Image: Huy Phan / Unsplash
“Cooking and enjoying a meal together can be an expression of love, and food is often a focal point in many relationships.”
Over half of vegans in the UK identify as Vegansexuals – someone who only dates other vegans, a new study reveals.
A new survey commissioned by Subway looked at the issues that food choices can cause in relationships and how much of a deal-breaker it really is.
It found that 53% would refuse to date a meat-eater. In addition, 40% admitted to avoiding social events or dinner parties with carnivorous friends.
The data also revealed that 39% of meat-eating Brits would think twice about dating a vegetarian or vegan long-term because it would be difficult to be able to cook and enjoy meat-based meals together since 77% of Brits claimed that cooking, eating together, or going out for food played an important part of their partnership.
In fact, 46% of the ones polled said dietary choices is one of the first topics they bring up on a first date. 35% said they first confirm a prospective partner’s eating preferences before asking them out.
22% of meat-eaters admitted they have called off the relationship because the partner was vegan while 19% of Brits said they have posed as a vegan or vegetarian to impress a prospective partner.
While some preferred walking away, 33% said they would try switching to a plant-based diet for a loved one.
More than 1 million people in the UK are now following a plant-based lifestyle and the survey identifying the top cities and towns found that those from Scotland are most likely to date a vegan (68%), followed by those from Wales (67%), compared to only 44% of people from Yorkshire.
Subway
Subway commissioned the research to celebrate the launch of its new plant-based T.L.C. (Tastes Like Chicken) Sub and Vegan Double Choc Cookie, which it has added just in time for Veganuary.
“Cooking and enjoying a meal together can be an expression of love, and food is often a focal point in many relationships,” Angelina Gosal, Head of Marketing UK & Ireland at Subway said.
“But we also know there are ongoing tensions in modern relationships due to dietary choices, such as being vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, or a carnivore.
“That’s why we’ve introduced our new plant-based T.L.C. (Tastes Like Chicken) Sub, to bring plant-lovers and meat-lovers together and unite even the most incompatible of foodie pairing.”
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