Bad reasons for going meat-free
In the wake of Eating Animals and Skinny Bitch-es, an increasing number of individuals are opting for an animal-free diet. While still incredibly meat-centric, our society appears to be becoming more supportive of vegetarian and vegan lifestyles, as demonstrated by the growing number of meat-free and dairy-free restaurants, specialty stores, and even blogs. But are we all on the same page?
Photo Credit :: Muffet
Evidence is stacking up in favor of a vegetarian lifestyle and challenging us carnivores to consider the safety, health, and ethics of our food choices. Health benefits that many vegetarians and vegans cite for forgoing animal products include a desire for lower cholesterol, lower rates of heart disease, and more energy. Other reasons often mentioned are an intolerance for unsafe and inhumane treatment of animals, religious or cultural beliefs, and even economic advantages. And perhaps meat-eaters should take note, as some researchers are claiming that vegetarians are more intelligent.
While the arguments for a meat-free diet are mounting, many who adopt this lifestyle are unfortunately not doing it for the right reasons and do not have a healthy mindset when embarking on what is often a major nutritional shift. When individuals make dramatic changes to their diets without fully educating themselves on how to do so in a healthy and balanced way (e.g. supplementing nutrients), serious health consequences can result.
Here are some of the common but misguided reasons for going meat-free:
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- All your friends are doing it: We may hear about one of our closest friends adopting a vegan diet and look longingly at the improvements in her health. Or we may peruse food blogs and find that the quinoa and asparagus dish that Suzie posted elicits guilt about the filet we devoured last night. But the fact of the matter is that we are all different and need to make nutrition decisions based on our individual health statuses and beliefs. If your mother never asked you the proverbial, “If all your friends were jumping off a bridge…?” question, I’ll ask it to you to consider it now. Despite considering ourselves mature and independent adults (for the most part…), the drive to follow in the footsteps of those we admire can lead us far from honoring our own bodies and minds.
- To manage binge eating: The American Dietetics Association recently reported that adolescent and young adult vegetarians experience more binge eating with loss of control than meat-eaters. One explanation is that a lack of certain nutrients in the vegetarians’ diets cause cravings that lead to overeating (due to not properly supplementing their nutrition). However, it seems likely that many individuals may use a vegetarian diet in an effort to minimize the effects of their tendencies to engage in binge eating. We know, however, that both binging on baby carrots and binging on hamburgers reflect an unhealthy relationship with food and can lead to significant health problems.
- To mask an eating disorder: While a meat-free diet can absolutely be sustainably healthy and does not in and of itself signal an eating disorder, research is demonstrating that vegetarians are in fact more likely to have or have had eating disordered thinking and behaviors. While a vegetarian diet may at times be adopted specifically to cover up disordered eating (e.g. using a no animal products stance to avoid eating anything at the cook-out), more often individuals seem to fall unwittingly into vegetarianism as a result of progressive food restriction. A person struggling with disordered eating may first eliminate all red-meat as a means of weight-control and later find themselves unwilling to eat any animal product. It’s important to note that the person may not be lying when they claim they forgo meat because of their connection with animals, but there may be other, less healthy issues driving their choices as well.
- To get back at your parents: Many vegetarians and vegans began ditching animal products as teenagers, a time when the desire to establish one’s separate identity and independence is roaring like a hungry lion. For an undefined number of these individuals, refusing to eat meat may have served as an assertion of autonomy. This may have been particularly true in households rife with conflict and high levels of authoritarianism. Unfortunately, using food as a means of family communication or self-expression is ineffective and even dangerous at times. If you can trace your own vegetarianism to a time of strife in your family, it may be time to re-examine your choices in the light of adulthood.
It’s important to note that all food choices are complex and multi-faceted. While an individual’s choice to adopt a meat-free (or gluten-free or dairy-fee) lifestyle may involve elements of the “wrong” reasons, it does not necessarily make the choice itself wrong. What’s important is to consider your own experiences and beliefs, attempting to unhinge them from those of others in your life, and to honor your body by making choices that are right for you. It also never hurts to consult a physician, mental health professional, or nutritionist if you’re unsure.
What are your thoughts on the vegetarian or vegan lifestyle?
