LAist: He's Just Not That Into You...And Your Meat

Su

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:04:27 -0800

Most people are not vegetarians or vegans because they're picky, but because of a moral, political, environmental, spiritual, or health choice. (I do love food and cooking and dining. I just don't consider animals or their secretions to be food.) I agree with Greg - I don't consider it a hallmark of reason to date someone with different values. It would be extremely difficult for me and would feel inauthentic. I hesitate to admit that meat-eaters do smell, uh, different to me. I'm sure one would get used to it if one is in luuuurve.

GarySe7en

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:12:15 -0800

I'm vegetarian, but light on dairy and spent 2 years as a vegan. I previously dated a girl who was really into meat. We made it work, and she was really accommodating to me, often enjoying the challenge of cooking in completely new ways when we made food together. She still eats meat, but now eats much more veggies then her parents were ever able to get her to eat. For that her parents have thanked me. Moral choice is part of my veggieness, but I realize a completely veggie diet doesn't work for everyone. Ultimately I would just be happy if meat consumption became lower, and I can't think of a better way to do that then introduce delicious vegetarian alternatives to people with a non threatening agenda. Currently I'm dating a vegan, and although I do enjoy the more common food choices we share, dating a more carnivorous partner, was never a serious source of friction.

christina

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:00:08 -0800

i'm open to being converted, zach... ;)

kristinester

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:17:48 -0800

Dated a guy for a year once who would not eat beef or pork. I don't eat fish. We ate ALOT of chicken and turkey. I got really sick of cooking chicken, really fast. I had issues with it though. Not because I didn't respect his weird dietary desires, but because they were totally without base. He wouldn't eat pork because he claimed to be Jewish. He's never set foot in a temple in his life, nor does he follow the religion at all. Nor do his parents. If he actually was Jewish, I could respect it. Then he claimed to be Hindu and that's why he couldn't eat beef. My signature dish is Pot Roast. He would rather eat ramen instead of that gloriously tender cut of dead cow swimming in juice. Needless to say, I don't date veggies anymore.

Greg Katz

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:43:36 -0800

Oh yeah, I think the stuff about "energy" and whatever is complete nonsense. I am a low-energy vegetarian and I have many high-energy meet eater friends. And yeah, right now I don't smell very good, so I don't think that has much to do with it either.

Zach Behrens

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:41:59 -0800

Basically, when I date a non-veggie, they eventually come join me on the dark side.

Carrie Meathrell

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:21:56 -0800

kidding...but Zach Behrens is my resident Veg Head and he always says that he has no problem dating non-veggies. So I guess you're right about preference versus moral imperative -- I just take issue with *some* vegetarians being judgmental in the way that this article portrays them, i.e. "meat-eaters smell bad and have low energy." I may have low energy but I smell FANTASTIC.

Greg Katz

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:15:11 -0800

Carrie Meathrell

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:57:35 -0800

Umbrage??? Not UMBRAGE!!! Whatever shall I do!

Greg Katz

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:37:48 -0800

I take umbrage with your idea that "reasonable veggie heads" are okay with dating across the meat-line. I consider myself both reasonable and vegetarian, but I could not date an omnivore. Vegetarianism is like most other strong affiliations: There are people for whom things are "just preferences" and others for whom they are "moral imperatives." For example, a ho-hum Democrat might date a Republican, but a dyed-in-the-wool socialist would probably not date a libertarian. Or, perhaps a better analogy, an anti-abortion activist would be unlikely date an abortionist. It shouldn't be considered "unreasonable" that I wouldn't date a meat-eater. In fact, it's completely reasonable; I want to date someone with values similar to those I have. My vegetarianism isn't a dietary preference, but an ethical compulsion.

christina

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:27:55 -0800

"came to her senses"?? whatever.

RoyalGravy

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:26:57 -0800

I eat meat, she doesn't. She got turned off to meat as a kid because of her mom's cooking, and if I had any discerning taste I should have too. Mom used to grill the crap outta burgers until they were pretty much indistinguishable from hockey pucks. Thanks a heap, Hugh Downs. Anyway, we make it happen. I oven-bake my chicken, she stir-fries her tofu. She's kind of a veggie-light (pescatarian is the precise name, I think) -- only skips on chicken, beef, pork... and wild game, I suppose (no venison or elk meat for her. Or me. Blech.). So (thank god!) sushi isn't off the menu, nor are eggs (my specialty) or cheese (her passion). She's got her soy cheese and soy lunchmeat and so forth, which I don't object to, but avoid. And I've been introduced to things like bean stick and bean curd skin, and some great vegetarian restaurants in the SGV that would have otherwise gone unnoticed by me. And yes, she will object to me eating meat from time to time -- but like above, only if it's a death-burger from Carl's Jr. and likely to stop my heartbeat with a glance. But it only means she cares. Plus we still get to make these if we want (last night we did).

doug9149

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:12:05 -0800

My wife used to not eat red meat. Then she realized how awesome a good filet mignon tastes when it melts in your mouth and came to her senses. She also loves taco salads, although we make the taco meat with ground turkey now most times. Basically I think we compromised over time. I now eat much more vegetables and salads and she eats more meats. Good times.

christina

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:53:12 -0800

i don't eat red meat so i guess i fall into an 'in between' category. i don't know that i would have an issue with a guy who loves steak, but i kind of would prefer someone who doesn't eat much of it, if at all. i'm not passionate enough about either viewpoint though, so it's not like i can relate to people who are very strict about their diet.

spoon

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:32:33 -0800

Soy cheese is disgusting, there is no denying that one. These people seem unwilling to compromise, period. And since a relationship is all about compromise...they will remain alone for a bit longer. I know plenty of "mixed" couples who manage to cope.

csharp7

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:50:33 -0800

I'm a veggie, he's not. We don't let it get in the way too much. We eat the same meal most times, him with meat and we with a corresponding meat alternative. I'm not horribly picky when it comes to pre-prepared soups having chicken stock, or caesar salad having anchovy paste, but if we're making something from scratch, we use vegetarian ingredients. I only get gripey when he eats really bad meat. if you're going to have a hamburger, okay - but let's get you a good one, not a BK stacker, know what I mean?