As a vegan, how important is it that your significant other is vegan as well?

Question

Obviously it is easier, but do you require it? or do you feel that it is an individual choice? When you go grocery shopping together, do you buy animal products for them?

How do you feel about having someone that close to you who isn't vegan?

Answer 1

well for me and my parents theyre really supportive of me being vegan so theyll eat animal free stuff too and as long as they try it and dont like it then im fine with them going back to regular stuff. but i cant have someone constantly eat meat 24/7 or not support me at all with veg*nism

Answer 2

I don't think it is important at all! If you and your mate are able to compromise (which should be an important tenet guiding any relationship that hopes to be successful!), then you shouldn't have a problem.

All but one of my friends are either vegetarian or vegan. We compromise on restaurants. And at home, my family is totally relentless when it comes to my vegetarianism! I buy my own food at Trader Joe's.

Sometimes I wish that my family wouldn't call me "crazy" for being a vegetarian but I'm much too secure in my decision to be affected by that. I do this for health reasons and ethical reasons, and whenever I need affirmation, I talk to my friends who can relate!

Answer 3

I've been thinking of this topic a lot lately. I have been veg almost a year and became vegan over a month ago....I've decided I think it's going to be very important that my sig other at least be VEGETARIAN, maybe not necessarily vegan. The main reason for this is that if/when I decide to have children, I am NOT feeding them meat products....if I have a sig other who does eat meat, this may cause a lot of needless issues and arguing between the family, possibly leading to hard feelings. I don't think I could live with/be married to someone who cooks/eats meat (other than my apartment, or when I'm home for the summer at my parents' house, but that's a little diff--I don't have to kiss any of them goodnight, haha)

Either way, I don't think I could marry someone who isn't at least vegetarian....unfortunately that slims down the pickings even more for the "right guy."  *sigh*

Answer 4

A vegan mate is important but not essential. I can tolerate them being a vegetarian but do draw the line at being an omnivore.

Answer 5

I am a vegetarian and ideally my significant other would be too, but let's face facts- most people eat meat.  In other words, you are limiting your dating pool if you only date other vegans.  I was fortunate to have, via propaganda, convinced my boyfriend to go vegetarian, but I broke up with him a few years ago and have yet to meet another guy that I am interested in be a vegetarian.  Most of my dates are considerate and will not eat meat in front of me, but I really don't expect them to.  In a perfect world, I would find my perfect match, but I refuse to not date a guy just because he eats meat.  Although I personally feel that it's wrong to eat meat (for myself, not judging others), I can't force my opinion on others' behaviors.  As long as the guy treats me right, respects me, and we can have great intellectual conversations, I think it will work out.

Answer 6

its not important, but if you live together it would be easier and cheaper for food if you ate the sam stuff

Answer 7

It would be nice, but I never dated a vegan girl. Its never really bothered me that my girlfriends eat meat.

Answer 8

its handy for cooking and splitting food when my girlfriend and i go out to eat. i dont really feel like there is too much more to it than that, but neither of us our too hardcore about it, (by that i mean we arent out passing out flyers or anything and i dont think either of us would refuse to kiss someone after they had just eaten meat) i imagine the more into it you are the bigger deal it is.

Answer 9

My boyfriend eats meat at nearly every meal. A couple of weekends ago we went to an asian restaurant and he ordered a noodle soup without meat and discovered that it was too spicy for him, and we were able to trade dishes ☺ and that same weekend we went to a concert/festival and all the vendors were selling food such as vegan curry and vegan pitas and we bought those things and were able to share them☺ these were the first times I was able to share a meal with him and I really liked being able to do that. He says that when we get married he will probably be vegan anyway since I'll be the one cooking. He respects me for being vegan and is very accepting and always looking for things I can eat. It bothers me a little that he knows how strongly I feel about it yet still eats meat, but I guess I will have to deal with that for now =)

Answer 10

I think that its not important because if they love each other then they will accept each others beliefs! Even if one is vegan and the other is not =]

Answer 11

My other half is not vegan and nor would I want him to change his eating habits for me alone - this is not the right reason to become veg*n, and is likely to end in failure and frustration.  I am totally comfortable with him buying animal products - he is his own person and does not need me preaching at him constantly - but he knows I feel strongly about this so he still respects my choice and does not ask me to buy animal products for him.  I believe the longer he sees me living a good example of a happy, healthy, compassionate vegan life the more likely he is to become vegan himself, for the right reasons.

Answer 12

I really wouldn't want to kiss someone that has just downed a dead cow, but that's just my opinion.

I would prefer someone who understood my beliefs and supported them, so if it came to the point where I am living with them, then I really wouldn't want meat bringing into my house.

Answer 13

I used to be vegan, now I'm just a vegetarian. My boyfriend, who lives with me, is also a vegetarian, but he's slightly less strict than I am (for example: it doesn't bother him much if a small sample of cheese is made with rennet).

I certainly find it much easier for us to have similar dietary preferences. It makes meal preparation much smoother. I honestly don't know how well it would work out if only one of us were veg. Personally, I'd have a small problem with meat in my fridge, but I'd never hold his diet against him ... although I'd probably not want to kiss him right after a meal!

Answer 14

I have alot of friends who eat meat, and I'm ok with that, because its their choice, and they respect my choices to being a vegan.

Answer 15

ohhboyy.  

uhm, Its not important one bit, actually, my friend had the same problem.

They tried to switch him to like. . . being a vegan and stuff, but in the end he just could NOT stay away from meat, so she ended up having to get both at the grocery store, it all depended on how much she cared for him.

So, if you do care for your, significant other, so it seems, you should just leave them to have their own food and diet choice.

best of luuckk.  (:

hich.  :D