Fear me, non-vegans, for I am the mighty tofu gatekeeper, and no meat-lovers shall feast on this delicious food! This is what one internet user nearly sounded like when they started having a cyberbullying sesh at an omnivore, who’d complimented their tofu recipe. Talk about being rude to someone acting nice.
“Tofu is strictly for vegans.” That’s what the self-proclaimed guardian of tofu declared after receiving praise from a beef-eater, who adored the tofu-lovers ‘tofurkey’ (tofu turkey) recipe. What followed was a back-and-forwards exchange that showed just how condescending and arrogant this particular veganism preacher is.
The text messages were uploaded to the ‘Gatekeeping’ subreddit, which has over 654,000 members. According to this online community, gatekeeping is “when someone takes it upon themselves to decide who does or does not have access or rights to a community or identity. /r/gatekeeping is a subreddit for screenshots and stories of gatekeepers in the wild.”
Image credits: Nick and Dana Blizzard
What started as a friendly chat quickly devolved into accusations
Image credits: Arachnica
Image credits: Arachnica
Image credits: Arachnica
The vegan was angry that the meat-eater was eating all of their tofu. Good heavens, the horror
Image credits: Arachnica
Medical News Today writes that tofu, which is made from soybean curds, is “naturally gluten-free and low in calories. It contains no cholesterol and is an excellent source of iron and calcium.” So it’s clear why vegan dieters, vegetarians, and omnivores are all angling for a bite.
What’s more, tofu is said to improve kidney function and cardiovascular health and may help fight prostate and breast cancer. This makes it a health-goldmine that ought to be shared with everyone, not jealously guarded by just a few.
I’m personally a big fan of meat — give me a steak any day of the week. But I know I should eat more veggies, greens, and other healthy foods. Whether or not you eat or avoid meat, there are numerous benefits of an all-vegan diet.
Healthline argues that vegan diets are richer in certain nutrients like fiber, antioxidants and “beneficial plant compounds”, potassium, magnesium, folate, and vitamins A, C and E. Furthermore, going vegan can help you lose weight, lower your blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. But whatever your dietary preferences, the most important thing is acting like an adult, not an angsty teenager with something to prove and a holier-than-thou attitude.
Internet users reacted to the tofu gatekeeper with scorn
