Vegewannabe

Do you think that “vegewannabe” sounds like someone who aspires to be a vegetarian or someone who aspires to be a vegetable?

I ask because I need a word that describes my current dietary philosophy. People ask, “Are you a vegetarian?” That’s a fair question and one that should be answerable with either “yes” or “no.” But for me the answer is more complex.

I tried vegetarianism for over a year. It was difficult and time-consuming. My family did not accept it. In the end, I made so many exceptions for eating meat that I stopped calling myself a vegetarian. These days, I eat everything except beef, but I still aspire to be a vegetarian. I still believe that fruits, veggies, and grains are generally healthier than beef, chicken, and pork. I still believe that the meat industry mistreats the animals and that the result is a corrupted food supply.

So I try to eat vegetarian foods as often as possible, but I won’t say no to a ham sandwich. It’s a confusing compromise, even to me. I went to the grocery store last night and had no idea what to buy.

Until I figure this out, I need a word and vegewannabe will do. There’s something pejorative about the “wannabe” part, and maybe that will help push me to a resolution. And if people think that the word means I aspire to be a vegetable, that’s ok. On some days they might not be wrong.