Here's the
PETA response:
"
There is no science today that supports the belief that plants experience pain—devoid as they are of central nervous systems, nerve endings, and brains. The main reason why animals have the ability to experience pain is so that they can protect themselves from harm. If you touch something that hurts you, the pain teaches you to leave it alone in the future. Since plants cannot move to escape pain and lack the mobility or processes to learn to avoid certain things, the ability to feel pain would be superfluous and evolutionarily illogical in plants.
Even if plants were able to suffer, it wouldn’t justify causing pain and distress to animals like dogs, cows, rodents, or chickens, who we know are capable of great suffering."
I think it comes down to
why you're a vegetarian. If it's for health reasons, then you can say, "
It's not about animal suffering; it's about being healthy." If it's to avoid harming animals, tell them you'd be happy to reconsider your position; can they point you to the evidence that plants suffer? If it's because it makes you feel better, say so! "
I'm a vegetarian because eating meat hurts my stomach and drains my energy."
Some hosts may get irritated with veggies when they percieve you as trying to put more work on their plates. Depending on who invites you over and your relationship with them, you may try a polite refusal. "I'd love to come over, but I'm afraid it would be too much work for you. I don't eat meat, and I don't want you to have to go to the extra work of making something just for me." In most cases, the host will say, "Oh, it's no problem! I'd love to have you anyway!" But once they've said that, it's not
your fault that they have extra work, it's
their choice.
The other option is to tease them right back. "
Of course they do. I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals; I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants." Or use some of
Steve's lines "
Look, there's a dog. He could be your lunch if you hurry! Quick, while the owner isn't looking -- show me your warrior fierceness!"
It all comes down to how confident you are in your decision, your relationship with the people involved, and your personal preferences for handling it.