Your Uncommon Diet Is a Social Advantage

你与众不同的饮食选择是个社交优势

I find it ironic (and mildly stupid) when people feel they’re at a social disadvantage if they eat differently from everyone else in a social situation, as if they have to conform to fit in.

人们感觉在社交环境中吃得跟其他人都不一样时，就会处于社交劣势，好像自己必须要顺从别人才能融入环境。我倒是发现这种想法挺讽刺（还有点笨）。

No, conformity puts you at an enormous social disadvantage. Being different is a godsend. Eating differently can enhance your social life tremendously.

恰恰相反，顺从他人才会将你置于巨大的社交劣势。与众不同是天赐良机。吃得别具一格能极大提升你的社交生活。

As a 17-year vegan and occasional raw foodist (I’m eating all raw this month), I know that eating differently from everyone else puts me at a huge social advantage. It makes people curious, and that frequently slides us into a conversation about food choices.

作为一名17年的纯素主义者和偶尔的原生素食人士（我本月就在吃未经任何烹调的原生素食），我深知和所有人都吃得毫不相同，给自己带来的巨大社交优势。它令人们感到好奇，频频使大家不知不觉进入食物选择的沟通交谈。

That by itself is pretty frakkin boring for me (and insanely predictable). However, that opening can be quickly transitioned towards talking about other aspects of personal growth and exploration, such as by asking someone, “So where do you tend to violate social expectations in your life?” Then you can find out some pretty interesting things about people. You can even bond over your different differences.

这种好奇行为本身对我而言极其无聊（而且它的发生完全预想得到）。不过，这样的开场白很快可以转变为谈论个人成长与探索的其他方面，比如问对方：“那么你又倾向在生活里哪些方面违反社会期待呢？”之后你就能发现别人的某些极为有趣之处。你们甚至会因各自不同的另类之处而团结联系到一起。

Best of all, people will remember you more easily. They’ll forget everyone else who eats like they’d expect. But you’ll be memorized.

最棒的是，人们将更容易记住你。他们会忘掉其他所有吃得和其预想一致的人。但你将被轻松记住。

If you eat differently than other people in your social circles, own that. Be proud of your conscious choice. See it for the huge advantage it truly is.

倘若你吃得与自己社交圈中的其他人完全不同，请为之骄傲。骄傲于你清醒自主的选择。看出它真正具备的巨大优势。

Don’t use social pressure as an excuse not to improve your food choices. That’s dumb. And definitely don’t use your food choices as an excuse to avoid socializing. That’s dumb too.

不要用社交压力作为自己没有改善饮食选择的借口。那样很蠢。也千万别拿你的饮食选择作为回避社交的借口。那样也很蠢。