Vegetarian? Really?

One might conclude that a person who labels himself a vegetarian will actually eat vegetables.  It doesn't seem like a silly conclusion to draw, does it?

But I've noticed over many years that the vegetarians I've met don't eat many vegetables.  Teenage girls are the worst in this regard, and I've observed many of them who claim to be vegetarian while living on bread, rice, french fries...you get the idea.  And they're skinny-fat.

So by what right do they call themselves vegetarian?  When did "I don't eat meat" become nearly synonymous with "I'm a vegetarian"?

I'm willing to wager that I eat more non-grains than 95% of all vegetarians.  I looked at what I ate in the last week.  5+ pounds of sweet potato.  Just over 2 pounds of spinach.  2+ pounds of onion.  A little more than a pound of zucchini.  I ate at least 10 pounds of non-grain plant food last week, and that's a typical week.  I'm averaging close to 1.5 pounds per day.

For my daughter's teenage friends, I estimate they don't consume 1.5 pounds of non-grains in an entire week if you discount the french fries.

So, for those people, I think I'll refer to my diet as "Vegetarian Plus!" just for grins.  I like it.  It's like all the good stuff from a true vegetarian diet with the extra added kick of a pound and half a day of meat supplementation.

It's like playing diet poker.  You open with a vegetarian wager?  I'll see your vegetable consumption...and raise it by a pound of grassfed beef, 6 eggs, and 4 ounces of salmon. 

Now would be a good time for you to fold.  :)