Dating a Vegetarian

[Cutiepie1976]

I'm vegan, not vegetarian. I eat out every night and am a very active dater if I'm not in a relationship. Has never been an issue even though I've only dated omnivores, and generally just carnivores allergic to every other good group on a dinner plate. I can count on one hand how many of the guys I've dated realized that I was vegan while we dated (Two! My most recent ex figured it out on our first date based on my order, and one other guy did as well.) Very few of my friends realize I'm vegan, and typically it's only if they have me over for a home-cooked meal that it becomes obvious.

 

For me, ethnic restaurants are heaven! They always have a number of great options and plant proteins as choices (Thai, Malaysian, Indian, Ethiopian, Mexican, whatever), but I'll eat anywhere. Had a first date recently and he picked a new, trendy steakhouse for dinner. As we walked in, he said, "I hope you aren't vegetarian, because if so I really messed up." I just smiled at him. We had a great time, and both left stuffed. He's one of the clueless.

 

If she's also gluten-free, I'd suggest going with Asian...rice, soba noodles, tofu, tempeh...tons of options for her starch and her protein.

 

You can also ask her for restaurant suggestions or pick a non-food activity. But really, it's a non-issue even in the middle of nowhere...and I've eaten just about everywhere on this planet.

[RachR]

I don't understand why people get scared of vegetarians. It isn't that big of a deal. I used to be one for several years when I was younger. They just eat something without animal flesh. I guess people who can't imagine someone not eating meat worry that eating out with a vegetarian is "disabling." It really isn't. I'd say someone on a weight loss diet is tons more "disabling" lol. You wouldn't not date someone just because they're on a weight loss diet, now would you?

 

Don't let something like this deter you from dating her. That's silly.

Edited December 2, 2012 by RachR

[todreaminblue]

Hi, first post

 

I met a cute girl the other day. Started talking to her and found out she's a strict vegetarian, for health reasons. I don't think it's because of 'meat is murder' reasons. She also doesn't eat bread or pasta or stuff like that. I want to ask her out, but I'm kind of unsure of how it'd work. I've been eating healthier lately but pretty much every one of my meals has meat in it, and I don't really know where we'd go for a date either.

 

Any ideas?

 

 

I am a carnivore of the highest order because my personal trainer wants me to eat a lot of protein.not allowed anything in a packet....that includes bread cereal and pasta..finding the t bone for brekkie a bit of a stretch even for a carnivore who likes her meat rare.....i was a vegan when i was in my teen years and i cooked vegan for my parents and sister....got to know pulses and legumes and alternative forms of protein and started to experiment with t.v.p ,vita burger and soy products......being a vegan isn't leper ville most restaurants cater for vegetarians

 

 

You can research the place if you want to go out to dinner, see if they have a salad bar where your friend can pick and choose her options, ring them and ask what sort of vegan options do they have on the menu......or as another poster suggested go the no food date....somewhere special....a smoothie place or a juice bar and then a sunset walk along a beach or a park with the smell summer in the air...... with brain freeze from a fruit slushee to share together....sounds like fun....smilin....

 

 

there are nearly always vegan options on a menu....unless its like a carnivore city steakhouse.....you just have to take a little time to research the best options.....you never know you might discover her next fave place somewhere she has never been before....good luck.....deb

Edited December 2, 2012 by todreaminblue

[todreaminblue]

Careful there, everyone knows vegetarians are a little "windier" than us carnivores.

 

 

lol.....which one smells the worst....i would say the decaying meat one....is probably worth ten vegan ones..deb

[ConcernedFriend]

lol.....which one smells the worst....i would say the decaying meat one....is probably worth ten vegan ones..deb

 

Lol, I would have to disagree there! I'm vegetarian and my husband is vegan, and I swear, there are time where I end up ordering him to leave the room the flatulence is so godawful. He wasn't vegan for our first two or three years together, and I will personally attest that both the amount of gas and the intensity of stench produced by a couple big macs is nothing, nothing, NOTHING compared to that of broccoli, cauliflower, and copious quantities of beans.

[HeavenOrHell]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6g_AZ3uiPNM/TJZh78qK7qI/AAAAAAAAAaI/sfvZwetaO8Q/s1600/untitled.gif

 

 

 

I am a carnivore of the highest order because my personal trainer wants me to eat a lot of protein.not allowed anything in a packet....that includes bread cereal and pasta..finding the t bone for brekkie a bit of a stretch even for a carnivore who likes her meat rare.....i was a vegan when i was in my teen years and i cooked vegan for my parents and sister....got to know pulses and legumes and alternative forms of protein and started to experiment with t.v.p ,vita burger and soy products......being a vegan isn't leper ville most restaurants cater for vegetarians

 

 

You can research the place if you want to go out to dinner, see if they have a salad bar where your friend can pick and choose her options, ring them and ask what sort of vegan options do they have on the menu......or as another poster suggested go the no food date....somewhere special....a smoothie place or a juice bar and then a sunset walk along a beach or a park with the smell summer in the air...... with brain freeze from a fruit slushee to share together....sounds like fun....smilin....

