Real men can eat whatever they want, even a vegetarian diet

Additionally, though the new study intends to assess and bolster the comfort level of those who choose not to eat meat, I think the authors’ approach may reinforce tired arguments about the fragility of masculinity, and may advance absurd arguments that male vegans and vegetarians are even weaker than their carnivorous and omnivorous counterparts.

I don’t know too many eaters who need an attaboy before they feel comfortable exercising their dietary choices openly. But let me provide one anyways: eat whatever the hell you want. If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, don’t let friends who are meat eaters stigmatize you for your choices. Friends don’t do that. Alternately, if you’re a meat eater, don’t let friends who are vegan or vegetarian stigmatize you for your choices.

“Men being concerned with the perception of lacking masculinity while ordering vegetarian is such an archaic way of thinking,” says Torre Washington, a (ripped) vegan professional bodybuilder, in an email to me this week. “Masculinity is not defined by what you eat and certainly having someone else kill and cook your food for you doesn’t scream ‘I’m Manly.'”