Can You Be Plant Based Without Food Rules?
I have tried every diet under the sun- and let me tell ya, I will regret being a vegan during my college study abroad term in Italy until the day I die.
On the surface level, not eating an entire food group sounds like the very definition of a food rule. If you know me at all by now, you know I’m anti diet, food rules, and anything that associates outward appearance with inner health. In this case, though, I have to admit, it’s a little more complicated than that.
Plant Based Diets Can Be Great, If They’re Right For You
Without a doubt, eating a plant based diet (I’m using diet here to mean its actual definition, “the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats.” NOT the common understanding of a food restriction plan) is better for the environment. It’s scientifically documented that it helps lower your carbon footprint, as livestock production is responsible for 14.5 % of global greenhouse emissions (this is a conservative number, with some organizations put that number closer to 51%, buts it’s also not mentioning that lots of manufactured meat “alternatives” are not all that green).
I am 100% on board with doing our part to live more sustainably and to my imperfect best to do my part.
However, to make a broad statement like being plant based is better for your health is impossible without knowing your unique bio-individuality (a principle I learned as a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition that no one diet works for everyone and each and every person has unique needs). One could of course, argue that what is better for the earth IS better for our health, and to that I just say, touché.
Food Rules Will Make You Suffer If You Don’t Eat Intuitively
I’ve had a complex relationship with veganism/vegetarianism. In the 4th grade, while decorating eggs at a school Easter party, a boy in my class dropped his egg and a half developed chick oozed out. I get it, the circle of life and the food chain and all that- but it was traumatizing and I immediately wanted to be a vegetarian. Being, all of 9 years old though, my parents laughed and told me I could be vegetarian when I was old enough to cook for myself, and until then, I’d eat what they made. And so, a vegetarian I became at 16, and eventually, vegan in college. I never enjoyed the taste of meat, and couldn’t bring myself to eat it willingly, but by the time I was studying for my BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography (and so, so, ironically, double majoring in Psychology), being vegan was more of a way to hide my eating disorder than about my sustainability efforts.
These days, I practice intuitive eating and dismiss all food rules. Except one.
I love my sushi, omelettes, and French cheese- but I haven’t had a piece of meat since I was 16. And one more time for the people in the back, this is my personal story, and it doesn’t mean I think you shouldn’t eat meat. I was able to successfully reintroduce every other food group I feared during the height of my eating disorder- but my distaste and disgust for meat remained.
And so, these days, I’m something of an ovo-(sometimes lacto)-pescetarian, if I HAD to choose a label. (And yes, I know the farmed fish industry is equally problematic as all other animal farming- but what can I say, it’s just the cuddly faces for me). I personally function on a more varied diet that includes eggs, fish, and the occasional smelly cheese.
Conclusion
For me, abstaining from poultry is a taste preference as well as an effort to do my small part in encouraging ethical and sustainable animal farming. It’s not actually a food rule.
Intuitive eating is about eating for satisfaction (which includes your emotions) and nourishment (again, on all levels). Meat doesn’t do it for me. The same goes for my people with Celiac disease. In that sense, you need that food rule to thrive. You shouldn’t eat foods that make you feel physically sick or make you cringe (unless that cringe is because of fear around a food- in which case I encourage you to unpack that with a licensed mental health professional). You can check out these free resources or apply for treatment support here.
Food should be pleasurable, enjoyable, yeah- nutritious, of course, but also something you WANT to eat. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, just like with intuitive exercise it’s all about your intention. If your intention is to deprive yourself or hide shifty disordered eating habits- no, being plant based doesn’t sound right for you- at least not until you work through those. If you really care about the planet and animal welfare and can make responsible and nourishing food choices with that in mind, welcome to the “I don’t really have a word for what this is and that’s the whole point” diet.
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