Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, communicating with friends and family far away involved picking up the telephone and calling them. Before that, letters were the primary source of communication. Now, obviously, things are very different. We can all communicate with friends 24/7 through instant messaging apps. But sometimes, you don’t even need to say anything to let someone know you’re thinking about them. These days, you can just send a meme.
Defined as an image, video, or piece of text that is usually funny and spreads across the Internet, memes have become a source of not only humor, but also connection. They help us relate to each other, and give us a few laughs along the way. No matter the topic, and no matter the community, you can usually find multiple meme pages on social media that bring people together. And vegans are no exception.
Memes help the world’s growing vegan community (it’s estimated to be around 8 million worldwide) to bond and spread information, but also call out some of the world’s most destructive industries while still maintaining an air of humor. Here are some of our favorites on the internet right now. But first, for those who may be unsure, what is vegan anyway?
What is a vegetarian, anyway?
Simply put, a vegetarian is someone who does not eat, wear or use anything that comes from animals. So that means no meat, no dairy, no honey, no eggs, no fur, no skin, no fur … you get the picture.
According to The Vegan Society’s official definition, veganism is “a philosophy and way of life that seeks to eliminate—as far as possible and practicable—the exploitation and cruelty of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. … and by extension, animals for the benefit of animals, people, and the environment.” -Encourages the development and use of free alternatives.”
People may follow a vegetarian lifestyle for many reasons. For most, it’s about reducing animal cruelty, as billions of animals die in the food system every year. But many also care about reducing environmental damage. Animal agriculture is bad for the planet. It drives deforestation and water pollution and emits 14.5 percent of global emissions. Some choose to follow an animal-free diet for their health. But it’s not always the same as being vegetarian. A person who eats only plant-based foods may still choose to wear leather for nutrition, for example.
Why Vegan Memes Are So Funny
Vegan memes are funny for the same reason that all memes are funny. They help us look at situations that occur regularly in our daily lives and find humor in them. For a vegetarian, it’s boring and depressing when you go to a restaurant with friends and the only option you have is some steamed vegetables. But by pairing a popular culture moment or witty image with a witty caption, memes make boring situations entertaining. And, since the average meme is shared thousands of times, they make us feel less alone and help us connect with other people who have similar struggles and concerns.
According to YPulse, 75 percent of people between the ages of 13 and 36 regularly share memes. More than half send them once a week, while 30 percent send them once a day. If you’re a meme-lover, we’ve rounded up some of the funniest and most relatable to send to your fellow vegans. Happy sharing!
The best vegan memes
1Hidden milk powder
You know the feeling. You find a delicious-looking snack that you’re sure must be vegetarian because there’s no reason to add meat or dairy ingredients. And then you check back to find that only the recipe contains 1 percent milk powder. Why?!
@veganmemo/IG
2 Ordering too many vegan pizzas
Vegetables are nutritious and delicious, don’t get us wrong. But when you can’t be bothered to cook, there’s only one solution: vegan pizza. Sorry, week old broccoli. Looks like tonight is not your night. again
@plantbasedlogic/IG
3 Vegetarian Alternatives Emergency Kit
If you’re going out with non-vegan friends, there’s always the risk that they’ll choose a place without specific vegan options. But don’t panic. As long as there are fries, salad and a delicious (vegan) beer, you’ll get by.
@thebestveganmemes/IG
4 The death of the dairy industry
Your time is up, dairy. It’s vegan milk’s time to shine. And oat milk, without a doubt, reigns supreme in the flavor wars. In fact, earlier this year, a report revealed that oat milk sales were up 6.4 percent year-over-year through June 12, to nearly $2.3 billion!
@plantbasedbantz/IG
5 Traveling to vegan restaurants on vacation
Whenever we book a vacation, we do research the best Vegetarian restaurants in town. It would be devastating to miss it. Eiffel Tower, who? If that’s *literally* you right now, our travel guide has you covered.
@brusswole_sprouts/IG
6 Find another vegetarian
When you’re standing in line at the grocery store, and you hear the people in front of you discussing their vegan finds, you have to be quiet, but really you want to yell “Be my friend!”
@veganmemesworld/IG
7 all questions
If you’re faced with a round of questions at the dinner table, there’s only one solution: be honest or run. And it would be a shame to waste food. “Sorry Aunt Margaret, that’s how milk is made on factory farms.”
@veganshmurr/IG
8 A chicken for dinner
Chickens are intelligent, compassionate and sensitive animals. There is no point in eating them. But that doesn’t mean you can’t invite them over for a civilized meal. More corn all around.
@thehumaneleague/IG
9 “I’ve never eaten vegetarian before”
This one is always disappointing. You know that fruit, salad, soup, vegetable, fries and potato chips that most of us buy regularly regardless of the rules? Yes, mostly vegetarian!
@vegan_sarcasm/IG
10 The reality of the egg industry
It’s certainly not a stark truth, but it’s true. Male chicks are of no use in the egg industry, as they have no female reproductive system. As a result billions of people are killed every year.
@veganshmurr/IG
11 The barista is watching
It’s really brilliant that so many coffee shops now offer vegan milk options. But until they get rid of cow’s milk, we’ll be watching like hawks while our coffee orders are made.
@vegan_sarcasm/IG
12 Dip fingers in hummus
Hummus is the ultimate vegetarian breakfast. It’s creamy, it’s delicious, and we can’t and won’t dip our fingers into it. Sorry, Mom.
@hummusmem3/IG
13 Onions fight back
Onion is the most rebellious vegetable in the game. But they taste good, so we keep cutting them no matter how hard they try to spoil our eyes.
@thebestveganmemes/IG
14 You’re doing amazing, sweetie
Nothing beats the sense of pride you get when your loved one starts making vegan swaps in their diet on a regular basis. It always makes us want to whip out our cameras and start channeling 2007 Kris Jenner.
@veganshmurr/IG
15 Trying to cook the spinach just right
Spinach may not make us tear up, but it certainly makes us think we’ve made enough for dinner, when we never have.
@veganmemesworld/IG
16 Your favorite vegan restaurant
And finally, do you have another love like your love for your favorite vegan restaurant? We will answer for you: there is not. We’ll take one of everything on the menu, please. And we’ll be back tomorrow to do it all again.
bored panda
For more vegetarian guides, read:
Charlotte is a writer and editor based in sunny Southsea on the south coast of England.