 

 

there are nearly always vegan options on a menu....unless its like a carnivore city steakhouse.....you just have to take a little time to research the best options.....you never know you might discover her next fave place somewhere she has never been before....good luck.....deb

[HeavenOrHell]

I'm vegan and I don't like it when veggies or vegans try and change their partner's diet, there's no point dating someone with a view to changing them, instead I'll only date like minded people in the first place.

There is so much vegan food and recipes these days and I make amazing vegan cakes, no-one would guess they don't have egg in, I'm always baking cakes

I love cooking with my partner who's also vegan and we love trying different places to eat, especially London where there are so many vegan places now.

I'll never date an omnivore again.

 

I dated a "meat is murder"-type vegetarian for a while (vs. for health reasons). I wouldn't do it again.

 

Personally, I have no problem with vegetarians who choose not to eat meat according for ethical reasons, but as with most things in life, there is a spectrum. The vegetarian girl I dated tried to push her beliefs on me at just about every turn, which got old. To me, her approach was indicative of greater personality issues than her choice of what to stuff her pie-hole with.

 

In my mind, if two people can't find a happy medium between their differing beliefs, they're probably not meant for each other anyway. Good relationships with staying power are built on compromise.

[soccerrprp]

Vegetarian here and always make it clear when dating that I have no intention of changing the person's diet to fit my lifestyle. I simply calculate that if things work out, that they will slowly become accustomed to my dietary lifestyle and at least eat healthier.

[Maxmix]

Well I am a vegetarian myself and married to a meat eater.I ll be honest it can get challenging sometimes..It strange how much food is underestimated in relationships..

 

Eg: we went to this cruise for watersports and it was a day long tour and the only food thy served meat..so he ended up eating and me almost starving..it gets a little embaraasing it is important to know what ate other things that you share common...there has to be something tht ll bind you guys together.

 

Opposite attracts is highly overated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi, first post

 

I met a cute girl the other day. Started talking to her and found out she's a strict vegetarian, for health reasons. I don't think it's because of 'meat is murder' reasons. She also doesn't eat bread or pasta or stuff like that. I want to ask her out, but I'm kind of unsure of how it'd work. I've been eating healthier lately but pretty much every one of my meals has meat in it, and I don't really know where we'd go for a date either.

 

Any ideas?

[Maxmix]

On the other hand I hv fiends of mine who are couple and both are vegetarians and they simply have so much of fun.. Now thy are expecting their first baby and thy want to raise him as a vegetarian.

 

 

So think well

[source24]

Vegetarian here and always make it clear when dating that I have no intention of changing the person's diet to fit my lifestyle. I simply calculate that if things work out, that they will slowly become accustomed to my dietary lifestyle and at least eat healthier.

 

I was with a girl for two years. At first she would have never given up meat, and I never asked her to. I let her do her own thing, but over time as she found out more about me, and why I felt like it was much more healthier to be a vegetarian, she has since converted, on her own accord! And she is extremely happy about it.

 

Now, even though we are broken up, she is still vegetarian! Which is really awesome.

[ooglesnboogles]

Thanks for all the replies, but she turned me down. Don't let that stop ya, feel free to keep responding if you'd like =) I'm sure it'll be reassurance for someone down the road

[zebracolors]

I would have no problem dating a vegetarian as long as he accepts that I enjoy having meat with my food dishes. And whatever his reasons are for not having meat, as long as he doesn't try to lay a guilt trip on me for eating meat, or try to convince me why I "should" stop eating meat.

 

But i can understand why it might cause problems. Part of coming to care for someone very much is acceptance of all the other's qualities and quirks. And if compromise isn't reached, it can affect feelings.

[reming01]

I have been a vegetarian for almost 20 years. It’s something that is just as me as being blonde or Italian or snorting when I laugh. Really, really fortunately, my boyfriend is really supportive about it.

[Radu]

Hi, first post

 

I met a cute girl the other day. Started talking to her and found out she's a strict vegetarian, for health reasons. I don't think it's because of 'meat is murder' reasons. She also doesn't eat bread or pasta or stuff like that. I want to ask her out, but I'm kind of unsure of how it'd work. I've been eating healthier lately but pretty much every one of my meals has meat in it, and I don't really know where we'd go for a date either.

 

Any ideas?

 

Go and ask her out.

I have some vegetarians in my family [forced to by medical problems], and it's amazing how well these women in their 60's look.

[SpiralOut]

I'm vegetarian.

 

The only time it's an issue in dating is if the man feels insecure about it. I don't try to force my diet on anyone but I don't want to have to constantly reassure someone that yes, it's okay to eat that in front of me, no I don't hate you, no I don't think you're horrible, etc.

