It was the tale of a friend of a friend of a friend who happened to be vegan and an expectant mother, and a prime example of how little omnivores understand veganism. While every new mom is forced to decide whether or not she will breastfeed, this one was asked if she could in light of her vegan lifestyle. To think a vegan couldn't feed her baby her own breast milk is misguided to say the least. Veganism is, for the most part, aimed at protecting animals and freeing them from the slavery of factory farms. The only alternative to breastfeeding your baby, as nature intended, is formula, which is made from milk products found on such farms. This anecdote was an extreme case, but it got me thinking about my own experiences, all the questions I've been asked about being a vegetarian that I've learned are better not to answer. Read on for the five most common questions meat eaters ask, and the reasons vegetarians would rather not answer them. 1. If you were stranded on a desert island and the only thing you could eat was meat, would you? No place like that exists on Earth. It's called the food chain. 2. Why? Bacon is so good! It's exhausting recounting the story of why I decided not to eat meat over and over again. But more importantly, it's rather awkward explaining the moral dilemma I faced to someone who has decided to eat meat in spite of those very concerns—or who hasn't considered them at all. I don't go around judging my many bacon-loving friends, coworkers and family members. But my stance on factory farming and flesh-eating becomes an elephant in the room when I'm asked to explain it. 3. What do you eat? I eat everything you eat, except for meat. If that doesn't leave much on your plate, you should probably reevaluate your diet. 4. You must be so healthy! Right? Vegetarianism instantly evokes images of raw fruits and veggies at every meal. But the truth is, when I first stopped eating meat, my diet became less nutritious than before. Cutting out cancer-causing genetically modified meat was definitely a welcome advantage. But, initially, I ate more breads and starches than anything in an effort to satiate my appetite. Eight years later, I have upped my intake of veggies. Going veg has also forced me to branch out in terms of finding alternate sources of iron and protein, and has inspired me to try new foods. 5. Are you ever full? Sometimes I feel like a bottomless pit, but that doesn't have anything to do with the lack of meat in my diet. Vegetarians, too, love food. There you have it, folks. Not convinced these questions are inane? Watch this hilarious video from BuzzFeed to hear just how ridiculous they sound.   [HTML1] (Photo courtesy Tony Ryta/Stockvault)