Dear Vegans: Do You Guys Have Any Advice?

Now, it seems that some how or another I, initially a die-hard carnivore, fell head over heels for a vegan. He's in the Seussical cast that I'm in, and he's sweet, talented, and funny (not to mention cute ;D). I don't completely share his views on animal rights (I personally think that you shouldn't kill animals for sport, and that they should be treated well and with respect; but I'm not sure if they're exactly like ';little people';)- however, I'm supportive of his views and frequently help defend them when he gets ';called out'; for them.


So my dilemma is as follows:


I really like this guy, but I'm terrified that I'll say something stupid that'll completely ruin it. If there're any vegans out there reading this, I'd really appreciate your opinion. Do you have any advice for a non-vegan who is reluctant to give up her meat-eating, but wants to be as supportive of this guy as possible?


And just because I'd like to see some of y'alls' opinions on this, would you be willing to have a serious relationship with a non-vegan?


Thanks! ^^





(also, if this is in the wrong category, I apologize!)Dear Vegans: Do You Guys Have Any Advice?
Be yourself. Don't try to change for a guy. In the end, you'll still be you; he will still be himself, and if those aren't compatible it won't work. And he's not going to try switching to eating meat for you, why do you think you are expected to switch to being vegan?!





For example: I love having dogs as pets; no matter how much I thought I liked someone, if they didn't like dogs; no way I would date them. It wouldn't work, and we would end up resenting each other.





If he likes you, he likes YOU, and *you* come as a ';whole package';.





I do have suggestions on a couple books for you and him to read:


- ';Real Food'; by Nina Planck (who's a former vegan, and she does give insight to the reasons of her food choices, etc)


- ';In Defense of Food'; by Michael Pollan


.Dear Vegans: Do You Guys Have Any Advice?
Well, if he really likes you, he'll temporarily be *what's the word...* frustrated, for lack of a better term. But he'll get over it! I'm a vegan and yes, I'd be willing to have a serious relationship with an omnivore (I'm not trying to be offensive, sorry if it seemed like it). In fact, tomorrow I'm going to ask an omnivore that I like out on a date. Hope this helps!!!!!!! BTW- wish me luck!
He's too good for you, lower your sights. Nah, just kidding. I would look at how dishonest the animal produce industry is, you will probably find you agree with him.
Maybe try being an omnivore instead of a carnivore. If all you eat is meat and he eats none, that might be a problem.





Do some research about veganism and why people decide to become vegan in order to better understand where he is coming from. You don't have to completely change to vegan if you don't want to, but if you ever hang out with him it would be very nice of you to avoid animal products in what you order.





Even better: talk to him. Ask his opinion on onmivores. I for one (as a vegan) don't care which of my friends eats which animals; it's their own personal choice, Just as being vegan is my personal choice. I don't appreciate it when people scoff at me for ordering something without one or more elements that it should have (ordering a a salas without cheese or meat) so why should I tell people that their dietary choices are incorrect?





The best way to solve your dilemma is through communication: read about veganism and why people choose to go that path, then talk to him about it and ask him questions of you want. Start of with something like ';I did some research on veganism since I didn't know much about it and I wanted to be better informed of it. What surprised me was...'; or ';What made me think was...'; Something like that. Just talk to him. Don't be scared of/ intimidated/weirded out by vegans Just because our diet/lifestyle is different than yours.
Don't be scared that you're going to say the wrong thing. If you're not trying to offend him, and you're keeping an open-mind, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.





I am vegan, and I started dating an omnivore a year ago...I never had any intentions of changing his diet, but he is vegetarian now, nonetheless.





The best thing you can do is keep an open mind. Try to understand his point of view better...ASK him about things.





It doesn't sound like you have a complete understanding of veganism, what with your statements on not killing for sport and not seeing animals as little people.





I'm vegan, and I don't see animals as little people. I'm not trying to get them voting rights or the right to a civil union or whatever. I want simply to live and let live.





One thing, maybe, that might help you understand him better would be to do some research on factory farming in all it's beauty.
Since I do not know either of you and probably am missing some of the facts I will give you some advice.


At least be truthful with him, do not hide the fact that you eat meat. But maybe try to eat free ranged animals and eggs, if it is within your budget.





I am a vegetarian, but I know I have only dated meat eating guys, but at long as they respect my choice, then the relationships went great. It is typically all about respecting each others views on the topic.
Personally, I LOVE when my non-vegan friends are willing to try vegan food! If there are any vegan restaurants in your area you could ask him if he'd like to go to one with you, because you're interested in vegan food. Maybe ask him some of his favorite vegan recipes as well.





Also, you say ';reluctant'; to give up meat. Does this mean you would maybe consider it? If the relationship got serious enough and it was what he wanted? You should think about those things.





Personally I would date a non-vegan, provided he was openminded. Marriage is another story however. I want to raise my children vegan and I don't know how that would work with an omnivore husband.
from the way you describe him he sounds like a down to earth kind of guy, and he probably is happy you respect his choice on what he eats and he probably will return the favor for you.





i think it would be a sweet move though if you tried cutting out meat for him, who knows you might come to love it? :)


many relationships work out between vegans and omnivores.





maybe have a heart-to-heart about his veganism, you'll get to know him better and he'll probably appreciate you wanting to find out more, also it'd be more unlikely that you'd say something to offend him if you understood more.


honestly veganism is a subject most people are ignorant on, and he probably has a lot he could tell you.
Could I have a relationship with meat-eater? Maybe. Most the people I know eat meat, I seem to get on pretty well with them. It would weird me out to kiss someone who just ate a hamburger, though.





Vegans don't necessarily think that animals are 'like people'. There are degrees of sentience - no animals on Earth are as intelligent as humans, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be treated with respect. Pigs, for example, are thought to have intelligence equivalent to that of a 3-year-old child.


There are many reasons for choosing to be a vegan. Animal farming contributed 1/5 of the world's carbon emissions. Overfishing and by-catch damages marine environments and is driving endangered species to extinction. You could be a vegan simply for environmental reasons.


Meat also contains lots of fat and cholesterol. Whereas plants contain no cholesterol and are very low in fat. A vegan diet is thought to be the most beneficial to those with a family history of heart disease or cancer. You could simply be vegan for health reasons.





For me, it was a combination of all the above. Basically, I couldn't justify NOT being vegan!