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Christie {Honoring Health}
570 days ago
As someone who is studying all of the different dietary theories (over 100!) in school, I have learned a lot about what “research” means when it comes to dietary and nutrition theories (even the USDA pyramid is a theory). And what I have learned is that each stance always has some sort of research to back up their particular theory. So, when it comes down to it, we all need to learn to tune into our bodies and make the choices that are right for us in mind, body and spirit.
I have tried going veg*n on a number of occasions, in the beginning, for the wrong reasons. Then, later on down the road (last year), I tried it just to see how my body responded. It does not work for me and honestly, it saddens me to see some people force themselves into a lifestyle that doesn’t work for them. I don’t believe that everyone is meant to be carnivores, veg*ns. I believe in bio-individuality and each of us having a way of eating and lifestyle that works for us.
And by works, I mean balanced in mind, body and spirit.
Christie {Honoring Health} recently posted..My Meditation Story
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
570 days ago
That’s a really great point, Christie. It would be interesting to learn about all of the dietary theories, and as you say, I’m sure there’s research behind each one. As someone who is research-focused, I can understand how some individuals who struggle to remember how important it is to consider also how your body is reacting and feeling and what keeps it in the balance you talk about.
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun
570 days ago
I adore Christie’s answer! I really believe each of our body’s function best on different styles of eating. You have to do something that will leave you choosing quality foods for life. That’s why I am an oddball who loves vegetarian options…and beef. Chicken? I can take it or leave it. Fish? If its sushi. I do what works for me and that mix does feel good. I do believe in choosing the best quality of the products you can find though on certain things. Great post, Ashley!
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Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
570 days ago
Very good point on finding high quality products. I agree that anything can be healthy if it’s right for YOU.
Katie @ Health for the Whole Self
570 days ago
I am sooooo glad you wrote this post!
In college I went vegetarian for a few years, and it was totally masking my eating issues (and because other people I knew were doing it). I’ve been thinking for a long time about discussing my personal experience with this on my blog, and if/when I muster the courage to do it, I will certainly link back to this important, informative post!
Kristan
570 days ago
I like Christie’s response about bio-individuality — it would be nice to see that concept taught to children and teens.
Honestly? 90% of the people I know who have gone vegetarian/vegan have done it as a diet, or to hide an eating disorder. The few who have done it for the “right” reasons (put in quotes because hey, who am I to judge? and yet that’s what I’m doing for the sake of this conversation) I can and do totally respect.
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Val @ Balancing Val
570 days ago
Admittedly, I went veg for a bit because I wanted to lose weight and because I wanted to fit in with certain crowds, but it obviously didn’t feel right.
I am going to a mostly vegetarian culinary school so this will bring about some interesting thoughts. I think the main thing is that if you are going to do it YOU and YOU ONLY have to believe in it for some reason and not anybody elses.
Things and beliefs can change at anytime so who knows what will work for you in the future.
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Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
570 days ago
That will be really interesting to go to a mostly vegetarian culinary school. I’m eager to hear what you learn!
Leigh
570 days ago
Thanks for touching on this topic. I too have noticed the spike in veggie diets, restaurants popping up all over the city etc. While I agree with cutting back on fatty meats, I believe our bodies need a certain level on nutrients from meat products to be completely healthy.
KCLAnderson (Karen)
570 days ago
I agree with Christie…
I tried vegetarianism once about 12 years ago, mostly because my stepson had become a vegan (he is no longer a vegan) and because I wanted to see what it would feel like. At the time, however, (and I can only say this because hindsight is 20/20), I was so out of touch with my body and its needs that I can’t assess whether it was a good choice or not. I have to be careful with cholesterol so I avoid certain animal products but when I do enjoy a steak, butter, eggs, etc. I try to make sure they come from a local farm and are organic and grass-fed.
rebecca lustig
570 days ago
great post. i think it is very important to consider your values and morals when considering a meat-less way of life ( i hate the term “diet”).
i think many people get wrapped up in the label of a vegetarian, rather than the meaning behind the choices.
