When I became a vegetarian, my best friend Josh took it up with me, we love animals and wanted to do it together! When my sister moved in, she gave it up too, she realised it wasn't so hard and wanted to make me happy, and save animals!
What upsets me is that my boyfriend, whom I've almost been with for 2 years (and have lived with for one year) refuses to give up meat. He has improved lately and eats meat only 3 times a week (estimate).
But whenever he goes out with friends or isn't with me he gorges on it like it's his only chance. I don't scold him or yell, but I do honestly become very sad. I love animals, how can I support his meat gluttony when I know he's eating animals that aren't very different from our dog!
Maybe try sitting down with him and explaining why living the way you do is so important to you. Also try showing him Earthlings, I've found it has the biggest impact. My sister refused to even try Veganism and then I showed her that and right away she gave up all animal products and has been Vegan for over a year now
I have sat him down and spoken to him about it many times. So many times I've asked him why and he's refused to give me an answer. Very recently it had me so frustrated I told him that the future for our relationship was bleak, as I did not wish to marry a man and therefore contribute my resources and love to someone who would give profit to the suffering of animals, and my friends.
This is why he's eating it LESS. He guiltily asks my permission and of course I can't say no, and like hell am I going to say yes. A lot of the time he gets frustrated and I end up very upset.
Earthlings might be the way, I've never seen it as I'm very sensitive to animals (and animals only). He's the kind of person that wants to turn his head from the suffering and the truth so it might be hard, he doesn't want to feel guilty...
I married an omni. It used to really bother me but he saw the impact it had on me and now he only eats fish at home. I don't know nor want to know what he eats when it is out. I don't have the right to tell him what he can and cannot eat. All I can do is try and show him why it means so much to me. I have given him facts and research. The rest is up to him. I do love him more than his diet though, after all no one is perfect.
Yeah, looks like we're definitely in the same boat. But when I say I feel strongly about animals, I mean I feel REALLY strongly about them. To me, I couldn't imagine one person being more important than my love for all animals. Sure if I left him, he'd still eat animals, but I could live peacefully not having to smell it or watch him eat the beautiful creatures I admire and respect.
In the end, what it says about him is that gluttony controls him more than his desire to protect other creatures, or to change for someone he loves.
It hurts especially that my best friend and my sister were so loyal to me, and could understand in their minds and hearts that eating animals is wrong, whereas my partner couldn't even do it to make me happy, or to be healthy.
I really can't help but feel ashamed, I know that's a horrible thing to say. But I wouldn't bother looking for advice about it if I didn't love him and want to keep him by my side.
I know... but I do love him... and I do love animals. If I can stop him without him losing love for me, that would be best. I'm too afraid I'm not actually as important as his food! Which is ridiculous I suppose.
It sucks, but you can't force the person you love to go vego. It's like trying to convert them to a whole other religion. Of course it's easy for me to say that, because my man was wonderful enough to make the change on his own. It took ages, though- like three years. Be patient.
Maybe if your partner sees how much it's hurting you, he'll make more of an effort. But I agree that you should take the initiative and cook a heap of meat-free stuff for dinner and see if he likes it. It might change his mind on things, when he sees there are alternatives.
You can't make him give up the meat, and trying to push your views onto him may start to cause problems in your relationship (not saying you're doing this). Just try sharing with him why you feel so passionately about animals, and maybe in time he might go veg, or at least not eat meat in front of you.
My boyfriend ate meat for nearly a year of our relationship, and decided to go veg on his own even though we hadn't even really talked about it before. I am so happy we are now both vegan, but I would still be with him even if he wasn't.
There's no one answer, but if it really bothers you and he is stuck in his ways then you'll either have to live with it or consider ending it between you.
