meat more than women. Women are more accepting but men provide meat, type of thinking.
I've been vegetarian most or my life. I live it and have no desire to eat meat except seafood on occasion.
You'll meet someone who either doesn't care or perhaps wants to try it. Not all men are asshole. Lol.

I could be very wrong but it's my experience that vegies purchase and cater only for themselves despite who else may be there and expect others to cater for them when they're guests.
That said vegie food is great but its missing the meat. Bacon would make every vegie meal edible and I wouldn't feel the meal was incomplete.

They don't want YOU to make them stop eating meat.

They see you as the cook of the household, and think they'll never eat steak again.

Vegetarian diet makes sense. Vegan diet is over the top and doesn't make much sense. We are omnivores and need animal protein and that all important B-12. How we get it means nothing to me until one goes through all sorts of machinations to supplement what is needed, then it makes no sense. So, I as a man who loves a good steak occasionally, would not question your diet. Why other men might, I have no idea.

It's expensive. Then you go to a fancy restaurant and you get a salad. Just like the one at McDonalds but it costs 16 bucks.

A factor is possibly wondering where to go for dinner or lunch. All my favorites don't really offer non-meat based meals. I lean towards taco stands and food trucks. Or they just never dated a veggie. My sister is, and going out to eat with her posed some challenges.

Gurl. I was vegetarian for several years (chose to start eating meat again in the last couple of months to combat some persistent anemia, that was not caused by diet, but also wasn't improving) and men (most of whom I wasn't dating because I was married until about a year ago) were always in awe and need of an explanation. Like "homie, I choose not to consume meat, end of story."

Just wondering - how many men question you and does their livelihood depend on the slaughter of livestock? I would think that if you just eat what you eat, and don't order meat, that they should be okay with it... my guess is either they're feeling guilty for their choices, or maybe think you need taking care of.

I don't know I just don't get the whole vegetarian but I eat eggs and milk. Some even eat fish. What's the point? Ya know, cows and chickens wouldn't even exist if we didn't eat them. There would be no point in raising them if it weren't for food, leather etc.

Eating meat, eggs, etc keeps them from going extinct. So to say "I don't eat meat" but I do eat eggs and milk is ridiculous. Even vegans are ridiculous, if we all followed the vegan life style all chickens, cows, etc would die out and they would no er exist! Do vegans really hate all animals and wish they would disappear?

Eat a burger and stop pretending that you are better than everyone else.

"I'm not pretending I'm better than anyone else", really because I have never posted anywhere how much I like to eat meat. But people who don't love to tell everyone how much they don't.

I became a vegetarian in 1971 and what you describe is how people often react; men and women. In some restaurants i'm even shown the seafood portion of the menu. That's when i ask them if they grow their seafood in their garden. hahaha

But generally people can't seem to understand why i made or make the choice, and the fact that i've been healthy and continue to be super-active confuses some even more. LLOL

How do i handle their curiosity, if that's what it is? I used respond with smart ass responses but got bored with doing that long ago. So when someone persisted on the subject, i just asked why my vegetarianism seemed so important to them? That usually changed the subject, or just ended the conversation. Either outcome works for me.

A factor is possibly wondering where to go for dinner or lunch. All my favorites don't really offer non-meat based meals

Maybe they see you being a vegetarian as a threat to their "perfect life" in the future. No home cooked steak dinners, no grilling burgers with friends on game day, having to eat stuff like "rabbit food" (aka salads and vegetables), tofu, quinoa, tempeh, or other foods they can't pronounce. I really have no idea. People can be overly cautious to things that seem "strange" and "not normal" to them, which can lead to rudeness and aggression.

As a vegetarian myself, I've had people (mostly women because I work with 98% women and date women) tell me I'm missing out by not eating meat. They'll try to tease me by saying their food (whatever meat dish they are having) is sooooo goooood and will offer me a piece as if I'm punishing myself by not eating meat and if I tried it, I would go back to eating meat.