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Sarah
570 days ago
Fantastic post. I completely agree with Christie. I think the important part of any “diet” is determining which foods work best for your body, heart, and soul. Because I think someone might be able to physically eat meat but emotionally can’t eat a living being therefore while their physical self might not be effected negatively by eating meat, his/her emotional health might suffer. I however was a vegetarian for about a year for all the wrong reasons (and a vegan for about half that time). I used my dietary lifestyle as an excuse to cover my disordered eating habits. I could avoid eating certain “bad” foods like baked goods, etc because I couldn’t be 100% that they were vegan so people didn’t give me a hard time for turning down food. When I started eating animal products again I felt horribly guilty and considered myself a failure but what I’ve realized that animal products in small amounts make me feel better and that’s what’s important.
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charlotte
569 days ago
I love this post!!! I know for me, being vegetarian and vegan was my way of perpetuating my disordered eating. Not that I EVER would have admitted to it at the time but looking back on it… yeah.
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Maggie @ Say Yes to Salad
569 days ago
I am vehemently anti-vegetarian/vegan. I do not eat much meat at all, but I think it is a very bad idea to try to cut it out completely. (Well, I actually have been eating much more meat recently and it is working out VERY well, but if you had asked me a few weeks ago how much meat I ate I would have said, “very little.”) I think it’s nice to be able to appreciate vegetarian food, but honestly butter and bacon are two of my favorite things. I would be sad if they were not in my life!
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Evelyn @ Become a Healthier You
569 days ago
Hi Ashley,
Very interesting article!
I am a vegan. It took me a while to get to that point, but once I finally understood what I needed to be eating in order to meet my nutritional needs, then I was able to be committed.
I’m vegan for health reasons first and foremost and I do not have a problem with other people eating meat. My husband doesn’t eat the way I do, and it doesn’t bother me.
Your reasons that you list are pretty good. I’m glad that my reason was not on your list, then I would have to check myself! In my circle I am always the odd ball, but that’s okay.
Take care,
Evelyn
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Sarah
569 days ago
I enjoyed this post. I have been vegetarian for 16 years (vegan for about 5), and I probably became vegetarian for the ‘wrong’ reasons initially, but it’s hard to say. About 2 years later, I was in the depths of anorexia, but in hindsight I think that was the beginning of my restriction.
However, I do think that reasons can change and evolve, and over the years my reasons become rooted in my ethics. Primarily for the environment, but also for the animals and for my health. I think that’s important to note: that we can sometimes start something for the wrong reasons (e.g. exercise, vegan/vegetarian diet, macrobiotic diet…hell even something like sewing or knitting, if it’s to distract ourselves from things like binging), but we can grow to love them and our reasons can change. People who go veg*n for the wrong reason my end up finding they feel fantastic. It can be a happy accident. Or it may not work for them at all…and that’s when, as other commenters discussed, they need to look at changing their diet.
One of the reasons I enjoyed this post is that you point out the higher incidence of eating disorders amongst veg*ns. It’s a chicken or the egg thing (bad pun, sorry), in which I don’t think we know the causal relationship. However, I am tired of veg*ns denying that correlation. The correlation is real, and I think we need to be aware of it, and really ask ourselves some of the questions you pose.
Madeleine
567 days ago
Sarah, Thanks for your post. I think you are spot on about how one’s reasons can evolve. This resonates with me on many levels. :)
Madeleine
567 days ago
I am vegan because I don’t want animals to suffer and don’t believe that they are our property to do with as we will.
It annoys me when some people think one is are avoiding animal foods because of a “hidden” eating disorder or that one has body image issues. Health and fitness are important to me but is certainly not my reason for avoiding eating dead animals.
Madeleine
567 days ago
I think one of the ways to distinguish someone who is vegan for political/ethical/moral reasons from one who is “masking a disorder” or using it to practice food avoidance is by looking at other aspects of their choices beyond food. For example, someone who also doesn’t wear leather, silk or wool and avoids any cosmetics made from animals is probably not just vegan because of an eating disorder.
Also a lot of foods which are vegan staples actually have quite a high fat content such as nuts and seeds. Tofu is actually higher in calories gram for gram than a piece of lean fish.
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
566 days ago
You make some really good points, Madeline. I agree that it’s wise to look at the person’s other behaviors. A person who does have disordered eating likely will show other signs besides eliminating meat as well.
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