How to Cohabit With a Vegetarian Partner

Cohabiting with a vegetarian can be simple or difficult. It depends on the flexibility of both parties and on their expectations.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vegan Cookbooks
• Vegetarian Cookbook

1. Avoid entering the relationship with the expectation that one of you will change. It usually doesn't happen.

2. Discuss the division of labor beforehand. Who will cook? Who will clean up? Many vegetarians will not buy, cook or clean up meat dishes.

3. Be open-minded. Yes, people do survive quite well without eating meat, eggs, fish or any other animal-derived food items.

4. Respect your partner's dietary decision. If you don't respect that, then you have no respect for your partner.

5. Avoid trying to "get" him or her to eat meat. A vegetarian becomes a vegetarian because of certain convictions.

6. Eat a meatless meal together once a week. It will bring more harmony to your relationship as well as benefit to your health.

7. Expect that nothing will change. If your partner said that he or she will not cook you meat dishes, don't expect your partner to change.

8. Avoid becoming angry if your partner refuses to alter his or her habits. Being a vegetarian or vegan is part of their identity.

9. Find restaurants that offer menus that both of you can enjoy.

10. Explore ethnic restaurants, especially Asian and Italian ones. They offer great food for both carnivores and vegetarians.

11. Buy a vegetarian or vegan cookbook. Prepare a delicious vegetarian feast for the two of you.

12. Defend your partner's food choices at family gatherings if the topic is brought up.

13. Assess how important the issue is. Assess how important it is to your partner. If you are locking horns and neither is willing to give a little, your relationship may be in trouble.

Tips & Warnings

• Just as people of two different religions can make a relationship work, so can a vegetarian and nonvegetarian. Both partners have to be willing to be somewhat flexible and have respect for each other.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Brain Vs. Stomach! A Food Fight You Can Win!
• How to Lose 30+lbs Guaranteed. Try it Free.

[cooking4carniv]

on 4/9/2009 i am a vegetarian married to a carnivore and we have worked out a way to make meals together everyday. check out my blog www.cooking4carnivores.com if you are stuck and need real menus to help you coexist. it takes some planning, but it can be done!

on 11/22/2005 Try cooking vegetarian meals, and letting your non-vegetarian partner cook sausages for non-vegetarian guests. It simplifies things greatly. I don't cook or eat meat, my husband does. Making French toast or eggs and having him make sausages on the side keeps me from having to refuse to cook it, but lets him enjoy as he wishes.

on 11/22/2005 If you are the vegetarian in the relationship, be willing to cook more often. Bring out all your best recipes. Show your partner that vegan or vegetarian dishes can be easy and delicious! My husband drinks milk at home and occasionally orders meat dishes in restaurants, but at home we only cook vegan meals and no one feels deprived.