Vegans make up only a small fraction of the population, yet, they still face more than their fair share of criticism — and sometimes, even outright hostility. For some meat-eaters, disliking them isn’t just a preference, it has become a trend.
But the plant-based community is hitting back with equal force. After all, they do get their much-needed dose of protein, despite what some people might like to believe. And, instead of long arguments, they are letting the memes do the talking.
From the online community @veganmemedealer, we’ve rounded up some of the best and most relatable ones — to gently roast, educate, and call out the stereotypes.
This post may include affiliate links.
For me it's the vegan thought/philosophy/belief that no living creature is used/exploited/k1lled in plant production. Billions of insects every year are k1lled by pesticides. Billions of small mammals/birds/invertebrates are k1lled in the spraying and harvesting of plants. Many of those creatures are also starved to d3ath to protect plants. More living/sentient creatures d1e every year for plant farming than those farmed for meat.
A vegan diet includes no animal products. That means no meat, no fish, no dairy, no eggs, no honey. Even gelatin (which shows up in candies and desserts) is off the table.
What’s left is all plant foods such as fruits, veggies, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and anything made from them like tofu, plant milks, and vegan cheese.
A plant-based diet is usually more about diet flexibility, while vegan is stricter and often tied to ethics too… like avoiding leather, wool, and animal-tested cosmetics.
I am a non vegetarian and I usually don't care about what people eat. Infact I married into a family who are vegetarian for religious reasons. Even they are okay with my eating habits. But you know how there is always one person (a cousin of husband, in my case) whose entire personality is being a vegan. That is all he talks about. Doesn't matter the occasion. He even suggested that my MIL had cancer because she used to drink milk and told us if she takes turmeric everyday, the curcumin will cure her. So yeah, we do try to ignore him and I hate him for those comments, but he keeps coming back in our lives
Many of these memes stem from the assumption that a vegan diet is all salads and “rabbit food.” But in reality, it can be interesting, colorful, and varied if done right. It’s more than just raw veggies or soy meat.
That old myth mostly sticks around because vegan options used to be super limited a decade or two ago.
But now, you’ve got oat milk lattes in most cafes, vegan pizzas with dairy-free cheese, and burgers that actually feel like comfort food.
In fact, the global vegan food market is projected to hit over $34 billion by the end of 2026.
Everyone knows you have to put the soybeans in the sun for them to turn to tofu
The problem is that this post implies that only non-vegans are annoying to vegans about what they eat. There are vegans who are annoying and judgy to non-vegans as well. Most people, though, mind their own business, vegan or not.
Several fast-food giants have opened entirely meat-free flagship locations in major hubs.
Major coffee shop brands have also made oat milk the default dairy option at many locations to meet sustainability goals and consumer demand.
Even supermarkets have expanded their private-label plant ranges to include things like no-lamb mint pies and vegan croissants.
This vegan-first mindset has also found its way into the fashion industry. For example, designer Stella McCartney recently unveiled mushroom leather and plastic-free vegan clothing materials.
Major brands like Prada, Chanel, and Burberry have ditched fur following animal welfare concerns.
Back when I was in college there was a vegetarian co-op on campus (this was the early 1980’s so the term vegan wasn’t in popular use). I had a friend who was didn’t eat animal products, not because of any ethical or health concerns, but because she couldn’t stand the texture. She caused quite the scandal among the other residents by drinking soda and eating junk food.
Even though plant-based food products are becoming more commonplace, only a minimal percentage of people identify as completely vegan or even vegetarians.
In a survey, 4% of Americans said they were vegetarian and only 1% said they were vegan.
Americans who reported a reduction in their meat consumption typically cited health and environmental reasons for doing so.
A 2025 survey found that 3% of people in Great Britain now identify as either vegan or following a plant-based diet, representing approximately 2 million individuals.
Flexitarianism, part-time vegetarianism or veganism, is actually more common in these places.
“The vegan market has changed fundamentally in the last six or seven years — it’s now for everyone. Social media has brought it to the forefront of customer’s minds, and the mainstream. It’s not seen any more as a choice for life, but as a choice for one meal, one moment, for one or two days a week,” Giles Quick, director at market researcher Kantar Worldpanel, told BBC.
There is also growing research on the benefits of a vegan diet.
Many experts believe in properly-planned vegan diets at all life stages if nutrients like B12 are ensured.
Vegan diets may help improve blood sugar control, cholesterol levels, and overall heart health, because they’re naturally high in fiber and low in saturated fat.
A plant-based diet can help protect against chronic diseases such as colorectal cancer, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
That said, meat also has clear nutritional benefits, if consumed in moderation. It’s a rich source of protein, iron, vitamin B12, and other key nutrients that are naturally easier to absorb from animal products.
While it’s definitely possible to meet nutritional needs on a vegan diet, it often requires more planning and awareness.
cows don’t bite the hand that feeds them. unless they are made of apples.
We also can’t ignore the environmental benefits of plant-based eating. Vegan and vegetarian diets produce just a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions of high-meat diets, according to a study.
A global shift to a plant-based diet could cut climate-heating emissions, water pollution, and land use by 75%.
Despite the lifestyle’s growing popularity, vegans continue to face constant backlash.
Research has shown that only people with a substance use disorder face the same degree of stigma — and the least popular vegans of all are those who cite animal cruelty as their reason.
