This past week I had my first Thanksgiving as a vegetarian. Needless to say, my Southern-raised relatives were less than enthusiastic when I declined a leg of turkey at our family gathering. 
I anticipated the jokes, and oh boy, did they unleash the kraken. Resisting my urge to shove vegetarian health statistics down their throat after every comment, I decided to laugh along with their remarks, most of which were incorrect.
But then I realized that this submission is what keeps vegetarian misunderstandings from ending. 
Yes, I can tolerate the jokes, though sometimes excessive, about my dietary choices. But what I can’t tolerate is the ignorant judgements about them. 
About 18 percent of college students in the U.S. are vegetarian, yet people still attach a stigma to vegetarians and vegans alike without knowing the benefits behind it. It’s not a phase that people mature out of, it’s a lifestyle people mature into.
Most vegetarians aren’t judging you for eating meat, so you shouldn’t judge them. It’s a personal decision that may not be in the cards for everyone. 
Growing up in a house with four boys, I never thought the vegetarian life was possible. But after I realized how little meat I already consume, and how much healthier I am when I make conscious decisions about my meals, I decided it was time for a try. 
I attempted it once in high school and lasted a solid week before my dad brought home pepperoni pizza and I was soon lured into the kitchen by my enemy. Then I tried it a second time and proudly went two and half weeks without my precious cow insides until I caved again.
After attempting the lifestyle to no avail, I thought that was it. About a year later, the thought popped up in my mind again and this time I did some research before I fully committed.
Many choose to live a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle because of the health, environmental and animal wellfare problems that eating meat would otherwise contribute to.
Meat intake is a cause of heart disease and diabetes, and Americans already consume nearly twice the recommended amount of meat a day, according to the Physicians for Social Responsibility, contributing to our obesity epidemic.
If that’s not enough, the environment is affected by our diets just as much as our bodies. Livestock production emits huge amounts of greenhouse gases, which are responsible for global warming.
Our country is like a toddler, eating too much candy and getting sick. When mom and dad try to monitor the candy intake so America will feel better, we throw a temper tantrum because our selfish instincts can’t see the repercussions of our actions on our bodies and                                             our environment. 
The New York Times reported that America consumes one-sixth of the world’s meat population, even though we are only one-twentieth of the world’s population.
The reality of the situation is that cutting down on meat consumption is a smart idea.
So kindly take the “It won’t make a difference if I become vegetarian” excuse and throw it out the window.
Albert Einstein said, “Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” This guy knew what he was talking about.
Instead of assuming vegetarians and vegans are all carrot-eating animal huggers, take a walk on the other side of the garden. Our grass is always greener.
Annette Sommers is an 18-year-old mass communication sophomore from Dublin, Calif.