Juggler:
As a 10 year vegetarian both in the US and in Germany, I've encountered plenty of comments in large and small groups of carnivores. My experience is, that if you stand your ground people will come to not only tolerate but also begin to admire your conviction.
Out of curiousity, do you commonly refer to people who eat meat as "carnivores?" The term has a connotation of rapaciousness that could be offensive to some people. Do you intend to offend, or is this inadvertant?
Also, do you find yourself admiring the conviction of those who insist on eating meat?
Juggler:
As for explanations about poultry and fish, I always state, that I do not eat food that had parents. Now some will point out that fruits are created by pollination from one plant to another by insects or wind. But that does not include mating and partner selection by cognitive beings.
The idea that vegetarians don't eat meat, including poultry and fish, doesn't seem very difficult to understand. I often thing that descriptions like "nothing with eyes" or "no food with a face" are designed to invoke sympathy for the food animal, and disgust in the eater. Do you have some reason to choose parentage, with mating and partner selection, as a criterion for your diet?
Juggler:
I also know, that there are other food choices available, but I have made a decision. I have also made a decision when I got married, being aware that there are plenty of other choices around. So if people ask me about the "limitations" in my menu options, I ask them if they are married and if they are faithful. Then I point out an attractive member of the opposite sex and ask if he/she wouldn't like to flirt (and do more) with that person. Does he/she envy other people for their mates? Does he/she judges them for their choices? Most people do understand this analogy.
A closer analogy would be celibacy. Cheating on a spouse involves the potential of hurting the spouse's feelings, in addition to breaking a promise, whereas breaking a vow of celibacy affects only the person involved, and possibly his co-religionists. Even that analogy is strained: did you vow to maintain a meat-free diet? I doubt your salad will feel betrayed if you eat a hamburger, but I suppose your fellow vegetarians might.
Juggler:
My experience with vegetarian options in restaurants is mostly good. If we find ourselves away from home and no good choices of restaurants and do not find anything we like on the menu, we ask to talk to the chef. We explain our dietary needs and wishes and he tells us about the contains of the pantry and most of the time we all create a lovely dish. Most chefs became chefs because they want to be creative and they want a challenge here and there. So after dinner, everybody is happy.
I'm glad you've had a good track record. Many chefs are happy to take special requests, but many others find them to be a real pain in the ass. Fortunately for you, vegetarianism is widespread enough that they can accommodate you without any great shock.
Your analogies are interesting, but I think that they boil down to the fact that you've chosen a certain diet, excluding things that most people eat. Personally, I find that choice aesthetically lacking, but I'm happy to live and let live.
