Dating, including vegan dating, should be fun. This interaction might someday involve courtship and engaging in social activities together (mountain climbing and visiting animal sanctuaries get better together).

Ultimately, you would want your dating time to enable you to assess a suitable intimate partner for a long-term relationship. But what happens in vegan dating; especially if you are vegan and your date, is not? Are you the one to compromise or your date?

Cruelty-free dating is a challenge that vegans face when finding potential life mates. If not careful, the dating experience can be very disappointing.

Cruelty-Free Dating

Generally, we vegans make a lifetime commitment to live a cruelty-free life. This means that the restaurants we frequent should humanely handle animals. The brand of clothes and footwear we wear should have the bunny logo. The entertainment spots we visit should observe animal rights especially if animals are used to provide the entertainment.

And last but not least, the food we eat should be 100% vegan. No life is worth sacrificing for a dinner plate, right! When two vegan people date, they tend to reinforce each other’s choices. But this can be challenging when we choose to date a non-vegan.

How Do We Handle Vegan Dating?

So you think you have finally met the one and you are going on your first date. How will you explain your hesitation to visit his favorite restaurant? Should you just come out straight and tell your partner that you are vegan? Will you tell him (her) that the last time you were in a restaurant the smell of ribs barbequing almost made you cry?

You don’t have to!

Structure Your Priorities

The first rule in vegan dating is to never make the dinner table the center of your relationship. You have so much you can share as a couple including getting to know each other better, sharing each other’s plans and ambitions, and even playing silly games and laughing. Make a conscious decision to dwell on the relationship.

Focusing on what to eat and what to avoid dilutes your quality time with your partner. Let your partner discover your healthy lifestyle orientation when you order your chickpea flour omelet with spinach, onion, tomato and bell peppers while he orders his cheese and ham omelet. Even when he brings up the topic, you should not dwell too much on it. Instead, just briefly let them know that you are a vegan by choice and that you enjoy your lifestyle and respect those who do not live the vegan way. Remember it is your first date. You have many more dates to change them.

You Don’t Owe Anyone an Explanation – Your Life Your Choices

Another challenge that vegans face when dating non-vegans is the need to always explain why they prefer cruelty-free options. This happens more often when going on a group date like camping with friends. Remember that not all non-vegans will take your reasons positively. Some may even make derogatory remarks about your choices.

So this brings us to our second rule in vegan dating. Respect matters a lot! If you and your partner can respect each other’s preferences, then you will be able to tolerate one another.

Do You Have Anything Else in Common?

The third rule in vegan dating is to focus on your shared interests. Does your partner like doing yoga? Turn your yoga session into a date. Does he like rock climbing, hiking, or bowling? Or maybe he is an animal lover like you. Then spend your date in an animal sanctuary. While at it, discuss the reasons why you love doing these activities.

An action-packed date is a great way to release tension between the two of you. With time, as you share more and more interests, you may find your partner also liking the vegan lifestyle because as you continue dating, you grow closer to one another.

Change Begins at Home

Are you planning to move in with your partner? Address the changes that need to be made in your house first. You may have to use separate sets of utensils and pans and agree on where to store your kitchen food supplies if your partner is still non-vegan when you decide to move-in. Discussing these changes will make your stay together as comfortable as possible.

Don’t Push Your Lifestyle Too Far

Another challenge we vegans have when dating non-vegans is that we are too passionate about our lifestyle. We might find ourselves preaching about it while on a date!

So rule number five: never turn a date into a vegan crusade. Dietary differences tend to create dating discord. And trying to convert your partner into a vegan will make it worse. Stop reminding your partner how awful you felt about the chicken he ate. Give them time and let your partner be the one to initiate the interest in your healthy lifestyle habits.

Don’t force them to eat the vegan meals they don’t fancy. You’ll end up alone. When your partner sees how happy and healthy you are in your lifestyle choices, he or she is bound to be attracted to it. Then when he (she) shows interest in a vegan diet, that’s your opportunity to show your kitchen prowess by fixing him (her) a delicious vegan meal.

Be Flexible

Stay honest and open to possibilities. Even as you are trying to accept your partner’s choices, he (she) is also doing the same for you. Trying to look good by pretending to like everything your partner does will cut short your dating experience. When he suggests that you attend a circus involving caged animals, be honest, and tell him how you feel.

One of the benefits of dating is getting to know each other and accommodating one another. There will always be opportunities whereby the two of you can reach a compromise. So still, have an open mind as you date.

In Conclusion

Dating difficulties exist in every relationship, whether similar lifestyle or vegan dating. What matters is your perception. Work towards growing your relationship into an intimate one. Don’t let the romantic fever the two of you be put off by issues about being vegan or non-vegan.

The basic banana bread ingredients are the bananas, eggs, butter, flour, and milk. However, for the vegan chocolate banana bread version, we shall substitute the non-vegan ingredients and add a little twist to make it even more delicious and nutritious. Ideally, the difference between this bread and the ordinary vegan banana bread is the addition of chocolate. Let’s bake!

Preheat your oven to 350F (180 C)

The Ingredients

• 1-cup gluten-free plain flour
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ cup of vegan dark chocolate chips (for extra oomph)
• 1 vanilla pod (or your favorite flavor like strawberry or cinnamon)
• Mixed nuts (to add some coarse texture)
• ¼ cup agave nectar (although not necessarily because ripe bananas add some natural sweetness)
• 2 ripe bananas (very ripe ones work best)
• 1/2-cup milk (non-dairy) or just water (almond milk works fine for me)

The Procedure

Grease your baking tray with a tablespoon of coconut oil. Alternatively, just line it with a greaseproof baking paper to prevent the vegan chocolate banana bread from sticking.

