--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tried eating vegetarian. I felt like a…" description: "\"I tried eating vegetarian. I felt like a wimp going into a restaurant. \"What do you want to eat sir? Broccoli?\" Broccoli's a side dish, folks. Always w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/denis-leary-1350_america_i-tried-eating-vegetarian-i-felt-like-a_1474827.jpg" --- # I tried eating vegetarian. I felt like a wimp going into a… ![“I tried eating vegetarian. I felt like a wimp going into a restaurant. "What do you want to eat sir? Broccoli?" Broccoli's a side dish, folks. Always was, always will be, OK! When they ask me what I want, I say: What do you think I want? This is America. I want a bowl of raw red meat right now.” quote by Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/denis-leary-1350_america_i-tried-eating-vegetarian-i-felt-like-a_1474827.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/denis-leary-1350_america_i-tried-eating-vegetarian-i-felt-like-a_1474827.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c22/denis-leary-1350_america_i-tried-eating-vegetarian-i-felt-like-a_1474827.jpg) > “I tried eating vegetarian. I felt like a wimp going into a restaurant. "What do you want to eat sir? Broccoli?" Broccoli's a side dish, folks. Always was, always will be, OK! When they ask me what I want, I say: What do you think I want? This is America. I want a bowl of raw red meat right now.” [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Vegetarian meals feel weak to him; he prefers raw red meat, reflecting American bravado. **In simple terms:** He jokes that vegans seem timid. Key Takeaway Question stereotypes about food choices. Themes food culture masculinity Mood sarcastic humorous Type comedic cultural When to use this quote - Restaurant ordering - dietary discussions - cooking shows Key Concepts Dietary identity American bravado Questions to Reflect On - Why do we associate meat with strength? - How can we respect diverse diets? A Different Perspective May reinforce meat‑centric bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red/) [Red meat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red-meat/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Vegetarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegetarian/) ## Related quotes > [I'm pretty healthy so I think that helps a lot. I've been that way for a long time - 20 solid years of eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-leto/i-m-pretty-healthy-so-i-think-that-helps-a-lot-i-ve-been-that-way-for/) [Jared Leto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-leto/) > [I almost fainted. There was no family history. I had been eating a vegetarian diet and I exercised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rue-mcclanahan/i-almost-fainted-there-was-no-family-history-i-had-been-eating-a/) [Rue McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rue-mcclanahan/) > [Many people are turned off at eating vegetarian because of the misconception that all dishes are just an arrangement of bland vegetables.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/many-people-are-turned-off-at-eating-vegetarian-because-of-the/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [you're just a side dish not the main course!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-jerome-dickey/you-re-just-a-side-dish-not-the-main-course/) [Eric Jerome Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-jerome-dickey/) > [After 10 years of eating vegetarian, I tried my boyfriend's. I was overwhelmed. It was orgasmic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-szohr/after-10-years-of-eating-vegetarian-i-tried-my-boyfriend-s-i-was/) [Jessica Szohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-szohr/) > [Yeah, well, if you eat red meat, it stays in your colon for fifteen years!" Good! I paid for it; I want it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/yeah-well-if-you-eat-red-meat-it-stays-in-your-colon-for-fifteen/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [There are people who so arrange their lives that they feed themselves only on side dishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/there-are-people-who-so-arrange-their-lives-that-they-feed-themselves/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [Eating a vegetarian diet can contribute more to saving ourselves and the planet than any other single effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/eating-a-vegetarian-diet-can-contribute-more-to-saving-ourselves-and/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [I always considered myself a loner. I mean, not like a poor-me, Byron-esque, I-should-have-brought-a-swimming-buddy loner. I mean the sort of person who doesn’t feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-always-considered-myself-a-loner-i-mean-not-like-a-poor-me-byron/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [In life, one is entitled to a side dish of either coleslaw or potato salad, and the choice must be made in terror, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/in-life-one-is-entitled-to-a-side-dish-of-either-coleslaw-or-potato/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [I find that vegetables like butternut squash, which I feel unexcited about as a side dish, I'm thrilled to eat in a soup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-nixon/i-find-that-vegetables-like-butternut-squash-which-i-feel-unexcited/) [Cynthia Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-nixon/) > [Eating vegetarian doesn't mean you