“You’re a vegetarian? Oh, I’m so sorry.”

This is the typical response I get when I tell someone I don’t eat meat. But guess what? I’m not sorry about the lifestyle I have chosen. I am neither starving nor malnourished. And yes, it was my decision.

Just because I am a South Indian, many assume that my parents are forcing me to be a vegetarian because one of the important principles of Hinduism (and several other Indian religions) is the practice of avoiding meat, especially beef. This is the reason that my parents are vegetarian, but my parents never forced it upon me. They only introduced me to the lifestyle.

I've encountered a lot people criticizing why I want to be a vegetarian. They tend to ask rude and intrusive questions rather than respecting my decision. I’m a vegetarian because of ethical and health reasons, yet many people can't accept that. Many meat-eaters believe that vegetarians are tempted by meat and have to restrain themselves, which is not true.

In fact, the idea of eating meat completely disgusts me. When I look at meat, I can’t stop imagining a living animal in its place. Whenever I drive by the slaughterhouses near Bakersfield, I am thankful that I am not responsible for consuming those innocent animals.

Another misconception people have is that vegetarians eat only greens, tofu and raw vegetables.  But no person can lead a healthy life consuming only vegetables and proteins. For me, carbs in the form of foods like rice, pastas, and pizzas, are a real life-saver.

A prevalent misconception is that vegetarians don’t eat enough protein without eating meat. In truth, quinoa, nuts and beans provide more than enough protein.

Dairy products also make up half my diet and are another of my sources of protein, as well as lentils, which are served in hot soup. Sandwiches, soups, Indian curries, pad thai, pastries, breads and the list of what vegetarians can eat may actually be endless.  People always criticize veggie burgers, but they are probably just as scrumptious as the original one.

To be honest, I can’t blame others for believing many of the misconceptions associated with being a vegetarian because even I believe some of them. Just recently I figured out that I can have sushi rolls, thanks to a friend who insisted to go out for sushi despite my resistance. I was surprised to find that there were so many vegetarian options like avocado, yam, mushroom and egg sushi, on the menu that we couldn’t order them all.

Because of the wide variety of Indian dishes for vegetarians, my meals are never as boring as one might suspect. So don’t feel sorry for me. I am proud to be a vegetarian.