The decision to date a vegan and pursue a relationship with him or her often depends on your level of commitment. Are you searching specifically for someone who is a vegan, or are you interested in a particular person who happens to practice veganism? If it’s the former, you’re probably well-versed in the lifestyle. But if you fall into the latter category, you might well benefit from these suggestions and guidelines.
Be educated about veganism
The first thing you should do is educate yourself about the ideals and beliefs held by those who are ardent vegans. First you need to understand that there are distinct differences between those who identify as vegetarians and those who identify as vegans. World-renowned celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain once famously said, “Vegetarians, and their Hezbollah-like splinter faction, the vegans … are the enemy of everything good and decent in the human spirit.”While that description is a bit harsh and inflammatory, it does illustrate the fact that there’s a clear difference between the two camps. Vegetarians typically don’t allow meat (and often fish) to pass between their lips, whereas vegans eschew meat, fish, dairy, seafood, eggs, and more; further, vegans generally don’t consume or use any items made from animals or animal by-products, including leather. Therefore, understanding that veganism is both a diet and a lifestyle is key. Those who are committed to veganism usually feel strongly about their decision and adhere to strict dietary and related “rules” that rival those outlined in Orthodox Judaism, and hardcore adherents are usually committed to veganism on social, spiritual and/or environmental levels.
Are you ready for veganism?
That said, not all vegans automatically reject romantic overtures from people who don’t share their convictions. Still, if you think humans are rightfully at the top of the food chain and should take advantage of that position, you should either find a new potential paramour or seriously consider changing your dietary habits if you want to date a vegan.While vegans can be tolerant of the dietary and lifestyle choices of others, you should still seriously consider to what extent you’re willing to examine everything you consume. Keep in mind that if you choose the latter, you have to be willing to forsake many familiar foods. Moreover, if you’re the kind of person who’s likely to eat canned goods after the “best by” date or use the smell test to determine a product’s relative safety for consumption, then dating a vegan probably isn’t in the cards for you. Vegans tend to be very thoughtful about the foods they consume and items they purchase; consequently, even if they’re open to your eating animal-based foods and animal by-products, they likely won’t look fondly on your sniffing the cottage cheese that’s passed its expiration date to determine if it’s still edible.
Finding a vegan
If you’re already a practicing vegan and are looking specifically for someone with the same diet and lifestyle, you can search and sign up for websites that cater specifically to vegans and offer matchmaking services. Similarly, if you’re dead-set on dating a vegan but don’t adhere to that diet yourself, you’ll need to be willing to make some concessions along the way. While you might not fully understand or support your date’s vegan choices, you still need to be sympathetic to them. If your date is game and has the same open-minded policy, you at least have your foot in the door.
Picking some place to eat
If you’ve arranged for a date with a vegan and are planning to dine out, be sure to choose a restaurant with variety of choices that cater to your date’s preferences. You don’t necessarily have to choose a vegetarian or vegan restaurant (Although that would be a nice gesture.), but the dining establishment should at least offer salads and vegetable choices that can be made without animal by-products. (For instance, while beans are acceptable choices for vegans, refried beans made with lard – an ingredient made from rendered animal fat – are unacceptable.) Sushi restaurants can also be good choices for your first shared meal if your date isn’t squicked out by meat in his or her presence, since veggie rolls are common menu choices.The most important thing to remember about dating a vegan is that being aware of and sympathetic to the person’s dietary and lifestyle choices can be a key ingredient
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