Vegan Love: Dating and Partnering for the Cruelty-Free Gal, with Fashion, Makeup & Wedding Tips

by Maya Gottfried, Dame Darcy (Illustrator)

Overview

2018 IPPY Silver Award Winner in Sexuality/Relationships

In ever-increasing numbers, people around the world are opting for a vegan lifestyle (eating a plant-based diet and eschewing animal products such as leather), and those who do report feeling happy and healthier, with boundless energy and glowing skin among the benefits. But what happens when their love interest unapologetically orders a steak on a date?

Vegan Love offers guidance on how to spread the vegan love and bring compassion for all beings into one’s romantic life. Going cruelty-free need not mean alienating potential partners or long-term lovers. Author Maya Gottfried shares her experiences of going vegan and playing the vegan dating game, as well as insights by notable vegan women, both straight and LGBT, from various walks of life, including Jane Velez-Mitchell of JaneUnchained.com; Marisa Miller Wolfson of the film Vegucated; Jasmin Singer, author of Always Too Much and Never Enough; and Colleen Patrick-Goudreau of the Food for Thought podcast.

Vegan Love also features a wealth of fun, practical advice about vegan makeup, vegan clothes, and vegan weddings, with a detailed resource guide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781510719453
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	04/18/2017
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Maya Gottfried is the author of the acclaimed children’s books Our Farm: By the Animals of Farm Sanctuary and Good Dog. She has also written for print and online publications ranging from the Huffington Post to Lilith Magazine, often focusing on the topics of veganism and animal rights. Maya has also worked in public relations for an international animal welfare organization. She resides just outside New York City with her partner and their three adopted cats.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Out and Proud Vegan 1

1 The Dating Game: Looking For Love as a Vegan 13

Above Average 13

Dating Stories: Are You Experienced? 22

Style Savvy Feline-Lover Meets Like-Minded Match 22

Keeping Cruelty Off the Dinner Table 24

A Voice for the Animals Finds Love By Speaking Up 26

Going Straight to the Source 28

The "Perfect Vegan" Isn't Always the "Perfect Partner" 30

Spreading the Love and Compassion 32

Dos and Don'ts For Dating As a Vegan 35

2 Compassion in Fashion: Dressing Up Without Causing Cruelty 36

Kind Clothing 36

The Cruelty in Our Closets 41

Shoes, Handbags, and Coats 46

Putting On Our Vegan Best 50

Quick Guide: Vegan/Not Vegan Materials 54

3 De-Bugging Your Beauty Routine: Vegan Makeup 55

Vegan Visage 55

Demystifying Makeup 61

Animal Testing 61

Common Culprits: Ingredients That Hurt 62

Cruelty-Free and Vegan Makeup 63

Let's Go Shopping 64

Vegan and Vegan-Friendly Makeup Companies 70

4 Omnivore Dilemma: To Date or Not to Date … a Meat-Eater 71

The Omnivore That Got Away 71

Dating Stories: Opposites Attract? 76

Living Life with Passion and Compassion 77

Vegan and Omnivore Meet Midway 79

Computing Her Options 81

You Do You and I'll Do Me 83

Love and Legumes in the South 84

Vegan Meets Omnivore, Magic Ensues 86

Lending Library: Movies and Books to Share With Your Omnivore 89

5 Two of a Kind: Dating and Partnering With Other Vegans 92

My Vegan Love 93

Dating Stories: I'm Vegan, Hope You're Vegan Too 95

All in the (Vegan) Family 96

Lighting Up Each Other's Lives With Vegan Love 98

Romance Among the Stilettos 100

An Unexpected Turn 102

Vegan Love Rises Above the Differences 104

A Vegan Is Born 106

An Activist Couple Is a Happy Couple 108

How to Meet a Vegan: They Don't Grow on Trees 110

6 There's a Place For Us: Vegan-Friendly Date Destinations 112

Painting the Town Vegan 112

Great Places For Vegans, Date Destinations to Avoid, and Figuring Out the In-Between 115

