Quick reminder: Sometimes people say “I’m vegan” or “I’m vegetarian” because its easier/faster/begets fewer annoying questions than the longer explanation.
As an epidemiologist I can list a few of the more annoying longer explanations that no one wants to have to explain to every person who ever offers them food:
- You drank water contaminated with giardia, which gave you 3 weeks of diarrhea followed by 3 years of lactose intolerance
- You were bitten by a Lone Star Tick and developed an allergy to beef and pork because the Lone Star Tick is a bastard
- You are Jewish and the meat isn’t kosher, but you don’t want to say that because antisemitism is A Thing and you don’t want to get bombarded with questions about the Middle East while you’re hungry
- You are Muslim and the meat isn’t halal, but you don’t want to say that because Islamophobia is A Thing and you don’t want to get bombarded with questions about the Middle East while you’re hungry
- You are on a restricted diet for medical reasons and don’t want to get bombarded with questions about your medical history while you’re hungry
- You are on a restricted diet for reasons that *are nobody’s business* and don’t want to get pulled into Potentially Triggering Diet Talk while you’re hungry.
Listen. Food can be very very complicated for people, and a very very very sensitive subject. Respect people’s food restrictions. None of it is your business.
gummygunk
germansingergirl
origamiaround
prguitarman
dededos
janainaart
