Real life: I only date vegans now and this is why
“Seriously, why does everyone who eats meat seem so much less likable?” Eva is speaking, and she’s vegan. “It’s not that I condemn everyone who eats meat, but when it comes to dating, I have one hard rule: no meat-eater at my table or in my bed.”
And yes, according to her friends, that makes her a bit of a pain: “Eva, you’re making it impossible for yourself, aren’t you? A diet says nothing about someone’s character,” I often hear. Or they say: “But many meat substitutes aren’t healthy at all, you know. They’re nothing but flavour enhancers and salt.”
“I regularly get comments like that thrown at me. And yes, I listen to them, but it doesn’t change anything: I want someone who treats animals and food consciously, and that goes beyond what is or isn’t healthy.
Why vegans are simply more likable
It’s not just about the food itself. Someone who consciously follows a plant-based lifestyle often shows more empathy, thinks about animal suffering and makes deliberate choices for the world around them. Those are values I want to share in a relationship.
My last date seemed ideal. He was tall and handsome, had a sense of humour and held the door open for me. But when we were sitting in an Italian restaurant, he casually asked whether he could “just try a piece of prosciutto”. Seriously? It wasn’t even about that piece of meat; it was about the principle of respecting my choices. When he then ordered a pizza with tuna – “really, I only eat it once a year” – I knew enough: this was never going to work.
The eternal argument: “but that diet says nothing about character”
Yes, I hear that argument often. That being vegan doesn’t automatically make someone more likable or more fun. And yes, someone can have a fantastic character and still eat meat. But let’s be honest: the chances of arguing about chicken or cheese are greater with a non-vegan. That’s worth something too.
And yes, the conversation always turns to meat substitutes. “Eva, those really aren’t healthy, you know; all those fake-meat products are full of flavour enhancers.” I nod and smile, but in my head I think: that still doesn’t make it okay for you to eat meat at my table or ignore animal suffering.
Conscious lifestyle
I know my policy can make me seem extreme at times. “Don’t be so difficult, Eva, it’s just food,” I often hear. But I can’t do things differently. If my partner doesn’t support my values and conscious lifestyle, it will mean constant hassle at BBQs, family dinners and holidays.
Sometimes I feel like a culinary purist on Tinder: swipe left and you get a cheese lover who eats meat, swipe right and you get a vegan obsessed with cashew cheese. It limits my options enormously, but the few people who remain have something I truly value: compassion, awareness and respect for animals.
Pure magic
My love life is chaotic and sometimes frustrating, but at least it’s honest. No arguments over a piece of cheese or chicken breast, no discussions about what is or isn’t allowed on a plate. I only date vegans and I stand by that a thousand percent. And yes, that means the search for a partner takes longer, but when you find someone who gets it, it’s pure magic.
For me, dating is about values and empathy, not just looks or humour. And finding someone who understands that? It feels almost as good as your first bite of a perfectly cooked lentil burger.”
Also read:
- Bizarre and disgusting behaviour by restaurant guests #3
- Real life: my boyfriend refuses to leave out meat when my (vegan) parents come over for dinner
- 5 reasons why I love Germany’s Tankstelle so much
