How-To Answer the Protein Question

It's so cliche by now that most vegans roll their eyes. But we've all heard it:

• Where do you get your protein?
• How do you get enough protein?
• I don't feel good unless I eat a lot of protein.
• Maybe some people can do it, but *I* NEED to eat meat for the protein.
• Adults might be okay, but kids need meat for the protein.

Most of the time, these people aren't interested in facts. They don't seriously want to look at a chart comparing vegan versus animal sources of protein. They don't care that broccoli has more protein per calorie than beef. They don't want to hear about world records in sports being shattered by folks eating plant-based diets.

They do want an excuse to continue eating what tastes good to them. They don't want guilt. They don't want to change their habits. They want to keep doing what they're used to. It's comforting.

This post isn't about how to arm them with knowledge or inspire them to take action to change. This is about what you can say--a few helpful one-liners--to end the conversation on the topic. Because enough with the protein question already!

Shut them down with one of these:

• How do the biggest land mammals alive get their protein? Plants.
• Which were the biggest dinosaurs ever to inhabit the Earth? Herbivores.
• How do the animals that omnivores eat get their protein? Usually plants.
• My PBJ on whole wheat bread has more protein than your hamburger.
• You need .8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight... Just walk away while they do the math.

Oh yah, and double eye-roll for the deserted island scenario!