Why are they so judgey!?

Question

I'm new to the vegan world and I LOVE IT! Of course I knew some questioning would follow, mostly bc I lost 15lbs 😉 but what's been annoying to me is: 
One classmate of mine, every day at lunch he'd be looking at my plate, wanting to put his nose in my food (literally, gross) asking me questions what's this, what's that. At first I thought of it as friendly inquisition, I know our food can look weird, especially to those who don't eat clean.  He eats an Atkins bar and an Atkins smoothie. Then on days a group of us go out to eat HE HAS to single me out,  "Well, what's Chanel gonna eat?" As if he has real concern. 
So today, on our way to Wendy's he asks that stupid question and I reply- I can get fries, or a baked potato. He exclaims, "That's not a healthy lunch!" 
Girrrllllll, I snapped so quick- Boy, why you worried bout what I eat Mr. Atkins Diet!? 
Then I bit my tongue bc he's overweight and complains, but blatantly doesn't do anything- So I really wanted to ask what he thinks "healthy" is. 
Why do you think these types of people are so judgey to veganism? How do you deal with questioners who don't ask questions to be educated, but just to judge?
Also, disclaimer bc I feel I'll get asked lol - I know only fries or baked potatoe is not balanced meal, but I only do that on short lunch days which is 10am so I can't be too full that early at school. Of course, I snack and drink water in between. I'm in a trade school for adults. 😄
Can't wait to read your responses!😂

UPDATE: So me and this guy no longer speak!😂 I eventually stopped eating lunch with this group like nbd, but then he confronted me asking, "why I've been avoiding him." So I'm honest, I basically say I don't need friends that are judging me - I don't have the energy or time. Some other back story - my bday was around this time and I invited him out, he always complains he never goes out yet he turned me down to hangout on my bday weekend! Didn't even text or wish me happy birthday! Dudes not even a friend! So I said that to him as well that he's fake and not a real friend. I don't need ppl like that in my circle. He also has gained A LOT of weight so he has issues. Very good riddance.😂 As vegans we're aspiring to achieve a whole new lifestyle so if you encounter individuals like him, just remember they're not even loving themselves so there's no real way they can understand what we're doing - even with science and education. If they don't love themselves it's a brick wall, gotta keep it moving! 😄

Answer

Why do they judge? Because they don't have enough information about the subject. How do I deal with them? I don't. I offer information if they're interested to be informed, otherwise I go about my day. I learned not to judge others dietary choices.  Don't let it bother you. Don't feed their misinformed judgement by getting upset. Congrats on your vegan journey! ☺️

Answer

When I got tired of being asked -- REPEATEDLY-- by the same people to "defend" why I'm vegan, I finally just sat down with them and said "I appreciate your concern, but it's completely unfounded.  From now on, of you don't keep questioning why I'm vegan, I promise not to question why you're not."

Answer

When I changed my eating habits, a friend of mine wasn't very supportive of it. She judged me a lot saying it can be unhealthy and "you're going to lose weight", "you look like you can't afford to lose anymore weight", "you'll probably have vitamin deficiencies"...I was amazed by how judgmental it was. While it is true that some vegans can be unhealthy too, so can meat eaters. Many people in the world are unhealthy for different reasons. But I didn't change my diet to be unhealthy. I changed it because I was already unhealthy and I felt it, and once I changed the way I ate, it made me feel sooo much better. I wish that people would trust me, and know that I'm educated about the way I chose to eat. And maybe others should educate themselves as well and really understand the things they're putting in their bodies. I'm healthier now than I was six months ago and way before then. That's all that matters to me.

Answer

Yeah I have to somewhat agree with Samantha. Growing up, living in a non-vegan household, although wanting to be vegan, I've had animal torture videos pushed on me so much. People telling me I'm a bad person (at the young age of 12) since I eat cow, and it made me angry. I always asked myself "why the hell would I want to be part of that group? A group that shoves information down others' throats?". But it depends on the people and their reasoning for becoming vegan. Not all vegans are crazy and do that. Just like not all meat eaters judge you for being vegan. It's just some people get sparked by every little thing that they don't think is "normal" or "right". But I do see what you mean. It sucks being questioned all the time I'm sure, I'm pregnant so I'm scared to just switch my diet over right now, because I do want to be vegan, I was at one point but it was so hard because my family wasn't, and of course me being young, they did the grocery shopping, so I had little say in the groceries. But I do think that guy has some personal/internal issues which bring out that judgmental curiosity in him. He's obviously not happy with himself, and you are, so he's ,asking it seem like you're the one not doing something right, because you obviously don't need meat to survive!

Answer

Your classmates judgement seems to be a mask he is using for protection. The fact he is overweight and his diet isn't yielding results for him but yours is, has clearly sparked his curiosity about what you're doing that he isn't and he may be jealous. It's not your responsibility to teach him a lesson but remember your reactions could shed a positive or negative light on veganisim depending on how you go about 'informing' people. I hope that we can all be an example that inspires others to eat plant based.

Answer

I'm a vegetarian who is interested in going vegan and I SWEAR people get so personally offended by people not eating meat! I had a kid on Facebook lecturing me about how I was going to starve and be unhealthy when he, his wife, and his 3 kids are all overweight. like, please become the perfect image of health and then we will debate on my diet, thanks! I've decided to just ignore all the hate and eat what makes me feel good!

Answer

literally went through the same thing when i was vegan. now i'm vegetarian and i STILL go through it. people try to tell me how to get my protein and tell me what's healthy and what's not. it's honestly annoying. when people ask me what i eat i just say "food". when they ask how i get my protein (like meat is the only protein option lmaoooo) i just say "other foods besides meat". instead of actually explaining because no one who asks me actually wants to know. they never listen, just judge.

Answer

As a meat eater ( I don't care who's vegan or not) but it's usually because allot of "vegans " come off as super extra and offensive when WE eat meat. I said "vegan" because allot of people only like to claim they're vegan and be rude to meat eaters because it's considered a trend in a way. How ever it does not make  it right to judge people on what they eat

Answer

I am vegan and anywhere you go people are going to always question you about where you get your protein from, or they will make fun of you for not eating meat. My family still makes jokes about my veganism, and then when I bring vegan food to family dinners everyone loves it! Lol. A lot of people aren't open minded enough and are practically brain washed from birth that eating meat, dairy, and eggs is healthy and good for you. I also have to eat fries sometimes if its the only vegan option. keep it up girl! #thefutureisvegan

Answer

I feel like people judge because they're ashamed of their own weakness in eating meat. They're jealous of vegans so they make fun of them. 
I'm not vegan but I have total respect for those that are. I'm just selfish and enjoy meat too much. Hopefully one day I can become more socially conscious

Why are they so judgey!?

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