I Want to Take You Higher: Planning a Vegan-Friendly Date 120

7 Sipping, Supping, and Munching Vegan on Dates: Cruelty-Free Food and Booze 122

Eat, Drink, and Be Wary 122

Navigating Cafes, Bars, and Snacks 126

On the Road 130

Quick Guide: Vegan/Not Vegan Movie Theater Treats 132

8 Let's Stay Together: Cohabiting as a Vegan 133

Sharing Your Home With Your Partner as a Vegan 133

Cohabiting Stories: Just the Two of Us, Building Castles in the Sky 136

Everybody Has Their Moment 136

Different Diets Don't Break Their Bond 139

Books Brought Them Together, and to Veganism 140

A Life-Changing Campout 142

Setting a Powerful Example 144

Moving in the Same Direction 146

A Growing Circle of Compassion 148

Tips For Coexistence: Suggestions For Peaceful Cohabitation 150

9 It's a Nice Day For a Veg Wedding: A Compassionate Celebration 152

Venues 153

Caterers 154

Wedding Cakes 155

Wedding Attire 156

Makeup 159

Gifts 160

Getting Creative 161

Wedding Stories: All You Need Is Love 161

Inviting Guests to Join in the Compassion 162

Vegan Brides Craft a Divine Day 164

Finding Sanctuary Among Animal Friends 166

Meeting Online and Coming Together in Compassion 169

A Hindu-Jewish Wedding Embraces Love for All Beings 171

Growing Her Own Bouquet and Planting Seeds of Love 173

Wedding Tips: Planning Your Vegan Nuptial Celebration 175

Conclusion: Make Vegan Love, Not War 178

Resource Guide 179

Works Cited and Consulted 184

Acknowledgments 184

About the Author 191

Editorial Reviews

"The tool you need to navigate the world of vegan relationships . . . Vegan Love is a practical guide for single vegan women who are looking for love, but it’s also a means of support for those already in committed relationships. However, the deeper purpose of the book is key: It will help you develop the skills to give love, compassion, and respect on every level, and this will spill over into your romantic life." —PETA

"Vegan Love is one of the most informative and knowledgeable books written on the subject of not only being vegan, but how to live vegan. It is a true celebration of all life—respectful on every level. Full of fun and joy." —James Van Praagh, #1 New York Times bestselling author and spiritual teacher

"Including her own experiences as well as that of 30 other vegan women and their partners, the book contains advice ranging from where to meet people (vegan charity events, vegetable festivals and searching for vegans on dating apps are a good idea) [to] date and where to shop for vegan-free clothing and make-up." —the Independent

". . . we ate up the book's whimsical illustrations, first-date stories, internet-dating snafus, and helpful tips on cohabiting with significant others of all dietary persuasions." —VegNews

"Whether it's advice, great food, or a fashion find, Maya Gottfried is the friend who's always there for you with compassion and a new way of looking at something. You’ll be hard-pressed to read this book and not feel like Maya has done you a solid.” —Tracey Stewart, author of Do Unto Animals: A Friendly Guide to How Animals Live, and How We Can Make Their Lives Better

"Vegan Love is a thoughtful, practical, timely guide to help vegans navigate the challenging terrain of finding rewarding relationships in a not-yet vegan world." —Jonathan Balcombe, author of What a Fish Knows

“Maya Gottfried’s delightful book Vegan Love offers great support for those seeking help in navigating romantic relationships while maintaining a cruelty-free lifestyle. Maya reveals that by staying true to our love for animals, we often inspire those around us to live more compassionately. Fun, honest, and informative, Vegan Love shows that our authenticity benefits both the animals and our relationships.” —Gene Baur, president and cofounder of Farm Sanctuary and author of Farm Sanctuary and Living the Farm Sanctuary Life

“Adopting a vegan lifestyle can cause tension with friends and relatives. This is especially true in love relationships. Vegans and those considering veganism will find support and answers to their questions in Maya Gottfried's book.” —Élise Desaulniers, author of Cash Cow: Ten Myths about the Dairy Industry

"Everything you need for falling in love, getting hitched, and living happily ever after vegan-style! Whether your soulmate is vegan, veg-curious, or not yet either, true love will find a way and Maya Gottfried helps it along in this delightful book that draws on the experience of vegans who've found that romantic bliss can coexist beautifully with scrambled tofu and leafy greens." —Victoria Moran, author and podcaster, Main Street Vegan

"Be gone vegan myths! Author Maya Gottfried shows us just how easy it is to integrate veganism into our everyday lives. Vegan Love offers great advice for new vegans and those new to the dating scene, too. A very powerful book." —Stacey Wolf James, author of the wedding planning guide Never Throw Rice at a Pisces

"Practical, probing, and poignant, Maya Gottfried's latest book is a gift to all women who are embracing the vegan lifestyle. Filled with insight, guidance, and resources, this is a go-to book that sheds light on love and the vegan path. A wonderful contribution and a great read. Hats off to Maya!" —Amy Hatkoff, author of The Inner World of Farm Animals: Their Amazing Social, Emotional, and Intellectual Capacities

From the Publisher