Vegetarian dating in Canada: what do people really think?

It’s World Vegetarian Day on the 1st of October (and, in fact, the vegetarian festivities usually continue throughout the whole month). With that in mind, EliteSingles polled 400 Canadian singles to discover what singles really think about vegetarianism, meat eating, and the quest for romance.

Do meat eaters have ‘beef’ with vegetarians?

One of the more startling insights to come out of the survey was the revelation that, if forced to choose, over three-quarters of Canadians would opt for lamb and loneliness over lentils and love. Indeed, 77% of meat eaters in Canada would dump a vegetarian who confronted them with an ultimatum along the lines of ”it’s me or the meat.”

What’s more, the prospect of facing just such an ultimatum is enough to put several Canadian meat eaters off of vegetarian or vegan dating: 17% think that the threat of attempted conversion is the number one reason not to date a vegetarian.

Meating in the middle – is semi vegetarianism an option?

Although, it may be that the beef is with the ultimatum rather than with the vegetarian lifestyle. It turns out, if asked nicely by a vegetarian partner, close to half of Canadian meat eaters (44%) would be prepared to try going at least semi-vegetarian. This includes 30% who would avoid meat in front of their partner and 14% who would give it up entirely.

• Read more: vegetarianism not enough? We looked into vegan dating in Canada

Giving peas a chance: what vegetarian dating is really like

Yet, it’s unlikely that vegetarian dating will mean a life without so much as poutine gravy.

In fact, in news that’s bound to reassure those worried about ultimatums, just 4% of Canadian vegetarians would insist that a partner follow their meat-free example. A further 45% would like it if their partner thought about eating less meat, and the majority – 51% – would not want to change a partner’s diet, agreeing that ”they have to choose [vegetarianism] for themselves.”

The survey also revealed that, contrary to stereotypes, vegetarians are extremely tolerant of diets different to their own. Indeed, 90% of Canadian vegetarians would be happy to start a serious relationship with a devoted meat eater. Slightly fewer meat eaters – 86% – would be happy in a serious relationship with a vegetarian.

You can’t beet having the same diet

Yet, despite the fact that most Canadians would happily date someone with different dietary preferences, for both meat eaters and vegetarians alike, their preference is to date someone whose diet matches their own: in fact, in a case of remarkable similarity, 88% of vegetarians would prefer to date a vegetarian, and 88% of meat eaters would prefer to date a meat eater.

Overall, this means that 74% of Canadian singles would most like to date a meat eater and just over a quarter (26%) would most like to date a vegetarian.

The countries where they’re nuts for vegetarians

This may not sound like a lot – but, when EliteSingles conducted the same study in America, Australasia, and Europe (involving more than 11,000 singles in all), it turned out that Canadian vegetarians have it relatively easy. At the very least, it’s easier for them to find a date than it would be in the likes of Hungary and France (where just 15% would rather date a vegetarian).

In fact, Canada’s 26% ranked towards the front-middle of the pack: equal with Australia and Poland, right behind New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden (all on 27%), and just a few percentage shy of the USA on 28% and the UK on 29%. The easiest places for vegetarian dating are Germany on 30%, Finland on 31%, and Spain, where a whopping 37% would rather date a non meat eater; making Spain número uno for vegetarians in search of love.

Country	% of singles who would rather date a vegetarian
France	15%
Hungary	15%
Czech Republic	16%
Denmark	18%
Slovakia	19%
Austria	23%
Ireland	24%
Switzerland	25%
Australia	26%
Canada	26%
Poland	26%
New Zealand	27%
Norway	27%
Sweden	27%
The USA	28%
The UK	29%
Germany	30%
Finland	31%
Spain	37%

What’s at steak when meat eaters date vegetarians?

Interestingly, vegetarians and meat eaters both have (surprisingly similar) worries about the downsides of inter-diet dating. Funnily enough, despite all the talk of conversions and acceptance, it’s not a moral quandary that worries most singles, but a question that has plagued humanity since the dawn of time: what’s for dinner?

Indeed, for 60% of vegetarians, the single hardest thing about dating a meat eater is cooking and planning daily meals together. For another 17%, it’s planning the menu for special, food-based occasions like Christmas, while for 15% it’s picking a romantic restaurant.

For meat eaters dating vegetarians, the top three concerns are fairly similar: 40% think that cooking daily meals together is the hardest thing about dating a vegetarian, 22% think it’s eating meat in front of their partner, and 21% think it’s planning the Christmas menu.

Breaking bread together: why sharing food is important

So why is the practice of sharing food as a couple so important for both meat eaters and vegetarians? EliteSingles psychologist, Salama Marine, thinks that it’s partly because eating together ”is, without a doubt, one of the most intimate things a couple can do – without taking their clothes off!”

As she explains ”sitting opposite one another at a dinner table and staring into each other’s eyes without distractions is certainly a big step in any relationship. If couples can successfully pass this delicate yet fundamental test, their relationship has a greater chance of going the distance.” In addition, with 79% of those in the study refering to themselves as ‘foodies’, it’s clear that, for many, ”culinary preferences are vital…and, as a result, some individuals are afraid of dating someone who doesn’t share the same eating habits as them.”

In other words, eating together can be a bonding experience so loaded with meaning that it is little wonder that singles want to ease a little bit of the pressure by agreeing on the menu!

This World Vegetarian Day, try your own veggie meal

With Salama’s wise words in mind, we decided to contact renowned Australian chef Madeleine Shaw, to see if there were any date-worthy meals that might appeal to vegetarians and meat eaters alike.

Happily, Madeleine has come up with a truly romantic- and 100% vegetarian – dinner idea: Creamy Courgetti Carbonara (find the recipe below). As she says: “Pasta is the ultimate romantic dish. I always remember the scene from Lady and the Tramp when they share the dish of pasta, gazing deeper into each other’s eyes with every bite. My courgetti carbonara with cashew cream is a wonderful dish for a veggie date. It’s creamy, filling and nutritious…make this for a dinner date and you’ll be giving each other googly eyes all evening.”

The perfect choice, then, for anyone wishing to bring some romance into the kitchen this World Vegetarian Day. Bon Appetit!

EliteSingles editorial September 2016

If you’ve got questions about vegetarian dating in Canada, or if you’re a member of the press looking for more information on this study, then please get in touch! You can comment below, get in touch via Facebook or Twitter, or email us at [email protected]

About the author: Sophie Watson

See more articles written by Sophie Watson