Man Orders Vegetarian Meal With Cousin—Shock at What It Led to Years Later

A man ordered a vegetarian dish in front of his cousin, and the internet was not prepared for what it triggered.

The Redditor, u/casual-captain, had been focusing on living a healthier life for several years, which included cutting back on pork, reserving steak for special occasions, and packing his diet with vegetables. As a result, many of his favorite meals are now vegetarian. Two years ago, he and his wife met his cousin at a restaurant, where he ordered a vegetarian dish.

“You might think ‘so what?’ and so did I. I literally just ordered it because it looked good. But apparently, to my cousin, this was basically an assault on his entire belief system. He made several comments about it during dinner, and the whole mood just shifted,” he wrote in the subreddit Casual Conversation, where the post received over 14,000 upvotes.

Following the dinner, the cousin reportedly began avoiding vegetables out of spite, going so far as to share photos of his meat-only meals.

“He also brought it up to several other family members say that college has changed me. The whole thing really didn’t make sense to me, since again, I’m not a vegetarian… I just eat a lot of vegetables. I only talked to him maybe once or twice after the incident because it was really weird, and both times he made sure to bring up how he doesn’t eat any vegetables at all,” he wrote.

Two years after the incident, the poster learned that his cousin had developed gout. He works in a warehouse and was reportedly unable to work due to the condition.

“I do feel genuinely bad for the man, but also, this whole thing is a bit ridiculous. I haven’t even talked to him in over a year at this point, other than the occasional Snapchat he sends me of his all meat dinners,” he concluded.

What Is Gout?

Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis that causes sudden and severe episodes of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in the joints—most often in the big toe, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). It occurs when urate crystals accumulate in the joint, which can happen due to high levels of uric acid in the blood, often exacerbated by diets rich in red meat and organ meats.

The Risks of an All-Meat Diet

The cousin’s dietary rebellion may have come at a cost. The carnivore diet—consisting solely of animal products—has gained popularity in some circles, but it’s not without serious health concerns.

While short-term benefits may include weight loss and reduced blood sugar, long-term risks include nutrient deficiencies (especially fiber, vitamin C, and plant-based antioxidants), increased cholesterol, and higher risk of heart disease, according to Healthline.

How to Eat a Balanced Diet

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Key strategies include filling half your plate with fruits and vegetables, choosing whole grains over refined ones, and limiting sodium, added sugars, and saturated fats.

Balance and variety are essential for long-term health and preventing chronic conditions.

Reddit Reacts

Many Reddit users were baffled by the cousin’s over-the-top reaction.

“It’s amazing how some people make being unhealthy a badge of pride,” shared one user.

“Vice signaling. I don’t understand it, just that it’s like, avoiding vices of the ingroup or participating in health behaviors associated with the outgroup is seen as actively immoral,” shared another user.

“My mom would get upset if we made a point to not waste water as kids (turning the water off while brushing teeth, etc.), made a big deal about me wanting to use sunscreen, my step-dad went on a tirade about how being vegetarian is a sin when my stepsister and I kept trying to cut out meat products, I could go on and on.”

“I’ve seen this kind of thing before. With vegetarian food, yes, and often when someone orders a non-alcoholic drink when other people are drinking. I’m guessing he felt that your choice was an attack on him and his lifestyle—totally nonsensical, but people and their feelings don’t always make sense,” said another user.

Newsweek reached out to u/casual-captain, for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.

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