My comeback is usually something like ...

"I didn't realize my eating of fresh veggies, meat, and fish would upset you so much."

People like to have a chip on their shoulders, aching for you to snap at them. Turn it around.

Classic come back in the 90's would be "Your Mom." In this case it would be "Your mom's, mom's, mom's, mom's, mom's mom's, mom's, mom's, mom's, mom's, mom's, mom's, mom's, mom's, mom's, mom's, mom."

Don't worry about it. There's be a lot of questions like this (plus the world domination question earlier this week). If you start getting snarky or preachy then you're no better than the vegans who say we're killing the planet by eating meat. Just know that you're doing the right thing for your body and don't try to be a smart ass towards those who aren't. They'll either come around when they see you be healthy or they won't. Either way, it doesn't affect your health. When asked about what you eat, just be positive - focus on what you can eat, how good it makes you feel, etc, rather than listing what you don't eat. No need to be holier than thou about paleo, because it's just the same as the holier than thou vegans.

When people seem put off by what I'm eating, or ask why I'm doing it, I give them the simplest version of the truth "I feel better when I eat this way." Pretty hard to argue with. If they follow up with something about me eating too much cholesterol/fat or not enough grains, I respond with "There is a lot of science that supports this kind of eating." I've never had someone push farther than that, and usually people ask genuinely interested questions at that point.

My friends have decided that I must have gluten issues.

I am the only one in the group who does not take regular medication/ does not have arthritis/ does not have weight problems. (We are all pensioners)

They feel sorry for me because I 'can't' eat cake. I feel sorry for them because they do!

Ask them how their diet is working out for them.

They're typically too distracted by my Vibrams to notice what I'm eating...

"You see, I have really lucky genes--I am lactose intolerant, gluten sensitive, and allergic to soy."

Wait, I totally made that up, and that's terrible.

Well, if it's a she, and she's kind of attractive, go caveman on her. Wait, I don't want you going to jail for that.

I guess a simple "you are fat" should do for most people.

Just stare at them while chewing slowly. They'll eventually go away.

I actually haven't had anyone ever "mock" me for my interesting meals (including sliced liver or a salad for breakfast). Some folks may be curious, and I'm happy to talk about what I'm doing, and what ancestrally-minded eating and living have done for me. If they truly -did- mock me, I don't think I'd come back at them at all -- after all, I wouldn't want to waste breath on someone who was that rude, and if you "feed" the rude boors, since folk of that nature tend to be basically emotional scavengers, they'll come looking for more handouts.

I have lots of general food quality, feel great responses but my personal favorite is "I like being a size 4 and being thinner at 42 than I was in High School. That's my bitchy response anyway.

Well, I ran out of squirrels to roast so I used what I had in the freezer.

I laugh and say: "Yes, I am living in opposite world!" There is nothing quite so disarming as completely agreeing with your opponent. You may find that you can completely turn them around.

I never state anything unequivocally. It's always "it maybe" or "it might be" or "it's possible that...". Because, frankly, I don't really know anything for sure, and it lets other people hear what I have to say without being threatened.

It's delicious! Want some?

I just mutter darkly about c-reactive proteins. While I've never lost my taste for amazing paleo food, I have got a bit tired of proselytizing. It's not my problem what others eat.

It would be impossible for me to care less about what people think, especially in regards to life choices that have produced such great benefits. When people make fun of me, I shrug, and keep on.

Pull up your shirt to show them your flat stomach. If they keep talking, knock out a quick dozen pushups. That usually shuts 'em up.

Adopt threatening body language (aggressive eye contact, shoulders back, bared teeth), gradually come nearer and nearer, and issue low, glottal warning growls, gradually increasing in volume until they flee. Bellow a triumphant roar and resume devouring your delicious grassfed prey in peace.

Just smile, eat your breakfast and tell them a joke. Then, you can smile even bigger seeing all their fat jiggle as they gobble their donut.

I seem to always get these kind of questions, but I always try to be as honest and humble as possible when responding. Usually just keep it simple like

"well i choose to eat this way because i really care about my health, everyone is entitled to freedom to eat what they want and this is how i live my life"

The question following this will usually run.....

"My God! How does your partner put up with your fussy eating?" To which usually comes...

"Well actually she eats like me too, as do some of my friends and weve been eating this way for a long time"

I can actually picture these scenarios now in my head, im sure this is a common thing for us radicalists :)

I'd just carry on chewing my steak, and growl at them, the caveman I am..;)

My favorite thing to do...When my husband and I are watching t.v. for every commercial on prescription meds or tummy meds I yell out..."Wheat! Wheat!" That is my same answer to every friend or family member who is having an ailment. They know the long and short version lecture from me by now.

Lose weight, be healthier. Once that happens, they'll have no response.

I continously have people complain about my diet, as I apparently eat a lot of "smelly" food now (what?). I work with a large group of guys, and they hate it when I eat fried cabbage for breakfast or something equally as odiferous. I just tell them that they don't have to eat it, saunter my skinny, shapely behind back to my office and close the door :)

Start singing "I'm Sexy And I Know It" while mimicking the dance moves.

Make slow, sensual sounds after every few bites.

If you get raised eyebrows, say: "Oh, I'm soooooorry, it's just soooooo goooooood!!!"

I usually tell them that I'm pre-diabetic, don't want to end up with full-blown diabetes, and that eating this way keeps my blood sugar stable and prevents further damage. Which is true. And that tends to shut down rude people right away. It's s also led to a couple of good conversations with people who are either in the same position, or know someone who is.

The very few rude people who persist get asked, "Why are my eating habits of so much concern to you? Why do you feel the need to ridicule me for taking care of my health? I don't get it; explain that to me." I push it back on them, turning tables and forcing them to defend themselves. It's funny to watch them end up as the uncomfortable and defensive ones, when, in their minds, that was my role. And I don't raise my voice or show any anger; I just act like I'm completely baffled by their stupidity.

Mostly I tell them I'm allergic. Which I guess isn't technically true, I'm sensitive to grains and processed vegetable oils. They legit make me incredible sick when I eat them. I can't even eat eggs fried on a grill with vegetable oils. I'll have head aches/stomach aches for the next few days and generally feel like crap.

Add my voice to the chorus. Maybe it's just because I'm a shrink, but I've never believed that my way is the only way. So they can do what they want to do, and if it works for them, good on them. If they want to be nasty to me about my choices, I'll likely spend very little time with them, not because of what I eat, but because I like to hang out with nice people, regardless of what they eat.

I just tell them that I've lost 20 pounds and feel better than I have in years. It usually shuts them up.