Problems that a vegetarian face

Are you a Jain?' If you're a vegetarian by birth, you've definitely been asked this question. Once people around you get to know you're a vegetarian, the first question is, 'But it isn't Tuesday today, why can't you have non-vegetarian?' There are a few typical problems that only a vegetarian in india will understand. For instance, you definitely don't need vegetarian water or air or fire!

A couple of friends will always tell you how their parents are vegetarian but they moved to a hostel and started eating chicken, and since then there has been no looking back. They will wax eloquent about chicken and how you're missing out on the gastronomic joys of consuming one. You could be a vegetarian for religious reasons or just by choice, but there are a few problems you've definitely faced.

‘Are you okay with us eating chicken on this table?’ It is sometimes hard to explain how meat doesn’t haunt you. You’re completely okay with sitting on the same table with people who eat meat.

There’s nothing vegetarian on the menu at a bar except salads, fries, masala peanuts, and drinks: If you plan to visit a bar with friends, they’ll be sitting there with their chicken wings and you’ll still be hoping to get lucky while scanning the menu to find a green dot somewhere!

‘You didn’t get on the top of the food chain to be vegetarian!’ You didn’t, but you’re surviving on food just fine.

‘You must taste chicken once, it will change your life.’ How about no!

‘Are you vegetarian only on Tuesdays or all days?’ Quite a few of your friends will choose a couple of days in the week to completely absolve themselves of the sins of eating non vegetarian food. You’re not one of them. You can go without eating non-vegetarian food for a lifetime.

‘You don’t even have eggs? How do you get your proteins?’ No one cares where you get your proteins from until you tell them you’re a vegetarian.

You go to a restaurant and eight of the nine people with you will order non-vegetarian food. They’ll tell you they’ll share but you’ll usually be ordering the least quantity for yourself. And most of the time your only option will be anything with ‘paneer’ in it.

‘Are you vegetarian because you love animals?’ You may or may not love animals but they’re not the only reasons why you’re vegetarian! You don’t hang out with vegetables on other days anyway.

If you happen to visit a non-vegetarian’s house they’ll never miss a chance to tell you how they cooked for you in separate utensils. What if they hurt your religious sentiments unintentionally?

Whatever you say, at least the vegetarian options at the restaurant cost less! When you’re ordering food, you’ll always realise the vegetarian counterparts of burgers or pizzas will always cost less and a few of your friends may despise you for that.