A few days ago I was eating lunch with a couple of other ladies at work. Not surprisingly, as we were eating food the conversation seemed to naturally steer in that direction. Since becoming a vegetarian I am acutely more aware of just how much meat omnivores eat and talk about eating. They talk about the meat they ate the night before, the meat their husbands grill and cover with sauce, and the meat they will eat at their next family function or party. And all the while I sit there eating chickpeas or lentils or nut butter and wonder how I will respond if someone turns to me and asks if I don’t think their steak and fried potato dinner sounds delicious.
How do I respond to that? I can be 100% honest and say it sounds delicious but I would never eat it because I’m a vegetarian. I can go for the positive half truth and just say that it does sound yummy and stop there. Then there’s also the option of the negative half truth where I pronounce my vegetarianism while hiding the fact that I think the grilled steak does sound good.
I have to admit I haven’t yet decided which would be the most appropriate response. Fortunately, I have not yet faced such a question and have time to craft a winning sentence. Unless someone asks me today . . .
Question: What would you say if you were in my shoes?
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I DO say it sounds good. Because, frankly, it does :-) I don't usually throw in the but-I-would-never-eat-it part especially to co-workers. Eventually others become aware of my vegetarianism and someone else may throw in the but-she-would-never-eat-it part and then I can smile and look sweet and say, "But it does sound good - tell me how you prepare your potatoes?" Or some other way to get the subject off of me and back on to the chef.
ReplyDeleteGood advice. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI always start drooling when people talk about fruit or sauteed veggies. Yum! Of course meat tastes wonderful. So does a huge cupcake w sprinkles. I love cupcakes :)
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