have to eat boring, humdrum dishes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-samuelsson/eating-vegetarian-doesn-t-mean-you-have-to-eat-boring-humdrum-dishes/) [Marcus Samuelsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-samuelsson/) > [There's nothing wrong with sending a quick note if you're busy or just want to flirt, but it's hard to have any real interaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-behrendt/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-sending-a-quick-note-if-you-re-busy-or/) [Greg Behrendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-behrendt/) > [Eating a vegetarian diet, walking (exercising) everyday, and meditating is considered radical. Allowing someone to slice your chest open and graft your leg veins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ornish/eating-a-vegetarian-diet-walking-exercising-everyday-and-meditating/) [Dean Ornish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ornish/) > [I'm kind of a low-key guy. The spotlight doesn't suit me. I'm more of a side dish--cole slaw or French fries or a Wham!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-m-kind-of-a-low-key-guy-the-spotlight-doesn-t-suit-me-i-m-more-of-a/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) ## More by Denis Leary > [I'm sick and tired of our generation being called the TV generation. What do you expect? We watched Lee Harvey Oswald get his brains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-m-sick-and-tired-of-our-generation-being-called-the-tv-generation/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [My father left Ireland because he did not want to muck horse manure for the rest of his life, and he wanted to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/my-father-left-ireland-because-he-did-not-want-to-muck-horse-manure/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I've eaten things that didn't complain this much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-ve-eaten-things-that-didn-t-complain-this-much/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [What I've learned is that life is too short and movies are too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/what-i-ve-learned-is-that-life-is-too-short-and-movies-are-too-long/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [Yeah, I love living in New York, man, and people who live in New York, we wear that fact like a badge right on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/yeah-i-love-living-in-new-york-man-and-people-who-live-in-new-york-we/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I've always had a thing for Catwoman. Michelle Pfeiffer or Halle Berry in tight leather pants, with the boots - I'm pretty good with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-ve-always-had-a-thing-for-catwoman-michelle-pfeiffer-or-halle-berry/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I spent a long time working in the movies to figure out that kind of acting and also how to write and produce for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-spent-a-long-time-working-in-the-movies-to-figure-out-that-kind-of/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I do have to say that I think that President Obama is the greatest President in the history of all of our Presidents, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-do-have-to-say-that-i-think-that-president-obama-is-the-greatest/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I don't want to see a 'Sopranos' movie. This is just me. I like to think the end is where it was on TV…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-don-t-want-to-see-a-sopranos-movie-this-is-just-me-i-like-to-think/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [The best comedy audiences in the country and this is tried and true, I'm not just saying it, in my opinion are Boston, Atlanta,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/the-best-comedy-audiences-in-the-country-and-this-is-tried-and-true-i/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [Happy Easter everyone! Jesus dies, comes back from the dead - and we get chocolate eggs. It's like turn-down service from God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/happy-easter-everyone-jesus-dies-comes-back-from-the-dead-and-we-get/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I believe in prescription drugs. I believe in feeling better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-believe-in-prescription-drugs-i-believe-in-feeling-better/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [You really want to have a back-up plan, so when you don't feel like acting, or you're getting older and settling down, you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/you-really-want-to-have-a-back-up-plan-so-when-you-don-t-feel-like/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [You try to - you want to fly on both sides of the political fence because that's where the - where the comedy is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/you-try-to-you-want-to-fly-on-both-sides-of-the-political-fence/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) > [I'm not really a Spider-Man fan. I'm more of a Batman guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-leary/i-m-not-really-a-spider-man-fan-i-m-more-of-a-batman-guy/) [Denis Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) [Explore all 252 Denis Leary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-leary/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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