Separating Ethics from Diet Culture: Navigating Veganuary in Eating Disorder Recovery
Veganuary is (almost) here! I am an eating disorder recovery provider who believes that it is possible to maintain veganism or vegetarianism throughout recovery from an eating disorder – under some conditions.
First, let’s talk about what some of these terms mean.
Veganism: a philosophy that encourages the liberation of all animal beings. This extends to avoiding purchasing or consuming anything created through exploiting animals. Veganism refers to more than just food choices. It includes other industries and products such as clothes (ex: not buying leather, fur, silk, suede), make-up and household items (ex: not buying products with animal-derived ingredients or that were tested on animals), entertainment (ex: not visiting zoos, aquariums, or circuses that feature animal “performances”), and more.
Veganuary: a challenge that encourages people to live a vegan lifestyle including removing animal products from their food choices and overall life during the month of January (and then beyond, if desired).
There are no right or wrong answers for the choices that you make around veganism, but it is important to note that restricting food groups can lead to an increase in eating disorder behaviors for some people.
If you have been actively struggling with disordered eating, you may want to dedicate some careful time and consideration towards thinking if this is the right cause to support while maintaining your mental and physical health.
If you’re tempted to start Veganuary this year, here are some questions I suggest that you explore:
Does this fit my personal values?
Everybody has individual core values they can use to live their life. Before jumping into a challenge, it may be helpful to explore which of your personal values Veganuary fits in, if any. Thoughtful exploration about why a change may be important to you can help bring clarity to your motivation.
For instance, someone may have values such as compassion, curiosity, and autonomy. These can relate to veganism and moving away from the exploitation of animals. Compassion can be extended to all living beings, curiosity can allow you to explore other options to add into your life, and autonomy recognizes the rights of animals. If your values point to health, body size, or restriction, it may be a reflection of disordered eating.Am I joining for the “challenge” aspect?
Eating disorders are varied and complex. One pattern that I notice with many people with eating disorders is the desire for competition, comparison, and/or food rules. Unfortunately, Veganuary can provide all of those things in one neat package. If you find yourself drawn to the challenge piece of Veganuary, it may be helpful to ask yourself if this is the right event for you. If so, maybe you explore being vegan in every way except for what you eat.Do I need to jump in with an all-or-nothing mindset?
The truth is, some vegan beliefs and attitudes can encourage labeling and all-or-nothing thinking (common in eating disorders as well!). If animal liberation is important to you, think about ways that you may be able to gently support these beliefs in your lifestyle. Are there ways that you could support animals without changing the way you eat as a first step? For example, switch to cruelty-free household and skincare products, or buy clothes without leather or fur.Am I stable medically and emotionally in my recovery?
These are great questions to explore with your support team, if you have one. It is important to consider the potential impact that any sort of change in food habits may have. Having an open and honest conversation with your healthcare providers can help support you in making your decision. Remember, you will be the best possible advocate for animals with a nourished mind and body. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and caring for your own well-being should be prioritized first.Am I prepared to put more effort and planning into eating?
While it is totally possible to eat in alignment with veganism and still meet all of your health needs, it can take more thought and planning to eat this way. Ask yourself what may happen if you need to put more energy and effort into planning, shopping, and cooking meals. Will this bring you closer or further away from recovery? Could Veganuary cause more stress and anxiety around food? If so, it may be best to take your time with any changes you decide to make. For example, instead of moving to eating all vegan meals, you could prepare one vegan meal per week and enjoy exploring new recipes over time. There is nothing wrong with going at your own pace.Am I viewing this as a diet?
Veganism is not a diet! Ask yourself if you are planning to restrict food groups. I encourage folks to substitute foods wherever possible, instead of removing foods from their plate. For instance, are you willing to have a Beyond or Impossible Burger instead of a beef burger at a barbeque, or do those foods bring anxiety and reluctance? If your motivation is about animal liberation and isn't your eating disorder creeping in, you can look forward to enjoying new foods without anxiety.
I strongly believe in bodily autonomy for all people, so I don’t have the “perfect” answer to whether or not you should participate in Veganuary. I hope these questions help you explore your motivations and the potential benefits and risks of changing your eating patterns.
If you do decide to participate in Veganuary, I encourage you to check in with yourself periodically. You can ask yourself some more questions including: Am I getting a variety of foods throughout the day? How are my energy levels and moods? Have there been any changes in my behaviors or patterns? Has there been a change in how loud my eating disorder voice is?
Oftentimes it can be helpful to see changes as an opportunity to collect more information – so if you decide to stop Veganuary at any point, celebrate the fact that you tried something new and learned from your experiences. Above all, it is important to nurture your recovery.
In conclusion, Veganuary can be a journey that allows you to explore your personal values but should be done only with careful consideration. Your path to recovery is unique, and any decisions related to your food choices should be made in collaboration with a treatment team and in a way that supports and nurtures your physical and mental health.
