Vegetarianism in certain states?

Question

We were driving through a "heartland" state (won't say which one) a while ago and we pulled over in a small town for food. It was some fast food place I had never heard of, and I asked the server if they had anything vegetarian and he said "what's that?"

So yeah, I'm just wondering if this is typical in rural, small-town America or if it was just a random case. I'm from the big city where there are plenty of vegetarians, so someone from the heartland please educate me.

Oh, and he spoke English well, so that wasn't the issue.

Answer 1

im from a super small town in the country and i know plenty of vegetarians, including myself.  it was probably just a random case

im in pennsylvania by the way

Answer 2

Oh my god.  I am from a big city in the Northeast.  I came across the same thing in a state somewhere south of the Mason Dixon line, north of Florida, and east of the Mississippi.  My son is a vegetarian.  We went to a famous local rib joint with another family.  I knew it might be tough finding something for my son, but we were determined to enjoy some southern hospitality.  

Well, after scanning the menu and finding that even the corn bread was not vegetarian, my son very timidly asked the waitress if there was anything vegetarian on the menu.  

"Sure is," said our young and eager waitress, "you can have the chicken."  

He settled on a green salad, with extra vegetables that had not yet been cooked in pork fat.

I don't think this was an isolated case.

Answer 3

Honey....I live in a small town and it's like time literally stops in small towns.  I haven't met one other vegetarian.  I went to a high school with close to 1,500 students.....NOT ONE of them vegetarian.   Everyday someone new would get word of what I was eating and would come to my table and ask questions.   It was like I was an alien from another planet.  

Time literally stops in small towns.

Answer 4

Ha ha. The northeast and the northwest (PA, CT, OR, etc.) are not "Heartland" states! I'm from freakin Missouri (was that where you were?!), smack dab in the middle of the US and yeah, it's REALLY hard to eat vegetarian if you want to eat out. Not only that, but people around here get ANGRY if you say you're veg because farming/livestock raising are many people's livelihoods. I grew up in a rural town that was bigger than most (5,000) and I could count the number of vegans AND vegetarians in my decent-sized high school on ONE HAND and I was the only vegan in my school from the time I was a freshman until I graduated.

What you experienced was typical, and it's really frustrating sometimes (uh, most times) because of the lack of education and respect around here (I gave up on getting respect years ago). In fact, most people are in awe of me or say something like, "God says to eat animals" (not dissing God here)  or, "what do you eat then?" (like there's nothing outside of cow and potatoes). And everyone says, "I couldn't do it". Small towns are the worst, cause they get angry and yell at you sometimes (family members included). Even moderately-sized cities are lacking in vegetarian options. KC and Columbia's great, but anywhere else? Forget about it!

Answer 5

I once ate in a coffee shop in a Mormon town in northeastern Utah, and couldn't get either wine, beer, or coffee. So I know how you feel!

Answer 6

in wisconsin, its well known, but not respected. a lot of farmers. i get made fun of a lot for being vegetarian

Answer 7

I've met a lot of people who don't know what a vegetarian is and I live in Connecticut. There are people all over who don't know what a vegetarian is. I just think that it's more popular in the southern states where vegetarianism is more popular.