Tony, the Founder of dating website VeggieMatchMakers kindly gave up his time to tell us about the vegan dating scene and how veganism can encourage conversation between two like-minded people.
Are you a vegan looking for love?
Please tell us about your inspiration for VeggieMatchMakers.
The inspiration for VeggieMatchMakers was to provide a free dating service for members of the Vegan/Vegetarian community. To my knowledge, we were one of the first free vegan dating sites in the UK. We have since branched out to America, Canada and Australia.
Over the years, I have heard multiple Vegan friends lament that there isn't a proper mechanism online, or in real life for Vegans to meet. Coupled with that fact that some online dating sites charge upwards of £80 per month for a membership, it was readily apparent that something needed to be done.
Over the past 10 years, I have consulted for many of the major online dating sites and knew that I had the ability to put together a site that would help out the community.
I ultimately decided to make the site free because VeggieMatchMakers is a passion project of mine. A way to give back to the community that has given so much to me. A way to help others who might not be able to afford the expensive online dating sites out there.
Why can it be difficult to find a veggie partner in the UK?
It can be difficult to find a veggie partner in the UK due to the fact that the other "major" online dating sites view "veganism" as a categorical after-thought when it comes down to their matchmaking. Also, some of the bigger sites are for hetero people only.
My goal for VeggieMatchMakers was to include everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or anything else for that matter. We even welcome people who are curious about the Vegan lifestyle, but have not yet made the commitment.
I want to spread the word about veganism and the best way to do it is to offer a common meeting ground where people can freely interact and communicate.
Why is it important to welcome aspiring vegans to your website as well as vegans and vegetarians?
I feel that excluding people from anything in life goes against the spirit of veganism. Our goal is to reduce our reliance upon animals and animal products, so it's important that we all be ambassadors for the lifestyle.
I personally think it's great that people are interested in veganism and by interacting with others in the community, they can get a better understanding of what it's all about. Not to mention, vegans/vegetarians are some of the friendliest and welcoming people you will meet.
Why is it important for some vegans to date only fellow vegans when they're looking for love?
There has been much debate over the years on this topic. Some vegans have been in relationships prior wherein they felt that their partners did not respect their lifestyle choices, and as such it led to irreparable conflict in the relationship.
Something as simple as going out to lunch on a Sunday afternoon could turn into a huge affair, as seeking out restaurants that cater to both vegans and non-vegans are somewhat few and far in-between. Especially if you're taking a weekend holiday road trip and find yourself in an unfamiliar part of the country.
How can veganism extend to other interests that two people might have in common on a first date?
Most vegans that I know are big on animal rights. We also tend to share somewhat liberal political and societal viewpoints. These two things alone can lead to a wealth of commonality between two people, not to mention the fact that it severely cuts on accidental social faux pas that go against our core beliefs.
Can a vegan and a non-vegan have a successful relationship despite their differing opinions on lifestyle?
In short, yes. However, it needs to be addressed early on in the relationship and in most cases, compromises must be made. At the end of the day, it's really contingent upon the other person and what sacrifices (if any) are you willing to make.
As long as you're open with your partner and he/she is understanding and respectful of your chosen vegan lifestyle, it can work out.
Issues and confrontations tend to arise when you expect your partner to change their beliefs to closely mirror your own.
Veganism is on the rise, so have you found an increase in members as it's gained popularity?
Yes, we have seen a tremendous growth spurt over the years as more and more people look to veganism as a lifestyle. The reasons people come to veganism are wide and varied….some do it for health reasons, others view the lifestyle as a moral responsibility towards the planet and future generations to come.
We especially have seen a huge rise in new female members vs. new male members. This especially applies to the UK and Australia, with USA and Canada following close behind. When I used to consult for other online dating sites, the males usually outnumbered the females by a 3:1 ratio.
Please tell us about your personal journey into plant based eating.
5 years ago I was working from home as a self-employed website designer. Frozen food and McDonalds were the staples of my diet. Not surprisingly, I was almost 70lbs overweight.
I decided to give veganism a go because I knew that my diet was unhealthy and the core cause of my weight problem. At first it was very challenging, but I stuck with it and 6 months later I was back down to my normal weight.
The most surprising thing was that I experienced a mental change that really benefited me. I was no longer depressed and moody. It was as if someone lifted a 10 ton weight off of my chest and head. For once in a very long time, I was happy.
In this day and age, people spend billions of pounds looking for a "quick fix" to make them feel and/or look better in life. The reality of the situation is that all that is needed is a change in diet (and mentality) and you will look and feel better in no time.
www.veggiematchmakers.com
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