“Unlike other forms of bias (e.g., racism, misogyny), negativity toward vegetarians and vegans is not widely considered a societal problem; rather, negativity toward vegetarians and vegans is commonplace and largely accepted,” the study’s authors, Cara C MacInnis and Gordon Hodson, noted.
I have never understood the blind rage some people have against vegans. If you say you don't eat meat, that's okay. If you avoid dairy, that's okay. Don't eat eggs? That's fine. But if you don't eat any of those, you're beneath contempt. What's that about???!
In some corners of social media and political commentary, plant-based eating has been turned into a kind of stereotype. Vegans (and even just people who eat less meat) sometimes get labeled with terms like “soy boy,” an internet insult that plays on the false idea that soy affects masculinity.
At the same time, meat-heavy diets have been pushed in certain influencer and podcast spaces — especially in manosphere communities — where eating steak, eggs, and animal products gets framed as tough, primal, or “alpha.”
Under US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s controversial “Make America Healthy Again” messaging, eating steak has been turned into a cultural signal. It is seen by supporters as a pushback against liberal food narratives and a nod toward traditional ideas of strength and masculinity.
That’s why these vegan memes are not only funny, but also important.
They make small and relatable moments hilarious — like going to a restaurant with friends and realizing your only option is some plain side salad.
Research on internet memes shows they spread fast because they tap into emotions and real-life experiences people instantly recognize, which makes them super easy to connect with and share. They also help people feel seen, like you’re not the only one dealing with the same awkward or annoying situations.
For vegans specifically, memes also act like a kind of coping tool.
you would need many, many, many millions of people to go vegan for being vegan to stop that
Even with all the noise around meat-heavy trends online, plant-based eating isn’t going anywhere. If anything, it’s just evolving. For a lot of people, it’s no longer about being strictly vegan… it’s about eating more plants in a way that actually fits their lifestyle, whether that’s tofu stir-fries during the week or the occasional non-vegan meal on the side.
Vegan memes are also quietly doing their job. They make the lifestyle feel less intense and more relatable. Instead of arguing or sounding preachy, they poke fun at the stereotypes, and give people some food for thought.
to be fair: I don't have to read the back of animal milk for fear of additives or allergies. soymilk sent me to the hospital once
I had a friend who would not respect me trying out vegan january. She said she just "didn't know how to cook it" and upon all main dishes she made three different salads with meat in it so I couldn't even have a tiny bit of something to join others at the table. Needles to say I befriended her later, she was quite a bully since childhood.
I'd much rather eat a fish than have it suffocate from plastic and go to waste.
The first time I saw cows sitting like that I almost drove off the road. Two of them were sitting on a hill, enjoying their surroundings🥰
Two completely different things. That particular study shows it's more efficient to grow crops for protein (it's also a bit questionable, but let's ignore that for now), it doesn't say anything on your protein-intake based on your diet. Also, protein-intake was never really the issue with vegan diets (despite what many may claim).
I'm not taking health advice from a guy who never showered and who tried to cure his cancer by eating fruit.
The amount of vegan = healthy is hillarious. Because no, vegan =/= healthy. Just like organic =/= healthy. It depends on what you eat and how much of it. Its absolutely possible to be healthy but its not automatic. And meat isnt automatically unhealthy either. It depends on the amount (which granted there is way to MUCH meat consumption. Most people can do with cutting back on meat.)
Ok, no one cares that you are a vegan. People care that you are a pompous vegan evangelical. Insisting that your voluntary diet restrictions be accommodated at every single gathering is ridiculous. If you don't like the food, bring your own. I do that when I go somewhere I don't like the food or know it will send me on a trip to the bathroom for an hour.
To be fair, while there are Vegans like that... There are also meat eaters who do the same thing and DO care. Taking personal offense to it. If both sides could be chill that would be great
Load More Replies...I only know two vegans, one because animals and one because planet. Neither are pushy, neither cares what I eat. Both seem healthy. The shenanigans described here are outside of my experience. I must be just lucky.
A lot of people think vegans are attacking them by just being vegan. They get irrationally angry and throw a fit at just being told a vegan is near.
Load More Replies...The amount of vegan = healthy is hillarious. Because no, vegan =/= healthy. Just like organic =/= healthy. It depends on what you eat and how much of it. Its absolutely possible to be healthy but its not automatic. And meat isnt automatically unhealthy either. It depends on the amount (which granted there is way to MUCH meat consumption. Most people can do with cutting back on meat.)
Ok, no one cares that you are a vegan. People care that you are a pompous vegan evangelical. Insisting that your voluntary diet restrictions be accommodated at every single gathering is ridiculous. If you don't like the food, bring your own. I do that when I go somewhere I don't like the food or know it will send me on a trip to the bathroom for an hour.
To be fair, while there are Vegans like that... There are also meat eaters who do the same thing and DO care. Taking personal offense to it. If both sides could be chill that would be great
Load More Replies...I only know two vegans, one because animals and one because planet. Neither are pushy, neither cares what I eat. Both seem healthy. The shenanigans described here are outside of my experience. I must be just lucky.
A lot of people think vegans are attacking them by just being vegan. They get irrationally angry and throw a fit at just being told a vegan is near.
Load More Replies...
