The recent documentary “The Game Changers” has sparked a new interest in people who are curious and many have started to forego meat and adopt a plant-based diet. So in the same respect, I thought to pin down some of my personal experience being a vegetarian for one and half-decade. I would share some of the good, funny and even weird sides of being a vegetarian.
Some Backstory :Â
So first thing first .. Why did I become Vegetarian?
Well unlike people who become vegetarian either because of animal violence, religion or health, I became vegetarian for a spiritual purpose. I have always been intrigued by the fragility and mortality of our short life which made me pursue avenues that can give me answers to this. So naturally, I drifted towards spirituality and hence I took Deeksha from a Guru. This Deeksha is given only to the people who can forego meat as it is believed that eating meat hampers the path of spirituality.
So I took the plunge and thus became a Vegetarian.
The Good Side
The first thing you experience being vegetarian is your body becomes much nimble and energetic. There has been hardly any times when food has made me lethargic. Also, I always had acidity related problems which have considerably reduced since I became a vegetarian ( It has not gone to Zero though but significantly less ). Thankfully I live in India where there is a highest density of vegetarians (30% ) hence I have the pleasure of having some great tasting vegetarian food like Samosa, Vadapav, Chole Bhature, Jalebi, Gulab Jamun .. the list goes on and on. Also, I always loved fruits and being a vegetarian just gave me the excuse gobbling more of pineapple, pomegranate, apple, etc.
The Funny Side
I don’t know why but since I have become a vegetarian, I see a lot of nonvegetarian options wherever I go. Especially in the social occasions like Wedding wherein the Shetty/Bunt community, you get a huge spread of chicken, fish, mutton and other things while the vegetarian gets a dosa and a sambar.
In one of such gatherings, I remember the non-vegetarian section was crowded as hell while the vegetarian section was completely deserted. In the entire guest list, I was the only vegetarian. The waiter was actually surprised when he saw me approaching him (He looked curiously at me like I was some rare endangered species ). He had not even kept any plates as he didn’t anticipate anyone coming here to eat veg. He had to run to the non-vegetarian section to fetch me a plate.
Never had I ever thought before that being a vegetarian in a Shetty Community would be so awkward. So most of the times I have to adjust with a portion of sambar and dosa. ( Oh but now I can eat more ice cream ).
The Weird Side
Again this is especially true in the social gathering. Although I have turned vegetarian on my own will, people always show me unnecessary sympathy.
“It must be so difficult for you ”
“How do you live just on Ghass Phuss ”
And then there are people who use sarcasm to show their displeasure.
“You must not be getting very excited to come marriage or any other function right? Coz you eat only veg ”
“You must not be going out much right? Coz you eat the same thing that you eat at home”
And hence because of all these weird interactions, I generally feel very awkward to attend these social gatherings, especially if it’s organized by our community or family ones.
Also Its not that I don’t get the urge of eating meat or that I don’t get tempted when I see a beautiful spread of chicken, fish, etc. .. I do, but I recall the reason I took this decision and that’s what helped me steer clear of meat for 15 years.
Conclusion
So, in conclusion, I would say my body definitely feels better since I became vegetarian and I think it would stay healthier and stronger for a long time. There are upside and downside of being a vegetarian especially if you are from a community that hogs meat for every occasion, so you should have a very strong reason and will power if you want to adopt this lifestyle and stick to it.
References :
https://gamechangersmovie.com/
You must also check my other blogs mentioned belowÂ
http://www.gurushetty.com/my-thoughts-on-watching-the-trailer-of-tanhaji-and-panipat/
http://www.gurushetty.com/this-kannada-movie-is-way-better-than-bala-and-ujda-chaman/
