When Someone Says "I'm Vegan," Do You Hire Curiosity or Conflict?
Why We're Sharing This
Three little words: "I'm vegan," and suddenly, someone feels compelled to defend cheese, investigate protein sources, or turn a perfectly pleasant dinner into a nutritional courtroom. What if we're misunderstanding the job behind the words?
Our free Food Conversation Translator: Omnivore Edition takes a humorous look at what vegans say, what omnivores sometimes hear, and how a little curiosity can turn awkward exchanges into meaningful conversations.
Food isn't just about nutrition. It's also about identity, values, belonging, and sometimes simply wanting to enjoy dinner without a debate.
The Hire Your Food Question
When someone at your table makes a different food choice, what job are you hiring your response to do? Defend your own choices? Win an argument? Or understand what matters to the other person?
Sometimes the best hire isn't a clever comeback. It's a simple question: "What led you to it?” And sometimes, "Got it" is the entire job description.
Explore the Free Field Guide
The Food Conversation Translator: Omnivore Edition — Tool 4
How to talk to vegans without accidentally defending cheese, interrogating protein, or ruining dinner.
Paul Robillard & Christiane Robillard, Hire Your Food, 2026.
Better Conversations. Better Hires.
Food for Thought is curated by Paul and Christiane Robillard, authors of Hire Your Food. We share independent reporting and
research that invite us to rethink the foods we hire and the jobs we ask them to do.
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