Talk about being a picky eater.
A recent study polling 7,400 vegans and vegetarians from around the world found that more than half of vegans (52%) and four in 10 vegetarians (39%) wouldn’t consider a relationship with a meat-eater.
In addition, roughly one in eight vegans (12%) wouldn’t even consider dating a vegetarian.
The study was conducted by Veggly, a popular global vegan and vegetarian dating app presumably filled with more peach and eggplant emojis than Tinder.
“For many vegans, their ‘veganism’ is a way life, so it’s understandable they wouldn’t want to be with a partner that consumes animals or animal products,” Veggly founder Alex Felipelli explained. “Many vegans want to be with someone who shares their values and love of animals.”
“We believe that if the question was ‘Would you prefer to date a vegan?’ the result would be close to 100%.”
That theory seems to bear fruit, as several other vegan and vegetarian dating apps have also sprung up — including Green Singles, Veggie Date and Veggie Connection — to cater to the many dining preferences of their users.
Vegetarian diets eliminate meat from a person’s plate, while a vegan diet excludes any animal products, including eggs, butter and cheese. A vegan lifestyle can go even further by avoiding “all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to animals for food, clothing or any other purpose,” according to The Vegan Society.
As the number of people who change their orders from meat-lovers to veggie-lovers grows — The Economist claimed veganism was “surging” back in 2020 — so does the number of people looking for someone to share their salad and ethics.
And all of that has the potential to shift one’s dating status from “In a relationship” to “It’s complicated.”
“It can be hard for a lot of vegans to have a serious relationship with a meat-eater,” Felipelli told the Wall Street Journal last year. “It isn’t just about food, it’s about lifestyle.”
Limiting your dating pool to only consider fellow vegan or vegetarians may seem as restrictive as the diets, but experts also agree that it could be beneficial.
Judith Gottesman — a matchmaker, dating coach and author — encourages singles to join dating apps with more focus.
She told The Post that she always advises people “to look for similar lifestyles, values, goals and interests” when searching for a match.
“They really matter most in being compatible,” Gottesman said of creating a more fruitful experience. “It makes sense: If you’re a dedicated and ethical vegan, you probably don’t want to spend your life with someone chowing down on animals.”