 

My last partner became vegetarian for the wrong reasons. I told him I didn't want him to do it just because of me, and he insisted that he wasn't. But he kept talking about how it was "easier" if we were both veggie, he never gave a convincing or genuine answer when I asked him how he felt about it, and he switched back the instant we broke up.

 

I would rather date a guy who eats meat than deal with that.

[Els]

The bf and I both -love- meat (I know, declaring this in a vegetarian thread is probably not the smartest idea ) and it's been a huge plus. We have a lot of fun going to BBQ buffets, steakhouses, stonegrill restaurants, etc together. It's like having another hobby in common. I probably wouldn't be averse to dating a vegetarian if he was a great match, but that's just one less thing in common.

[HeavenOrHell]

One of the things I love about my partner is that he's vegan too, animal welfare is one of the things which brought us together, we love food and love trying out all the vegan places to eat in London, and we love cooking together, so it's the same as you do with your partner, but without the meat

 

 

 

The bf and I both -love- meat (I know, declaring this in a vegetarian thread is probably not the smartest idea ) and it's been a huge plus. We have a lot of fun going to BBQ buffets, steakhouses, stonegrill restaurants, etc together. It's like having another hobby in common. I probably wouldn't be averse to dating a vegetarian if he was a great match, but that's just one less thing in common.

[HeavenOrHell]

She doesn't eat certain things for health reasons and you're saying they should break up?! Wow.

 

 

 

She eats no bread or pasta? Break up with her. Something's not right there.

[ThaWholigan]

I used to be vegetarian. Most of my diet is vegetarian still, but I do eat fish. I have no problem at all dating a vegetarian seeing as the vast majority of what I eat is indeed vegetarian. My dad was vegan for a while, but eats fish again (he doesn't eat dairy).

 

I would certainly date a vegetarian girl.

[soccerrprp]

I boggles my mind as difficult as it is to fine someone in the first place that some would feel SO strongly about dietary lifestyles to reject them outright. Just me.

 

I'm vegetarian and currently date a woman who is not. I have no problems. Like clockwork, she is changing her diet to be more compatible with my own, but continues to eat meat. She's eating healthier and I didn't have to say a word. I, of course, remind her that it isn't necessary to become a vegetarian and she delicately reminds me that she knows that.

 

Among the women I've dated, only one was an actual vegetarian.

[Bittersweetie]

When I started dating my H in college 20 years ago he was vegetarian because he's Hindu. And people were always saying to me, "OMG! He's a vegetarian? Isn't that weird?" And I was like...no. It being different didn't even occur to me. We just went to Taco Bell a lot. I eat meat and fish but rarely do since he the main cook, so I usually go non-veg when we're out. We're planning on raising our baby as a vegetarian (it's important to my H) and I have no worries about it...vegetarians can eat pretty much anywhere nowadays.

[ooglesnboogles]

The bf and I both -love- meat (I know, declaring this in a vegetarian thread is probably not the smartest idea ) and it's been a huge plus. We have a lot of fun going to BBQ buffets, steakhouses, stonegrill restaurants, etc together. It's like having another hobby in common. I probably wouldn't be averse to dating a vegetarian if he was a great match, but that's just one less thing in common.

 

 

That's kind of how I feel. The more time I spend thinking about this, the more I think I'd be less interested in vegetarian girls in the future, simply because I like meat too much. Doesn't mean I won't give it a go, but as you said, it's one less thing in common.

[HeavenOrHell]

For many vegetarians and vegans it's not just a dietary lifestyle, it's more of an ethical, moral, compassionate lifestyle, so from my point of view I wouldn't date an omnivore because it means we have differing view points on something which is a huge part of my life, it's important to me that me and my partner have similar views/feelings on all the things which mean the most to me, if that makes sense

 

I know some vegans and veggies date omnivores with a view to changing them, but that's something I don't understand or agree with, I'd never date someone with a view to changing them

 

I find it fair enough if people wouldn't want to date me as a vegan, they'd just know we'd be too different, as for me it's not just a diet, it's more the reasons *why* I'm vegan which matter.

 

I boggles my mind as difficult as it is to fine someone in the first place that some would feel SO strongly about dietary lifestyles to reject them outright. Just me.

 

I'm vegetarian and currently date a woman who is not. I have no problems. Like clockwork, she is changing her diet to be more compatible with my own, but continues to eat meat. She's eating healthier and I didn't have to say a word. I, of course, remind her that it isn't necessary to become a vegetarian and she delicately reminds me that she knows that.

 

Among the women I've dated, only one was an actual vegetarian.

[TaraMaiden]

I could not live without carbs. I'm Italian and Irish.

 

What w ould I cook?

 

Japanese yam (Shirataki) noodles are utterly delicious and contain NO carbohydrates! They're protein (make sure they're not mixed with soya/tofu, to give them a thicker substance - no calories in those sweet boys!

 

If you buy Konnyaku, it's the same stuff but in cake form... Really good for you!