What happens when you cross-date (vegetarian and non-vegetarian). Satya
asked a few people for their stories.
When my girlfriend and I started going out she was
the vegetarian. I was constantly teased by my friends and family that
she was going to convert me. And she never did try to convert me. After
about 5 years together, I came to the realization, completely on my
own, that vegetarianism was the only spiritually defensible lifestyle.
But I was still worried what my friends and family would say. The night
I made the decision not to eat meat (without telling anyone), we went
out to an Italian restaurant, and to prove to myself that I was not
doing this because of her I orderd the meat tortellini carbonara. I
realized right then and there how ridiculous I was and have since thrown
societal pressure to the wind. I always consider that my first meal
as a vegetarian.
Jerome Hughes
His girlfriend, who is now his wife, replies:
Actually, I was trying to convert him. Subversive tactics
can be quite effective.
Faith Kostel-Hughes
I am currently dating a meat-eater; she
supports me but is not willing to make the leap--yet! We love to go
to the diner. It's the only place in town that serves a killer gardenburger
deluxe for me and a cheeseburger deluxe for her! I dined on this meal
for months until we found out that the fries were cooked in beef fat.
Hold the fries, please.
Paul Regan
It's been my experience that the longer
a vegetarian and a meat-eater date, the easier it becomes for the veggie.
My last boyfriend was so sweet when we would go out to dinner he would
always order us potato skins--half without bacon for me because he knew
I was too shy to ask.
Corinne Monaghan
I used to go with a meat-eater person once,
and besides the occasional comment about rabbit chow, I thought he was
okay with it. Then once I heard his friend comment about how I was kinda
hefty for just eating vegetables all the time, and this guy says: "Well,
cows don't eat meat either." I am now single.
Ruby Sanchez
When I first started what I thought was
going to be the relationship to last a lifetime, I began to feel that
my vegetarian lifestyle was no longer a valid part of who I was. Consequently,
I began to eat meat, and as the relationship progressed, I left vegetarianism
completely. As I look back now, I can tell that I was only ignoring
who I really am in order to stay with somebody too closed-minded to
accept me--the real, vegetarian me. I think that, as I grow older and
wiser, my commitment to being vegetarian is so much more than just not
eating meat, and whoever I'm with, if they truly want to be with me,
will appreciate that. Being in a relationship should enhance who you
are, and if the person's right for you, they'll accept you--veggies,
tofu, and all.
Lauri Hengl-Buchbaum
