It is a typical Romeo and Juliet type of forbidden romance: the omnivore and the vegan. Just because you are dating someone whose lifestyle differs from your own does not mean you cannot still have many other common interests and a thriving relationship.

Carefully Select Vegan Gifts

You cannot go wrong with vegan chocolates! 1955 called, and we agreed that we present-day ladies (and gentlemen) still like fancy chocolates in a pretty box. Your local natural food store may have them in stock, but a simple Internet search will lead you to salvation. This is definitely going to be one of those special occasion gifts, as vegan chocolates can be on the pricier side. Some great vegan chocolate options are Sjaaks Chocolate Decadence , and Vegan Chocolate . You can even find vegan chocolates on Amazon:







Cook to Impress

The way to a vegan man’s heart is through his stomach. Simply google “ vegan blogs ” and you can find many easy, simple (not to mention delicious) recipes. Even the biggest carnivore can whip up a special vegan meal in minutes with the help of the almighty Internet. No matter what you make, he will be impressed you went the extra mile. Nothing says “I love you” like homemade vegan pizza after all! Just remember to be careful about items that seem vegan but usually are not (e.g., jelly, marshmallows, Worcestershire sauce).

Vegan Restaurants Are a Real Treat

Over the course of your relationship, you will become masters of choosing restaurants that suit both your tastes. For example, ethnic restaurants like Japanese, Indian, Ethiopian, Middle Eastern, etc. are both vegan and omni-friendly. We do not mind that you order chicken shawarma while we feast on falafel. Although we will say we can find a suitable vegan meal at any restaurant (dry side salad, anyone?), if you take us to a vegan restaurant for a special night out, the gesture will be greatly appreciated. You will get to try something new and probably enjoy the food, too! If you are not sure where to go, this list of the 21 best vegetarian and vegan restaurants is a great place to start.

Do Not Try to “Turn” Each Other

You are not going to “turn” us…unless you are a vampire. Once someone has made the choice to go vegan, they are likely sticking with it. At the same time, we are not going to try to “turn” you. Relationships are all about mutual respect, and that extends to dietary and lifestyle choices. We are available to answer any and all of your questions – and we may, on occasion, offer an unsolicited tip or two about your health – because we care about you, not because we want to change you.

Patience is a Virtue

We will read food labels. We will ask restaurant waitstaff a multitude of questions and make substitutions. We will politely refuse to eat vegetables and pasta cooked in beef broth or slathered in butter. It can be frustrating eating in or dining out with a vegan mate, but please be understanding. An extra minute or two of consideration when choosing restaurants or grocery shopping will show us how much you care and remind us why we love you.

Save the Vegan Jokes

What do you call a fascist vegan? Lactose intolerant. We have probably heard them all. Impress us with your intellect rather than throwing shade with your scores of vegan and bacon jokes. If we seem sensitive, that is because it is easy to laugh off vegan jokes from a stranger. Laughter is a defense mechanism, and not one we want to use with the person we are dating. Besides, most of our couple conversations and inside jokes will not be about our differing lifestyles; we will bond on levels far deeper than that.

Be Supportive

If we are meeting your parents for the first time for a home-cooked meal at their house, please be supportive of our vegan lifestyle. Please speak to them beforehand, and also feel free to suggest to us that we bring a side dish to share. The same goes when introducing us to your friends and extended members of family. You do not have to defend our vegan honor with a sword and shield; an encouraging sentence or two is all we need.