4

3 Tips on Living with a Meat-Eater.

May 10, 2011 by Katie

My husband isn’t a vegetarian. I’d been meat-free for years before we met. After we got engaged, many people asked us how we were going to cook after we got married.

There was even a bet going between his friends about how long it would take him to stop eating meat (they all assumed he would, the bet was just on how long it takes). Well, friends–you better pay up! A year in and he’s still eating meat. And, more importantly, we’re still happily married! Much to other people’s surprise, the meat issue hasn’t been an issue at all at our house.

Here’s what’s helped us:

1. Expectations: The hubs knew from the beginning that I wasn’t going to eat meat, or cook it for him. And, he was cool with it.

I knew that he likes meat and will continue to enjoy it. While it’s my preference that meat isn’t in the house, I love my husband and he puts up with a lot, so I can put up with a little meat in the fridge. With a good attitude.

He also knows that I won’t automatically plan meals with meat or buy it unless he requests it. Even though I’d rather not even buy it, it seems silly to make a special trip to the store, so I’ll buy it if he asks.

2. Communication: Just like with everything in life, communication is important. For example, I like to eat off other people’s plates (yeah, I’m that person–I like to try things…). When he orders a meat dish at a restaurant, it means that he doesn’t have to share.

Sometimes I get cranky when he does this and I can’t try what he ordered. But, it’s ALWAYS because I didn’t say something before we ordered. Usually, if I ask my him to order something meat-free, he will. Then I can happily eat off his plate.

3. Keep your Mouth Shut. My choice to be vegetarian is largely for the health benefits. Because I love my husband and I want him to live a long healthy life, I definitely think becoming a vegetarian would be beneficial for him. But, I am a chocolate addict with inconsistent workout habits.

So, I can’t say too much…and I don’t. I don’t give him a hard-time about eating meat. I don’t want him to switch because of his nagging wife, I’d want it to be because he wants to. And to his credit, he now calls himself a “flexitarian”, eating meat just a couple of times a month.

What about kiddos? We don’t have any yet. But, when we do, we’ll discuss it further. But, for now the consensus is that they’ll be meat-free until they decide otherwise.

Okay, so how about you? Does someone you live with eat meat? How do you deal with it?