I know the look. It is the judgmental look of meat-eaters who skeptically eye my tofu burger or fake meat at the supermarket.

That look does not only judge, it asks the ever-recurring salty question, “if you gave up meat, and feel better than the rest of us, why do you now buy fake meat?”

For the record, many people avoiding meat or animal products, in general, do not feel better than anyone else. We are trying to do the right thing for us, for the animals and maybe for the planet. Notice something? Meat-eaters are not  part of our equation. And quite frankly, I am tired of them.

We all know the stereotype of a militant plant-eater that aims to convert anyone that is not eating or living their way.

However, in my four years as a vegan and my nine years before that as a vegetarian, I have maybe met one or two of those individuals. And granted, they are not  necessarily pleasant individuals to encounter.

What I have encountered countless times, however, are meat-eaters trying to convince me to eat meat or trying to justify their meat consumption to me.

Let us get this straight once and for all- I frankly do not give a shit about what you eat, that you “eat less meat now,” that you only eat organic meat or any other irrelevant information about your diet I do not want to hear.

What I do care about is that you leave me alone with what I eat. I have chosen to be vegan, as many others have, not because I do not like the taste of animal products, but because I feel that being vegan goes better with my values and morals and is beneficial for my body. So, a veggie burger from time to time does not make me a traitor, it makes me human.

Pre-made fast-food-like meals are often quicker to grab on the go, and like anyone else, sometimes I am in a hurry. As everyone probably knows this is not a good way to eat, no matter if what you eat is meat or a meat-alternative, but sometimes it just is how things end up being.

And frankly, those options may be a way to convince meat-eaters to try vegan or vegetarian foods, which is always good for reducing our carbon footprint because it is just a fact that meat uses more resources than plants.

I know plenty of meat-eaters that reach for vegan convenience-food options, and that is great.

I know just as many that would never, and that is just as much their call.

Just because someone decides not to eat meat or animal products, does not mean they cannot come up with fun and tasty foods to replace and expand their culinary experiences.

Eating vegan has been good for me personally, but it has not put me above anyone else on the moral hierarchy, if there is any such thing.

I decided to be vegan myself, as many vegans do, and it has nothing to do with you and what you eat. So please, stop trying to make it about you and let me eat.