9 Important Tips For Dating a Non Vegan Partner

So you start dating an amazing person but the only thing is… they’re not vegan! Now what?

This post will guide you through all the possible situations that can come up when dating a non vegan partner so you feel prepared to share the lifestyle you love, set boundaries, and ultimately have a happy and loving relationship while staying true to your values.

Full disclosure, being in an inter-dietary relationship has its challenges but if you are reading this post and are already looking for solutions then you’re on the right path!

This post is all about the best tips for dating a non vegan partner.

The Best Tips For Dating a Non Vegan Partner

1. Share vegan food you enjoy

Rather than trying to change your partner’s dietary preferences, you can inspire them to enjoy some of the foods you enjoy.

Some people have never really tried vegan foods or had a bad experience with vegan food. When you share your yummy vegan meals, they may also become your partner’s favorites as well!

Lead by example. You never know, your partner may see you living a healthy and happy lifestyle and be inspired by that.

2. Compromise when eating out

Luckily, vegan options are becoming more and more common! If you are living in a larger city there may even be exclusively vegan restaurants.

That being said, compromise is important in a relationship. Take turns going to vegan and non vegan restaurants but don’t be afraid to ensure there are options for you to eat as well. Going to a steak restaurant can feel daunting as a vegan but you can normally throw together a meal out of the sides and veggie entrees available.

If there is a restaurant your partner really wants to try that just doesn’t have any good options for you, they can always find someone else to go with. Just like they don’t have to go to your favorite vegan restaurants all the time, you can skip out on meat-heavy restaurants as well.

It’s all about compromise and balance. A loving partner will want to make sure you are well fed though so if they always complain about your vegan food tune into that yellow flag.

a couple eating a meal at a vegan restaurant

3. You can’t force them to be vegan

Loving someone means accepting them as they are, dietary preferences, and all. It isn’t fair to the other person or the health of your relationship to try to change them.

Some vegans have a firm boundary that they will not date people who are not vegans and that is ok too. Just decide what your boundary is.

If you are open to dating a range of people then that comes with being open to giving them space to make their own decisions based on their values.

It is also totally ok if a small part of you hopes that one day they will go vegan! Going vegan has tons of health and environmental benefits so it makes sense that you are excited about that and want to share it with the one you love.

It is just important to find the balance between accepting people and not judging them and trying to change them.

4. Bring vegan food to gatherings to share

Rather than showing up empty handed and assuming there will be vegan options, be sure to show up to gatherings with delicious vegan meals to share!

Part of being in a relationship means getting to know your partner’s friends and family and entering into their lives as well.

Make sure you have a satisfying vegan option to bring to gatherings or eat before showing up. This will cut down on the awkwardness of people trying to have food prepared for you or them judging your dietary choices.

Unfortunately, not everyone is open to veganism but ensuring you are well-fed doesn’t depend on them and their views!

5. Prioritize dating healthy eaters and open-minded people

So this tip is more for people who have yet to find “the one”. Whether you are on dating apps or meeting people out and about, make sure to prioritize people who have similar values to you.

Things to look for could be people who prioritize healthy eating, animal lovers, environmentalists, kind/empathetic people etc.

It may be tricky to find someone who is vegan but shooting for a basis of shared values is a great place to start.

6. Be honest about your boundaries

Honesty and communication are the hallmarks of a good relationship. This becomes even more important with things like dietary needs.

Stay true to your values and needs and don’t be afraid to share them with your partner.

For example, maybe you don’t really love that you and your partner share a cutting board to prepare meat and make vegan dishes. Talk with them about it and find a way to compromise. Maybe that means the cutting board is always put in the dishwasher (not just hand washed) or even buying a couple of cutting boards.

This may seem like a really small thing to some but if it bothers you then vocalize it and find a solution so it stays a small issue!

7. Be mindful of things like moving in together or having kids

For the most part, navigating an inter-dietary relationship is manageable when you live separately but once you start sharing a space or decide to raise children together things can get complicated.

This is when communication is crucial to the success of your relationship and individual well-being.

There is no clear cut answer on how to raise kids or share a home but don’t just assume that things will naturally pan out or that one conversation on the topic will suffice.

Just like other aspects of raising kids and sharing a space, things change so be open to revisiting the topic when needed!

Here are a few examples of possibilities to consider when sharing a life with someone with different dietary needs. Do what you are comfortable with. Everyone has different comfort levels.

Separate cutting boards for meat vs. veg dishes
Animal products in a separate fridge
Not paying for animal products at grocery store etc.
Having meat in your home
Friend and family gatherings
Cultural ties to food
Will your kids be vegan from birth? Are they allowed to try non-vegan foods? (These questions could be a whole blog post by themselves!)

8. Keep learning about health, animal rights, and climate change together

Before you were vegan…you weren’t vegan! Right? It sounds so simple but very few people are raised in vegan homes. (Lucky you if you were!)

Because of this, it can be easy to empathize with what it was like not to be vegan.

Maybe you slightly judged vegans for only eating tofu and salads. Or maybe you thought vegans were extremists and the only representation you saw were wild protestors. Maybe before going vegan, you had barely even heard of the lifestyle at all.

It is important to tap into those pre-vegan memories when frustrations come up with your current partner surrounding diet differences. Everyone has different paths and access to different information.

A great way to minimize this gap is by sharing info and learning more together. There are tons of amazing documentaries and books out there about veganism, animal rights, climate change etc. that you can learn from with your partner.

9. Being vegan is more than the food, see if they are open to using vegan products

When people think of veganism the first thing most think of is the vegan diet but veganism is much more than that.

Maybe your partner isn’t open to a vegan diet because of religious, cultural, or health reasons. But they may be open to changing up some of their hygiene products, clothing, entertainment (humane zoos) etc.

Again, I’m not encouraging you to force your partner to change but opening their eyes to all the different ways you can join in on the vegan movement can go a long way!