5 Common Challenges When Dating a Vegetarian

Picture the scene: you've just hit it off with someone new, but as you get to know each other better, you find out your date is a vegetarian! It's nothing deal-breaking, of course, but it does mean you're about to face a few common quirks.

You'll struggle to find a restaurant

This is easily one of the biggest hurdles. Take a look at the menus of your usual go-to spots—vegetarian dishes are rare or practically nonexistent. While it's easier to track down hidden gems in big cities, your dining options will still be far more restricted.

You'll hesitate to bring them to a family dinner

If your family has always been proudly carnivorous, you're going to need to prep the ground beforehand. Otherwise, you'll be hit with awkward questions like "Are you not hungry?" or "Why aren't you eating any meat?"

Do your best to steer clear of situations that could put your new partner on the spot.

You'll be afraid of saying the wrong thing

If you don't know why your partner decided to go vegetarian, you'll feel like you're walking on eggshells. People adopt this lifestyle for many different reasons—cultural, religious, animal welfare, and more—and you might not fully understand their choice right away. Keep an open mind, but maybe don't grill them for every detail just yet.

You'll discover that not all wines are vegetarian

Thought this diet only applied to food? Think again. If you decide to share a bottle of wine on a date, be aware that some filtering processes use animal derivatives, or even traditional fining agents like casein or isinglass!

You'll worry if you need to become a vegetarian too

This is the ultimate question you'll ask yourself: can a relationship really work if you have completely different eating habits? It's safe to say it won't always be a walk in the park, and differences in lifestyle can sometimes lead to friction or even a breakup. But as long as there's plenty of mutual respect and tolerance, nothing is impossible on freemeet.