Posted as part of VeganMoFo (The Vegan Month of Food) 2014
When vegans are around, things get a little tricky – for all of us. Sometimes non-vegans get defensive or hostile because they think vegans are telling them their food choices are unethical. Sometimes vegans are! And that comes across as self-righteous and snobby.
So, I’m using the Vegan Month of Food – a month during which vegan blogs are celebrated and aggregated in one place – to provide some easy tips for non-vegans and vegans to use, so we can all get along a little better. As the old saying goes, “If you can’t say anything vegan, don’t say anything at all.”
“IS THAT VEGAN?”
Non-vegans and fellow vegans, please stop saying this to vegans.
Why?
Because! If a vegan is eating something, it’s probably safe to just assume that food is vegan. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be eating it. We’re vegan. Roar! I mean, I get it, you need to say something that implies you think our food is weird, but you don’t want to just come out and say it because you realize that would be rude. Just go on Twitter and tweet that your friend/coworker’s food is “soooo weird!” and slap a hilarious hashtag on it. Mission accomplished. People who agree with you will find your tweet and favorite it. And then you’ll feel awesome without having to bother us.
What are some alternatives?
- “That looks tasty!”
- “My vegan friend/coworker is eating their weeeeirdest #vegan food. #gross #veganseatgrass lol” (on Twitter, not to us)
- Don’t say anything at all.
Weird! Why Aren't You Vegan? 
*facepalm*
There’s a deeper reason why they say it & I’m sure it has something to do with thinking that vegans think only about food all day, not our jobs or families or anything important.
Sometimes I wonder if it’s them trying to make SURE we know that they don’t know anything about vegan food. You know, like when I don’t want to do math, I’m like “Oh, boy, I’m just terrible at math. What should I be tipping the server again? Geez Louise, this is beyond me!”
I hope you’re right! Because sometimes I feel like they are just being vegan police without really knowing what vegan is. Or making a very unappreciated joke when they see me eating broccoli… It makes me feel like an eye-rolling teenager again!