This question is only for the vegetarians and vegans. Would you (or have you) ever consider dating and living with someone who was not a veggie? Or does it not matter at all?
2006-12-05 21:21:38 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Vegetarian & Vegan
I am a veggie and my boyfriend isn't. It doesn't bother me at all. As I normally do the cooking, he mainly has to eat non-meat products but I am very good at cooking so it always tastes nice. He has expanded his culinary horizons as a result of having a vegetarian girlfriend.
Sometimes I cook him meat for a treat; I don't mind doing this...I am fine with the fact that other people eat meat, I just make the choice that I don't want to. It would be unfair for me to impose my opinions upon anyone else.
I think there are so many aspects to a person...if you limit your potential partners by what you want them to eat, you are cutting off over half of the population and therefore greatly limiting your chances of finding someone you really click with. I think it would be shallow to judge someone solely on the basis of what they eat.
2006-12-05 23:44:18 · answer #1 · answered by allears 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I'm not vegetarian myself but my boyfriend is. He had been for 2 years when I met him, and it didn't stop up from starting a relationship. It just takes communication and compromise.
When I moved in with him, I would only cook meat when he wasn't there, and when we are invited somewhere and there is meat, I make sure to use at least a flavored toothpick if I can't yet brush my teeth before I kiss him.
I have to admit that I got used to eat vegetarian too, I just have meat when we're out somewhere, and more likely fish than meat itself.
So I would say it really depends on people. I think you shouldn't make it a requirement, you should make sure that the possible date is aware of it, and that there are things he/she will have to be careful about. Be open minded so you don't miss a great relationship, and who know with time you can even turn the person into vegetarianism too.
2006-12-06 06:41:19 · answer #2 · answered by Pyrene 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't say I would make it a requirement, but it is very important to me. I spent 8 years with someone who wasn't a vegetarian, but he respected my choice, never gave me grief over it and very rarely brought meat home (less than once per month). I *really* don't like having meat in my kitchen - it's just gross.
I then dated someone who seemed accepting of my vegetarianism but after a while he started saying things about how it would basically be child abuse to raise vegetarian children (and I was in the latter part of my nutrition degree at the time so I knew that was wrong). This same guy freaked out when I decided to go vegan and then I knew it was time to move on.
I met a really great guy on a veggie dating site about a year ago - I just moved in with him a few weeks ago and we get along great. Food is such a big part of our life, that I think it would be hard to be with someone who didn't share those same interests.
So as it stands, I'm happy where I am with my almost vegan man, but if I were to start dating again, I wouldn't completely rule out dating a meat eater, but I certainly wouldn't be looking for one.
2006-12-06 01:04:13 · answer #3 · answered by fyvel 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well the girl I'm with now I've been with for two and a half years and we went veggie around the same time. Hypothetically if we were to break up, I would only date another veggie. Being Vegan is such a big part of my life that I don't think I could be romantically involved with someone who was not at least a vegetarian. It would be kind of like a devout Christan dating a devout Muslim. It could be done, but it would be much easier and less painful not to. I would live with someone (just as a roommate) that wasn't veggie as long as they agreed not to bring uncooked meat into the house.
2006-12-06 02:38:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
First off I must tell you that you have won a major victory already in my book, just by asking this question!! It shows that you are a very thoughtful person & I am vegetarian myself (and of course will answer your question directly), but first wanted to give you kudos for being so sensitive to our feelings as veggies :)
Now for the direct answer to your question, having a spouse, significant other whatever who happens to not eat, meat, fish, poulty or seafood may make the grocery shopping a bit simpler, but I would never not go out with someone who is carniverous!
Many times I am offered foods such as poulty, etc.when I told the person that I was out with that I am vegetarian. I have learned to try to keep that whole line of questioning simple with telling them "I do not eat anything which had a face!" Two the most funny answers which I think I ever got were "do shrimp have faces?" and "what about a head of lettuce"?
My feelings are that I do understand that most people eat meat & I find it very rude when people make negative comments on the diet of another (like OMG..tell me you are not going to eat that!!"). This does not have to be in relation to meat, it is just poor manners to make a negative issue of anything another person whom you are sharing a meal with enjoys.
My reason for not eating anything which had a face is my great love for animals. If you love a steak, eat & enjoy, but you better treat my baby (my dog) well specifically, and animals in general or we will have a problem for sure!! Also I prefer not to touch, or cook meat, but if I love someone I will surely drop that preference!
Good luck to you my friend, you have earned the respect of this veggie!!
2006-12-06 00:56:15 · answer #5 · answered by misred2000 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've been vegetarian for 17 years and have never dated a vegetarian. I love to cook, so the only requirement is that he likes my cooking. My husband now eats only chicken and fish. He ate all meat (including fast food!) when we first met. He loves my cooking and will eat whatever I prepare and rave about how good it is. I refuse to cook any meat so if he wants chicken or fish, he just gets take out or has it at a restaurant when we are out to eat. I couldn't be with someone that had a serious junk food habit though. That is disgusting and totally bad for you.
2006-12-06 00:24:04 · answer #6 · answered by Bumbo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i've been a vegetarian for well over 10 years. my man and i have been living together for 6 years. he 's puertorican. i don't know if you ever realized how much meat that culture eats, it's a lot. he doesn't eat meat nearly as much as he used to because i won't buy it or cook it. matter of fact, he enjoys vegetarian meals. when we go to dinner once a week he does order meat. i learned on the hard way not to look at his plate. 2 people with this situation have to respect each other and there beliefs. i'm Buddhist and he's catholic. best relationship i've ever had. respect the opinion of each other and you will find love.
2006-12-06 01:20:14 · answer #7 · answered by punkbun03 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would *prefer* to date another vegetarian/vegan. But if there's a great connection between me and a meat-eater man, then I'm ok with that too. Just as long as we are both respectful of each other's food choices.
2006-12-06 05:59:39 · answer #8 · answered by Tammy R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I imagine most vegans do.
My partner wasn't a veggie when I met him, but then, I wasn't a vegan when I was younger. All I needed to know was what he cared for animals and had compassion.
He is now vegetarian :)
2006-12-06 04:15:53 · answer #9 · answered by midsojo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would prefer to date a vegetarian but I would be openminded to dating a meat eater if the chemistry was there and also if the guy was respectful of my beliefs and wouldn't expect me to carve meat for him. I don't have a problem with people eating meat in front of me so that part wouldn't be an issue.
2006-12-05 22:54:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