This World Vegetarian Day, Kiwis who tell their partners ‘’it’s me or the meat’’ might be in for a shock – a new survey has revealed that 68% of New Zealanders would choose red meat over love.
- 68% of Kiwis would dump a partner who tried to make them go vegetarian
- Yet, just 3% of New Zealand vegetarians would insist on ‘converting’ a partner
- Nearly half of carnivorous Kiwis would eat less meat if asked nicely
- When compared to other countries, NZ is relatively open-minded about vegetarian dating
Just in time for World Vegetarian Day (1st October), a new survey from premium dating site Elite Singles has taken a closer look at romance and the Kiwi diet.
68% of meat eaters would dump their partner before they’d dump bacon
The survey of 300 Kiwi singles found that, if given an ultimatum (i.e. ‘it’s me or the meat’), 68% of meat eaters would choose meat. What’s more, a number NZ of meat eaters worry that falling for a vegetarian will mean a life without so much as a sausage sizzle: 16% see the threat of attempted conversion as the number one reason not to date a vegetarian.
However, it may be the ultimatum rather than the diet that is the real problem. Indeed, if asked nicely by a vegetarian partner, nearly half of Kiwi meat eaters (47%) would be prepared to try going at least semi-vegetarian. This includes 28% who would try and avoid meat in front of their partner and 19% who would give it up entirely.
Just 3% of vegetarians would want to convert a partner
Yet, the study proved that these conversion fears are unfounded. In fact, just 3% of vegetarians surveyed would insist that their partner swear off meat. 27% would like a partner to at least consider eating less meat, and the vast majority – 70% – don’t think it is their place to make demands on a partner’s diet.
What’s more, 93% of Kiwi vegetarians would be happy to start a serious relationship with someone who eats meat. Slightly fewer meat eaters (85%) would want a serious relationship with a vegetarian.
Compared to other countries, Kiwis are relatively open-minded about vegetarian dating
Overall, the study found that 73% of New Zealand singles would most like to date a meat eater and just over a quarter (27%) would most like to date a vegetarian.
This may not sound like a lot – but, when EliteSingles conducted the same study in Australia, Europe, and North America (involving more than 11,000 singles in all), it turned out that Kiwi vegetarians have it relatively easy.
In fact, that 27% means that NZ singles are actually comparatively willing to date a vegetarian, coming in well ahead of countries like France (on 15%) and Denmark (18%); just ahead of Australia, Poland, and Canada (all on 26%); exactly equal with Norway and Sweden; and right behind 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.
For the full list of participating countries, as well as tips on how to successfully cook a romantic vegetarian meal please see our in-depth article
Press contact: Sophie Watson
EliteSingles Research, PR and Editorial
About the author: The EliteSingles Press Team