Most vegetarians realize that it's important not to preach. Unless the objective is a debate or discussion, return the favor and don't badger them! Vegetarian and vegan people make a conscious, personal commitment to themselves. It's certainly none of your business to go about changing it. Respect their decision and don't criticize. Don't speculate on health problems they may encounter, their particular lifestyle, or their credibility on certain issues. Don't shove meat at them, or insist that they smell and sample it. Be respectful of their decision, and they will be respectful of yours.

But what if you encounter ambitious vegetarians? Do your part! If anything, offer your awareness and listen. They will appreciate it, and you might learn a thing or two. Keep an open mind. Maybe you could suggest ways that vegetarian activists could relate better to meat consumers, or ways to modify vegetarian ideas for a meat-eating society. If you must turn people down, do so politely.

If you're caught in a situation where you might have a vegetarian guest, do the best you can! In case of a dinner party, if you know the person beforehand, don't purposely serve an all-meat selection. If this cannot be avoided, then don't invite that person. It'll only be awkward for both of you. Don't try to guilt vegetarians into eating your meat; this is demeaning and unfair. If you inadvertently invite a vegetarian to a meat-intensive dinner, let the vegetarian decide how to handle it- there's no need for either of you to apologize. Don't start scenes at the table. When dealing with vegetarian children, please, take them seriously, no matter how young. They may have family-based moral beliefs against eating meat, may be part of a religion in which certain foods are prohibited, or may even have allergies to certain products. And it is that reason especially that you never, ever, ever attempt to sneak meat into a vegetarian meal. People do it. It's a disgusting gesture, and more likely than not it won't be taken lightly.

What about aggressive vegetarians? If you get your ear chewed off by an obnoxious veggie, firmly acknowledge that it is your decision to choose meat. Accept their concern (or maybe even criticism!) and inform them that they're making a moron of themselves. If you're respectful to them, they should most certainly be respectful towards you.

And here's the topic I've gotten most questions about- children and adolescents wanting to go vegetarian. This is confusing for many parents, but since this site is geared towards adolescents, I'll stick with that perspective. Starting is the hardest part. Many parents are skeptical of how serious the teen may be in starting this new lifestyle; in many cases, the desire is there but the research isn't! So if you're a teen who may be thinking about going vegetarian, the first step is to do a bit of research. If you're at this site, that's probably the best start you can make - read other people's stories, and read up on anything that applies to you. Parents should also be encouraged to do at least a little bit of research- vegetarianism is a healthy choice! It's not all that hard to support, and some parents may find that they grow to like vegetarianism. The same goes for any skeptical or interested siblings (although I wouldn't advise trying to convert siblings, as this can cause some nasty battles based on what I've seen).

Lastly (this is a biased essay), to you meat-eaters, why not just consider vegetarianism? Not even as a permanent change, but for a day. A week. A month. With today's diversity it wouldn't be that much of a challenge. Just trying something new can lead to new friends, new experiences and new insights. Your vegetarian friends will respect you for it (hence, leave you alone!) and you'll be better able to identify with them. You'll try new and exciting foods, gain valuable ideas, meet interesting new people and know that your efforts are contributing to a less cruelty-free world. Who knows. You might even LIKE it.

--Laura has been a vegetarian since the fourth grade. She says she is a vegetarian-going-on-vegan, hoping to become a vegan by college. She is starting a vegetarian activist club in her school. Read her companion article Everyday Etiquette for Vegetarian Activists.