AITA for telling my girlfriend to stop commenting on my eating habits, after she told me to cut out red meat?

A 26-year-old male Reddit user enjoys steak and consumes red meat roughly 5 to 6 times per week, mainly to get enough protein for his regular weightlifting. His 26-year-old girlfriend turned vegetarian six months ago. At first, she was fine with his diet, but after watching videos about the potential health risks and environmental effects of eating red meat, she started to worry about it.

She recently pressed him to completely eliminate red meat from his diet, referencing the mistreatment of animals and attempting to show him related video content. This led the original poster to challenge her, pointing out that he refrains from remarking on her food choices and feels she should not force her convictions onto him.

Since their disagreement, her behavior has changed, prompting the Redditor to wonder if he made a mistake. Read the original story below…

‘ AITA for telling my girlfriend to stop commenting on my eating habits, after she told me to cut out red meat?’

I’m a 26-year-old male who consumes steak frequently, roughly 5 to 6 times per week. As a daily weightlifter, steak serves as my primary protein source. My 26-year-old girlfriend adopted a vegetarian diet approximately half a year ago. Consequently, she refrains from eating anything I prepare, save for the accompanying dishes like potatoes, vegetables, or pasta. I often make steak and pasta because it’s a simple meal to put together.

My partner never mentioned my dietary choices until recently. I’ve observed her viewing numerous YouTube videos, particularly ones discussing the risks associated with consuming red meat. She’s aware that I frequently consume steak, chicken, and lamb, a habit that has persisted since we began cohabitating approximately two years prior.

At first, she inquired if I had any worries regarding the potential health consequences of my meat intake. As the month progressed, she began to mention the environmental harm caused by ruminant animals. Initially, I remained mostly silent, expecting her to eventually drop the subject.

As time passed, she began discussing the mistreatment of animals, and today reached a climax. She insisted I eliminate red meat entirely, citing animal cruelty and attempting to force YouTube videos upon me. I refused to watch them, stating that even if I did, my diet would remain unchanged.

This segued into her discussing the public’s indifference towards animals, animal butchery, and their upbringing. That’s when I became agitated, as I had never made any remarks about her dietary choices. I informed her that her decision to abstain from meat consumption was her prerogative, but she shouldn’t impose her convictions on others.

I also mentioned to her that her perspective has become extremely distorted due to her documentary consumption. Following a disagreement, she retired to bed and has remained mostly silent towards me after our conversation.

Heres the input from the Reddit crowd:

OrganizationCalm6664 −  Sounds like you both have strong opinions about diets, but you should both respect each other’s diets – that’s the only way to coexist with views this extremely different. Think about your future family (if you’re planning on starting one) and how you would raise the kids.

Would they maintain a meat-free diet until they are old enough to decide for themselves? It encompasses their entire way of life. Conversely, consuming steak frequently, even up to six times each week, is not good for your health. There are plenty of alternative protein sources like chicken, seafood, and legumes that won’t raise your risk of developing heart problems. Ultimately, the most important thing is to keep the lines of communication open. I wish you all the best!

Anxious_Reporter_601 −  You don’t have to change your diet if you don’t want to, but red meat 5/6 days a week *is* unhealthy and incorporating more chicken and fish is a good idea.

I’ve been a vegetarian for 18 years as well, and I concur with your assessment that your girlfriend is out of line trying to convert you simply because she has modified her eating habits and perspectives – especially given how recently she made those changes! How can anyone be sure her vegetarianism will last even a year? Dietary choices are a matter of personal preference, and it’s undeniable that meat offers a readily accessible source of protein. You’re not the wrongdoer here.

Perhaps she doesn’t feel like her vegetarianism is being taken seriously, and she would be grateful if you prepared complete vegetarian dishes for her. I believe that a good compromise would be to request that you prepare one vegetarian meal per week.

NecroVelcro −  Her reality hasn’t been “warped”. You’re in denial about the health and ecological damage that meat consumption causes.

Zinkerst −  I also told her since she’s been watching those documentaries, her reality has been completely warped. It hasn’t though? You’re NTA as far as wanting to decide your own diet and setting boundaries about her criticising you for it, but her “warped reality” is actually just… realty.

The manner in which we, as humans, continually produce animals constitutes cruelty. Our standards of animal management are detrimental to the environment, and consuming red meat six days a week is detrimental to one’s health. These are simply undeniable truths.

It is your prerogative to remain ignorant of the conditions in which the animals you eat are raised, including visual evidence. If the relationship is to endure, both parties must learn to accept their differences. However, her perspective is not inherently “distorted.”

ddd_rrr −  NTA, but this seems like a different issue. It seems like your lifestyles are deviating quite a bit. Going to pull the Redditor cliche by suggesting you both may need to reevaluate your relationship. Vegetarianism seems very core to her being, and neither of you should or will compromise.

Greedy_fitbit −  I think when you first become vegetarian or vegan you are often at your most annoying to meat eaters. It feels like you have discovered that this horrific thing is happening and you can’t believe you didn’t know, and now you do you want everyone else to know, because it’s awful and surely they will want to know too.

Not all people share that sentiment, and it boils down to individual preference. Her strong feelings might lessen as she adapts, or she might maintain her current level of enthusiasm. Perhaps a discussion where you both express your feelings, emphasizing mutual respect for each other’s decisions without trying to dictate them, would be beneficial.

Perhaps agreeing to share a vegetarian dish occasionally might be beneficial. It’s possible to obtain sufficient protein from vegetarian meals, and it would demonstrate your willingness to compromise and acknowledge her health considerations.

In the end, if you’re unable to meet halfway and accept each other’s decisions peacefully, it suggests a basic mismatch. It’s unfortunate, but we evolve, and sometimes our relationships no longer suit us.

LightPhotographer −  She’s not ‘completely warped’, that’s a very unfriendly thing to say. OK to say you have heard enough about animal cruelty. But red meat is a known cancer risk, and avoiding the information about it does not make it safe.

Sloooooooooww −  NAH- the thing is, most people if they watch the video on animal cruelty or the environmental impact of meat, they will at least for few days-weeks want to stop eating meat. However, most of us are not disciplined or caring enough to continue. I don’t think her reality is warped.

It’s probable that neither you nor I (since I’m not a picky eater) are concerned enough with the truth to make lasting personal compromises. It’s the same regarding items produced using child or slave labor.

People will view documentaries or news reports regarding these issues and abstain from certain products for a short period. However, before long, we resume using iPhones and purchasing clothing and shoes made in sweatshops. I don’t believe you are wrong for not wanting to change your habits, as that is a matter of personal liberty and choice. I understand her perspective, though.

Apprehensive-Cat2527 −  NAH . I eat meat and have cooked a complete meal for my vegetarian gf for 14 years. Kind of weird to only give her “sides.” I think you could make more of an effort cooking for her and that she in turn could cook vegetarian food that suit your needs. Not sharing a value can be painful  but if she wants you to eat less meat she can make an effort.