Dealbreakers come in all shapes, sizes and character quirks — and apparently, palates. In a recent survey, 30% of omnivorous, meat-eating singles said they wouldn’t date a vegetarian or vegan. Is tofu’s bad reputation among non-vegetarians to blame or is this about shared interests outside food consumption?

The survey conducted in a joint effort by the Today show’s Love Bites and Match.com polled 4,000 single in the process of coming up with the anti-vegetarian date results. As for vegetarians, they’re more open to omnivores, with only 4% saying they wouldn’t date a meat-eater.

The refusal to date a vegetarian is perhaps because couples like to share things, and love of a really great cut of steak is one of those things that needs to be shared. And that’s just biology, say the experts.

“It’s so common in the animal world to give food for sex that it’s called the nuptial gift,” explains Match.com’s chief scientific adviser, a biological anthropologist. “Mankind’s first luxury was meat, and when carnivores share food – what they are sharing is this luxury. It’s more than just cultural, it’s instinctual.”

While many meat-eaters also love a good pile of veggies, the potential scenario of your loved one eyeing up your burger with distaste is not a comfortable one. And according to 66% of respondents, picky eating in general is a turn-off, even if that pickiness leads to a healthy philosophy.

Then there’s the whole manliness factor — says the biological anthropologist, men who don’t eat meat might suffer from a prejudice that goes back to caveman days.

“I think in a lot of cultures it would be considered less manly – men used to bring home the meat, they were the hunters,” she said. “If you came in carrying a potato versus a hunk of gazelle, it made a difference. All gifts are not alike.”

I would prefer a steak gift over a whateveryoumakeoutoftofu gift. Fact.

Survey: 30% of meat eaters won’t date a vegetarian [MSNBC.com]

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