In a wide bowl, mash the ripe bananas until smooth. You can leave them chunky for more texture but not very big chunks.

Add the rest of the wet ingredients and mix evenly.

Now sift in your dry ingredients and using a wooden spoon, fold them in until evenly distributed.

The folding process is vital for moist banana bread.

Bake the bread for 30-45 minutes until a toothpick inserted at the center comes out clean.

To serve, garnish the bread with berries and dust with a little icing sugar.

The Twist

You can add as much vegan chocolate as you like. However, the surest method is to stick with the cocoa powder measurements and instead add melted dark chocolate. Similarly, you can substitute the dark chocolate chips with the white ones. However, the bread won’t have that deep-dark chocolate color.

The reason I used vegan chocolate chips instead of a roughly chopped dark chocolate bar is that the chips maintain a uniform profile while baking and once you bite into the bread, the chocolate melts in your mouth.

The nuts are optional. They just add a little texture to the cake and add air spaces to make the cake spongy. Unlike vegan cupcakes, banana bread can be quite dense. I use coarsely chopped (or whole) nuts to add air spaces while baking, which makes the bread lighter.

Again, if you will garnish with icing sugar, go easy on the sweetener, unless you have a very sweet tooth.

Finally, this can be your everyday type of bread, even if you’re on a diet. However, it only keeps fresh for a few days (less than a week), whether refrigerated or at room temperature. Please do not be tempted to keep it longer.

Is Chocolate Healthy?

As we wait for the bread to bake, let me fill you in on the nutritional value.

There are several categories of vegan chocolate: the original dark chocolate and the different versions of processed chocolate. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants. It also contains significant amounts of iron, zinc, manganese, fiber, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and selenium.

All these are important minerals in our bodies (not metals). When you feel a deep craving for chocolate, it is because your body has discovered that some of the minerals you lack can be obtained from chocolate. However, the type you crave for depends on you.

Is your vegan chocolate banana bread ready? Enjoy!

The popular ranch dressing is made from Mayonnaise, buttermilk, salt, black pepper, garlic, onion, chives, parsley, and dill and other industrial food flavors, preservatives, color, and stabilizers. As health conscious vegans, we tend to avoid popular store-bought products because obviously, we can’t verify the ingredients (unless there is a vegan note included). Ranch dressing is one of these products. In this recipe, I’ll share with you a simple yet healthy way to enjoy your own home-made vegan ranch dressing.

The Ingredients

• 1 cup vegan mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup vegan sour cream
• 2 cloves garlic – minced
• A handful chopped fresh chives
• Vegan buttermilk (recipe below)
• White vinegar (optional, but it acts as a good preservative, and it introduces the tangy flavor)
• Herbs – finely chopped (optional, to taste):
• Italian flat-leaf parsley
• Fresh Dill
• Paprika
• Cayenne pepper
• Red pepper flakes
• Tabasco
• Fresh oregano
• Salt To Taste

Procedure

Mix your chopped herbs with garlic and combine with the rest of the ingredients (except vegan buttermilk) in a large bowl. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

Chill the vegan ranch dressing for 1-6 hours to let the ingredients infuse together. When ready to serve, add the buttermilk gradually as you mix to get to your desired consistency.

Enjoy!

Vegan Buttermilk and Vegan Mayonnaise Recipes

I always make these in bulk and store to use within the month. They always come in handy for most of my weekly meals.

To Make the Vegan Buttermilk

You need a cup of either soymilk or almond milk. The other options won’t cuddle as well as these two so don’t even think about them.

To the milk add a tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon or vinegar and let it sit for 2 minutes for the magic to happen.

You can use the vegan buttermilk in any recipe that calls for buttermilk; it works just fine (maybe even better).

To Make the Vegan Mayonnaise

The basics of mayo is a base usually inform of milk, well-cooked vegetables or tofu, oil, mustard, and lemon juice.

Vegan Mayo Ingredients

• 3/4 cup soy milk
• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp mustard
• salt and pepper to taste

For this vegan mayo, we shall use soymilk as the base. The other milk options work as well, but from personal experience, soy wins. If you need a replica of store-bought mayo, use soft silken tofu instead of milk.

Blend all the ingredients together (except the oil) and adjust the seasoning, as you taste. Now turn the blender into a slower speed and add oil gradually as you blend until it emulsifies. Store in an airtight container and use it on sandwiches, dressing, your kids’ snacks, and in different aioli recipes (as a base).

Note

The original yellow or brown mustard is 100% vegan. It’s made from mustard seeds, spices, vinegar, and salt. However, avoid the most recent types such as Dijon and honey mustard. These contain a few ingredients from animal products.

In Conclusion

If you’re thinking these vegan substitutes taste weird, you’re wrong. They taste better than the store bought non-vegan counterparts. Moreover, they are healthier especially when you make them at home. Additionally, they contain less saturated fats, zero cholesterol no preservatives or additives, and you can also reduce the amount of sodium you use to keep them healthy.

This vegan ranch dressing will be an excellent dip for breadsticks, chips, vegan chicken patties, and vegan pizza. It is also a great addition to salads.