Seedling Magazine Issue #3 - Feb | March 2019

going to give What The Health a try soon!). Share the
benefits of a vegan lifestyle, rather than the pitfalls of an
omnivorous one.
Lead by example
When a lifestyle seems attractive, others will be drawn
towards it. It sounds obvious, but many people’s actions
don’t match up. Veganism should be a positive act, all
about adding fun things to your diet and having a great
impact on the world. Moaning about the lack of options at a
restaurant, or how you miss Brie, simply makes a plantpowered
life look like a chore.
Show that you feel healthier and happier, and are excited to
try the new vegan steak that’s being released in your local
store – that gets people sitting up, taking notice, and joining
in.
Appeal to their preferences
What’s your partner’s favourite food? If they hate tofu,
don’t try to win them over with tofu scramble for breakfast.
Big pizza fan? Go out and buy the best vegan mozzarella
you can find. If they’re a gym junkie, buy sample sachets
of vegan protein powders for them to try out. Greet them
with a cruelty­free shake after their workout. Dating an
animal lover? Visit a farm sanctuary together. My husband
loves carb­filled fast food (he balances it out by trying to be
healthy), so I’ll often make him a hot and spicy ‘chicken’
burger with all the trimmings and sweet potato fries.
Currently his favourite meal is really simple ­ vegan kebab
meat and salad in wraps. Yum!
Integrate them into the vegan
community
Most local areas have social meets of some kind – just
check Facebook or Google. Vegan foodie nights, cooking
classes, festivals and fairs ­ they can all be a really fun way
of meeting other like­minded people. Plus, they show your
partner how many of us there are out there, which
normalises the plant­based lifestyle and prevents isolation.
It also means you can pick foods together, take them home
and enjoy making a meal from them as a couple.
Check in with them
What concerns your significant other about going vegan?
Have an honest chat with them. They may be worried about
what others will think, how awkward eating out will be, or
getting the right nutrients. The worst thing we can do is
scoff or roll our eyes – it’s demotivating. But we can talk
through their fears with them. Show gratitude for what they
are doing and tell them you’ve noticed and are proud,
regardless of whether they are perfect or not.
Be patient and provide them with the tools they need to
make a change. Veganism is all about compassion, and this
extends to our loved ones too.
Ask for what you want!
Have a heart­to­heart and explain why this is so important
to you. Pick a good time – when you’re both relaxed and
feeling happy. But don’t be disheartened if they don’t feel
the same way – we all have different outlooks and
boundaries. At the very least, your honesty will plant a seed
for the future, and may even inspire a change in the right
direction. The last thing you want is for your discussion to
turn into an argument or nagging (see step 1!). Each person
must develop on their terms, in their own timeframe.
Most of us were not born vegan ­ we had a unique journey
through life that led us to veganism. I’ve been vegan for six
years, and have slowly seen my spouse’s eating habits
change. Enjoy that journey and learn together, regardless of
the twists and turns it may take. You never know, maybe
someday your partner will sign up to Veganuary too!
About the writer
Katy Malkin is a writer, whole foods enthusiast,
and the creator of Learner Vegan. She is
passionate about making veganism accessible for
all. Find her website here.
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