Although I find that veganism is becoming more and more normalized, sometimes when I tell people that I am in fact a vegan, I am met with the inevitable eye roll or the infamous question: "WAIT, so you don't eat dairy, either?" Let's also not forget that everyone and their cousin's neighbor's sister's doctor is worried about my protein intake.
But I digress, because this article isn't about the stigmas. It isn't about the supposed social downfalls. And to clarify, I promise not to be that self-righteous vegan who pushes lentils and/or tofu in your face.
But I am going to tell you why you should consider living with a vegan roommate. Plus, it's been over a year and my own non-vegan roommate hasn't kicked me to the curb yet, so I must not be too bad.
1. I won't eat your food
Your chicken nuggets and and Flamin' Hot Cheetos are safe with you, girlfriend. You do you, and I'll do my thing. Unless you have Oreos (they're vegan), in which case I make no promises
2. We can try new foods together
Maybe it's just because my roommate is awesome, but she is always down to try a vegan alternative. Even if cashew cheese isn't your thing, it's still fun to be adventurous with food options, vegan or not.
3. I am always down to eat
They might exist, but I haven't met a vegan that doesn't like to eat. Seriously, let's do brunch.
4. I always have snacks
If you forgot food back at your dorm, or don't have any money for lunch, I probably gotchu. Much like the boy scouts, vegans have been trained to always be prepared in case no veggie options are available at a restaurant or event.
5. I might inspire you to eat healthier
While I am not the perfect poster child for healthy eating, I do find that in general plant-based diets are lower in saturated fats, cholesterol, sodium, and refined sugars. I'll be your smoothie and gym buddy, but we can always down that pint of Ben & Jerry's Non-dairy Chunky Monkey, too.
6. We like to experiment in the kitchen
Although I can't declare us all to be chefs, we are always trying to find new ways to mimic our favorite non-vegan recipes. We like to share them with others too, so if you're lucky, you might just end up with some vegan pancakes before class one morning. I have to say, even on my laziest days, I can still pour a pretty mean bowl of cereal.
7. We're usually pretty nice human beings
I can't speak for all vegans, but most of the ones I've met are extremely kind. We center our lives around compassion and equality for all creatures. However, much like you, I can't be held responsible for what I say when I'm hangry.
Vegans — "they're just like us!" Minus the part about eating your Oreos, I think vegans make for pretty great roommates. But of course, that's just my vegan opinion, and hopefully my current roommate's.