Sorry you are going through this. I guess it's to be expected living in the South. As for myself, I'm part of the unholy Southern trifecta: atheist, liberal, vegetarian.

That's interesting. I looked at your profile. Is this a big deal in your age group? At my really advanced years, and IF I was looking for a potential permanent partner... I'd be concerned about someone's health from that diet. A simple solution is to ask the fellows why they keep asking YOU about it.
PS: I'm not looking for a date. If I was it wouldn't be with someone my daughter's age.

Vegetarians and Omnivores... the Montagues and Capulets of food.

There's so much judgment related to what people eat. If it's not one thing, it's another. For example, I'd like to live long enough to see the decriminalization of bread.

I don't know that men necessarily react more. I think either a man or woman will react if the person they are reacting to could be a potential partner. In other words, my vegetarian girlfriends don't care that I eat meat, but they also won't date someone who does. This may be because it matters more when you have to live with someone, share meals with them, or eventually raise children together, etc..

Having said that, I've seen both men and women push back hard regarding the consumption of meat; whether to consume it or not. Not even related to vegetarianism, I've struggled being in a relationship with someone who had very limited tastes. He was a "meat and potatoes" guy who was uncomfortable watching anyone eat sushi. The social impact of food is significant. This could be why you notice it more with men than women.

I don't know, but there is sampling bias here, or so it appears. Unless you date men and women (put them in the same situation, a controlled experiment!) and then compare their reactions, your premise that men care more about what you eat is not correct. Obviously your date would be more than interested in why you made such a choice than some friend.

I am still trying to figure out what a vegetarian cannibal eats.

I don’t know why anyone would be concerned about what you choose to eat. Maybe they really don’t care and they’re just desperately groping at something to talk about.

Men are probably commenting because somewhere in their heads they are thinking how it would be tough for them to date you.

I'm a veggie, too. I don't get a lot of comments and, on the rare occasion that I do, I consider the source. Usually, it comes from people that feel disempowered in life and need someone to mess with. It's usually some asshole masturbating about bacon... and he is related to me. In this case, I gently inform him that it's my business and that he isn't paying for or cooking my food and is it going to date me shi mind his business.

My favorite is when it is done by an obese person with diabetes saying my diet isn't healthy. I address that, too - I tell them that they need to watch their own protein/fat/sugar macros themselves before giving me any advice. At the end of the day, the proof is in the proverbial pudding.

Carry yourself with confidence. Your diet causes less misery and pollution in the world - it's a fact. If you think you're diet could be better, then make it better! Be the best you can be.

All the best to you!

When I went vegan I mentioned it to a coworker and he asked me if I had told my mother I was gay yet? He was an asshole, not only doesn’t he work there anymore I can’t remember his name.

I'm a guy that is an ovo-lacto vegetarian... You'd be welcome at our table.

Some people create an image based on stereotypes. The questions are probably just curiosity because you aren't preachy about it. Of course, some people see it as a power issue to influence what other people eat. There are a lot of different potential motivators.

On the dating side its a nightmare deciding on where to eat most places do not really cater for vegtarians ( veg lasagne and thats about it) i hated food times with an ex of mine as nowhere did anything decent

It's a bit inconvenient to locate suitable options when dining out with a vegetarian, but it isn't too bad. It's similar to dining out with gluten free people. If someone makes a big deal about it, I'd consider changing dinner companions. I make a lot of vegetarian meals. If it's got cheese, it's hard to dislike.

Because some men believe it's a woman's job to prepare all meals.

I never thought of it before but I do believe you are right. Meat eating has long been associated with masculinity though it's not as obvious in our cultures as others. Except how men, even ones that never cook, just LOVE to barbecue. Also more hunters & fishers are men.

Perhaps it's a testosterone thing. Lol. I'm a meat eater, but do not have problems with someone who is a vegetarian.. it's just a diet preference choice.