When traveling abroad, especially for work, food choices can become an important topic. During my time in Japan, this often came up in conversations with my students (the “Secret Ambassadors”). I often found myself explaining what being vegetarian actually means and why I am one, as the definition can vary from country to country. This article shares both a simple explanation and my personal perspective.
A vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat or seafood. In India, this usually means a lacto-vegetarian diet (no meat, but dairy products like milk, yogurt, butter, and cheese are okay).
A vegan avoids all animal products, not just meat. This means no dairy, no eggs, and usually no honey. Veganism is sometimes a lifestyle choice, not just a diet.
In India, many people identify as vegetarian. According to a Pew Research survey, about 39% of Indian adults describe themselves as vegetarian.
During my trip to Japan, one question came up often: “Why are you vegetarian?”
I am a vegetarian, which means I do consume dairy products. However, this choice has nothing to do with religion, it is entirely personal. Many people are surprised when I tell them that everyone in my family eats meat except me. Even some of my friends often ask why I don’t eat meat, if everyone else in my family does. There is often an assumption that children naturally follow their parents’ eating habits, but that wasn’t the case for me.
I have never eaten meat in my life, not even as a child. Witnessing animal slaughter at a young age made me deeply uncomfortable, and that feeling stayed with me as I grew older. Because of this, I chose to remain vegetarian throughout my life.
I live with my family, and meat and fish are often cooked in our house, so I’m not too rigid about it. I can comfortably eat with people who eat meat. For me, being vegetarian is simply what I’m comfortable with. Traveling and talking about it made me realize how differently food choices are understood across cultures.
The next article is about Indian food experiences in Japan — read it here.