I've been eating a vegan diet (no eggs, dairy, meat) for almost a year, and although I began eating this way feeling as if it would be a positive thing for something greater than just myself, now I feel as if I can't keep it up. Since having such a restrictive diet for quite some time, I eventually began going on binges. A lot of the time I feel deprived, and then can't control my eating habits. Should I encorporate more of a variety of food back into my diet? I feel like I've just stressed myself out so much about the way I should be eating, and living up to some "vegan" label. Should I stop caring? Has anyone else felt this way?
2007-10-31 13:19:46 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Vegetarian & Vegan
Do whatever you want and call yourself a vegan. It's en vogue.
2007-10-31 14:12:49 · answer #1 · answered by Love #me#, Hate #me# 6 · 1⤊ 7⤋
i havent ever heard a long term vegan with the same opinion.
What exactly have you been eating? have you been eating enough pulses, nuts and seeds? or geting enough leafy greens. do you eat carbs too, for energy?
have you been over consuming processed meat substitutes, or having too much wierd 'health' foods, like all the soy rubbish? i think fresh whole foods are so much better for us....
honestly i dont see meat, dairy or eggs as fod anymore, after as little as a few months i find the smell and texture fairly repulsive.
sure its hard to get fed every now and then when im away from the house but honestly i dont mind missing a meal, i think its great to give the digestive system a chance to really get in front, and its great to give the liver a chance to elminate toxins.
i suppose peer pressure could play a part, as in not being able to participate in what people are doing, but i honestly cannot engage in damaging activities for the 'social' sake anymore, i know too much about how bad the stuff really is.
do whatever makes you happy : )
2007-10-31 23:00:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it's funny how so many assume you are craving meat.
I'm kind of the opposite of you-I'd like to eat only plant based diet but can't face a future without fish or cheese-I just don't think I could do it for long. Red meat and poultry don't really tempt me.
Maybe relax your standards just enough to get the binging under control? I know a lot of ex smokers who say if they tell themselves they can have a smoke if they REALLY want one then they can resist the urge. If you allow yourself some leeway maybe the temptation won't be so strong.
Good luck.
2007-11-01 06:22:16 · answer #3 · answered by barbara 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do whatever feels right to you, but if you are feeling deprived on a Vegan diet, my guess is that you are not exploring the vast options available. I recommend getting a few vegan cookbooks and cooking up some really elaborate spectacular meals to revive your interest and passion for eating cruelty-free. Good luck and happy eating!
2007-10-31 20:42:49 · answer #4 · answered by Carrot Tan 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can understand that situation and it is not an easy one. Because on the one hand you feel the need to eat so many of the things you enjoy that have meat in them. And on the other hand, if you eat any of those things, you feel guilty because it is going againt being vegan.
I think what you have to think about is how committed you feel to still being vegan. If you are struggling everyday to not give in to food temptations, and feel you're doing it unnecessarily, then you could reevaluate your beliefs. The main thing to keep in mind is that there is nothing wrong with changing one's ideas. You were not vegan once, then you decided to be vegan, and there is nothing wrong if you decide to go back to your original ideas.
I use to hold religious beliefs that didn't allow me to eat certain foods. But slowly my ideas changed and I decided to eat anything I wanted. It is not an easy process when that happens. But in its way, it can be strangely liberating.
Hope this helps.
2007-10-31 20:35:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Veganism isn't a restrictive diet at all! I eat burritos, pasta, and pizza all the time. Is that somehow unfilling to you?
BTW, you're not a vegan just because your diet is vegan. Veganism is a lifestyle that excludes the use of animals for any reason, and food is just one of those reasons.
2007-11-01 18:39:44 · answer #6 · answered by Elizabeth J 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sounds like you feel you're missing something.Make a list of what you would like to eat,then try and find suitable alternatives,there are lots of ideas,help and info on the internet.Good luck.
2007-10-31 20:42:51 · answer #7 · answered by picklechick 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My suggestion would be to go vegetarian for a while. Have some pizza and other dairy products, maybe you will satisfy that craving and go back to being a vegan. Good luck!
2007-10-31 20:41:52 · answer #8 · answered by Vegan Guy 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You might want to google "Flexitarian Diets" and check out the websites. I think you will find a more humane and sane diet than the vegan cult offers. Think about it this way ....the best vegan you can be is a wannabe vegan. Veganism is a complex spiritual path that encompasses every part of your life. It is not for the modern person in a modern world.
So rather than set standards of impossibility and causing you unbeleivable stress, choose something you can do that will allow you to love life. Check out "Flexitarian Diets". I think you will be pleased.
2007-10-31 21:11:13 · answer #9 · answered by Meg 4 · 2⤊ 5⤋
Do what makes you feel best. It's yourself that needs to be happy, not the carnivores or vegans here
2007-10-31 20:28:38 · answer #10 · answered by mark 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You don't need animal products to have variety.
2007-10-31 22:25:21 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