Vegans or Vegetarians, Could you ever......?

Question

I was wondering if you could ever be in a relationship with someone who didn't share the same belief as you when it comes to being vegan or vegetarian. Could you live together even if they weren't vegan or vegetarian.

I am just curious because when I became vegan it was something that was really important to me and still very much is and when my boyfriend saw how much it meant to me he opted to go Vegan as well and neither of us have ever doubted our decision. It is something that really brought us closer because we're in it together but I was wondering how other people deal when their spouse isn't so willing?

Thanks

Answer 1

My boy friend! still every now and then has to have his barbecue sandwich.  I don't get on his case, because I'm the vegetarian not him and he eats a very healthy diet.  But my eating habits and choices are my own, and I don't expect him or anyone else to take them on or conform because we are dating.  But I'm glad your boy friend and you have decide to support each other.

Answer 2

Probably not, it'd be too frustrating and I would NOT have that stuff in the fridge.

I can be friends with non-vegans, no problem, but when it comes to such an intimate relationship, we'd have to have the same ethical values.

It's alright for me, my girlfriend is vegan too and we've been together nearly 3 years. I have lot of vegan friends too, so I'm lucky.

Answer 3

As someone who eats meat (and loves the so-called "nasty bits"), I am not sure I would be able to date a vegan.  There's too much stuff out there that I love that I would not wish to give up.  Stinky cheese, wild game, sweetbreads, and other things that would probably thoroughly disgust a vegan.  I love sushi; life without otoro tuna and other like items...not worth living.  For me these are pleasures meant to be savoured and enjoyed.  I'm not talking about overeating, I'm talking about enjoying the culinary pleasures in moderation.  The good stuff.

With this being said, vegans clearly will not agree with this, and it is not fair or appropriate to tell them that they're wrong.  We simply disagree.  It would be unreasonable for either of us to expect the

other person to adopt their way; thus we'd probably be incompatible.

I've tried the soy/tofu product and can honestly say I didn't like it...I'm glad vegans eat this stuff and hope they enjoy it.  Really.

Answer 4

Fortunately my boyfriend is vegetarian, and was for two years before i met him. But i had no real problem with my other significant others eating meat, because my lifestyle choice didn't necessarily need to be his lifestyle choice. He understood that i wasn't going to eat it with him and if i was cooking that there would be no meat involved, so we didn't have a big problem.

over the years, i've learned to treat my veg lifestyle like one should a religion. Just because i believe it doesn't mean i should force you to believe it also.  

Answer 5

I think it's awesome that your boyfriend saw how important it was to you and became vegan! It shows that he really cares about your feelings and what's important to you.

I don't think I would date someone who isn't a vegetarian or vegan...I think the more things we have in common, the more compatible we will be. If the person is a vegetarian for ethical reasons...they probably care about animals, I think that's a good trait. We would get along better and we would share our problems, recipes, suggestions and other stuff. And if I want to go on a date to a vegetarian restaurant, I know they won't be complaining.

Answer 6

well of course you should except people for who they are and they should except you for who you are i think you should care about someone deep down for there heart and personality rather ththere eating choices or belieifs even though i would love to find a fellow vegan buddhist it may not easily happen

Answer 7

Deciding to become a vegetarian was a choice that I made for myself, I don't think that you can force it on people. They have to believe it themselves and want to change their diet for their own reasons, not for mine. Personally, I think everyone has the right to make their own decisions on what they eat...providing they respect other people's choices. Just because I think being a vegetarian is the right thing doesn't make it the right thing, so I keep an open mind. So I would be happy to be in a relationship with a meat-eater providing they respected and understood why I chose not to eat meat. After all, who says I am right? I could be very very wrong...even if I don't believe I am.

Answer 8

i'm a vegetarian of 30 years who has been married to a  omnivore for the last 16 years.

and??????

Answer 9

I am actually in this right now... Although, I've been with my boyfriend for 4 1/2 years and have only been a vegetarian for a couple of months.  He is a meat eater, and can't have a dinner without meat.  I also live with him.  Basically, what happens when we eat, is he prepares his meat aside from our food, and we each have our own "main course" (IE: Steak for him, extra veggies for me..) and that's working out fine.  He just gets annoyed sometimes when we go shopping for snacks and I can't eat the candy he enjoys the most (which has gelatin in it).  Things like that.

But over all, we've become accustomed to my beliefs and his beliefs and have found a way to make it work. It's possible!! ♥

Answer 10

Well i'm a vegetarian and my boyfriend is not, just ask your boyfriend/husband not to eat infront of you, and tell him too brush his teeth before he kisses you. (:

Answer 11

i dont even like to be around meat as i find it disgusting. maybe if they never brought it into the house or ate it around me i could be with a non vegetarian, but that isnt really possible.

Answer 12

This really depends on the nature and pushiness of the vegetarian in question.

Most non vegetarians can deal with a vegetarian as long as they are not "preachy" about it. Also, it is pretty easy to prepare meals that are vegetarian that can be enjoyed by all and the non vegetarian can always sneak in some meat from time to time.

Now vegans can be a real problem. This is so restrictive that it becomes impractical. Also, most non vegetarians do not "understand" vegans and in a lot of cases think they are moon bats. (I do lol)  It is so dang hard to make anything good because it is overly restrictive!

Answer 13

Of course I would!

If you love someone why let something like that get in the way?

If I had a boyfriend that ate meat I'd still date him.

As long as he doesn't try to get me to eat meat or something, then I'm okay. =)

And I'm not gonna force him to become a Vegan/Vegetarian. He'd probably dump me from that haha =)

Answer 14

i am a vegetarian, have been for the past 5 years, and my current live-in boyfriend is not a vegetarian or vegan. he LOVES steak actually, and i have absolutely no problem with him enjoying it.