Research Question: Author Jessica Greenebaum is a vegan. She noticed tension between herself and her meat-eating family and friends, possibly because of stereotypes about vegetar- ians and vegans. She did research to ask: How do vegetarians interact with omnivores to avoid negative impressions of vegetarians? What tactics do they use in their presentation of self? Research Method: Greenebaum interviewed 19 vegans and 7 vegetarians, finding her research subjects through a website for educated, upper-middle-class adults who identify as vegetarian activists. She conducted face-to-face interviews and telephone interviews, averaging about one hour per interview. Research Results: Many of the people she interviewed spoke about avoiding confrontation. One woman explained that she used to be “in your face” with meat eaters, but changed her approach to be more gentle. Another man explained that the “activist” approach makes conversations difficult. Another key theme in her research findings was the timing of when to engage in discussions about vegetari- anism or veganism. Most respondents indicated they did not want to be the first to bring it up in conversation. Vegetarians used “face-saving” tactics to make interactions more pleasant. Respondents did not try to recruit omnivores to become vegetarian, but instead emphasized the health benefits of not eating meat. By focusing on how healthy they are and how much better they feel, they encountered fewer negative impressions of vegetar- ians and vegans. In conversations with omnivores, the vegetarians and vegans turned away from the topic of animal rights and, instead, highlighted how well they felt. This meant talking about how they were strong, healthy, capable people by no longer eating meat. Face- saving also occurred by presenting a no-meat diet as easy to do and joyful. Greenebaum asserts that “If vegans are perceived as wheat grass–drinking hippies, people are less likely to keep Conclusions and Implications: Greene- baum concludes that interactions between two groups of people who have opposing views about diet require impression man- agement. Vegetarians and vegans used particular tactics to prepare themselves for conversations with omnivores, present- ing themselves in a more positive way. Questions to Consider The next time you are talking with someone about food, diet, and overall health, observe the social interaction with particular attention to similar and differing opinions. Seek out people with different diets from your own. 1. What do you do to manage others’ impressions of you and your food choices? 2. With so much media attention on the dangers of the American diet, do you worry about the impression other people get based on what you choose to eat?