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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

Because most guys have a deep love affair with meat and if you don't eat meat they feel like it's going to inhibit their ability to eat meat

me being a full-blown carnivore the thought of never eating meat again is just absolutely horrifying

Damn I could use a rack of baby back ribs right about now

Good question...sorry i have no idea.....

You frighten me and I feel threatened. Heheheh.

Interesting! I too eat a vegetarian diet and am surprised at how difficult it is for others to deal with. Like you I don't care what others do, I do this for me and my reasons. I ate meat most of my life so get what it is like.

Guess it means I cannot help you.

I have no idea. Frankly, it’s your choice. I would like you despite your choice of food. I don’t care for vegetables, but I certainly don’t care if my date chooses to eat them.

I'm a guy and have always viewed being vegetarian or vegan as a personal choice. As long as you are happy and getting enough nutrients (protein, vitamins, etc), that's all that really matters. To be honest, I've always found it baffling as to why people have trouble accepting those who are different from themselves.

Don’t ever try to change aspects of whom you are just to fit in to a group. Instead, let your true colors show. The people who will love the real you are the people with whom you should be friends with. Life’s too short to try to make everyone like you. Once an individual stops seeking validation from others, true growth begins to shine through. We are all different people who have different tastes, different ideals, different perspectives and different opinions. Just accept that some people are bound to dislike you, and it’s nobody’s fault.

A true relationship (friendship or romantic interest) will keep it real and won't lie, now that's real talk!! I truly believe talking and sharing all important decisions together can keep a healthy relationship. Don't start in the habit of lying for your friends or romantic interest because it can and will make it so easy to start lying to them. Speak what's on your mind and what's in your heart in the beginning of your relationship and continue this habit in the future. Never ever bring someone else's problem into your life and household. Sometimes it's okay to say nothing when the other partner is wrong especially when they are upset. Not everything has to be said all the time. Sometimes we must realize that some things happen out of our control. Remember, misery loves company so keep some things to yourself. We all will have trials and tribulations, so keep an open mind and make good judgement calls and your relationship with your friend or romantic interest will have less bumps.

At the end of the day, what matters is that we VALUE and LOVE the people that are in our lives. We need to learn that happiness is more than just a feeling. It is also a choice and the result of a series of choices. We have to choose to appreciate and love those around us.

I wouldn’t care what the person ate.

Too many people, I guess especially men, take another's food choices as an affront to their own. Often, even mentioning I am vegetarian/vegan brings up all kinds of comments and often defenses of their own choices. Unfortunately, there is no excuse for meat as a food choice! It is simply a matter of one's own sensual desire.

It's funny but next to religion the next controversial topic is one's food choices. With a little bit of critical thinking and looking at evidence both choices are clear.