This is such a great post and I couldn’t be happier that I stumbled across it. As a vegan, in recovery from an eating disorder who’s original route to veganism many many years ago was ethics, I have often felt like I am in battle with professionals around me. Despite the fact, they saw the ethics play out in other ways in my life, many saw the vegan side as my disorder. I’m glad to now be in recovery having maintained my ethics and beliefs (of course without putting myself in a medically unstable position). After all, to save all the animals I had to save myself first.
“to save the animals I have to save myself first” - such wise words and I’m so glad you came to that realisation. I’m no expert but I would advise you to maybe get in touch with a vegan dietitian. There are quite a few good ones and you won’t be judged in the way that mainstream health professionals can sometimes do.
Thank you for sharing this, and I’m so sorry you were bullied and had such a rough ride. I completely resonate with your food journey though, likewise when I went vegan my relationship with food completely changed because, as you point out, our food choices are no longer primarily about us but are so much bigger than us. I know it isn’t a quick fix for everyone, but this is why I think the ethical impact of food is sorely missing from a lot of narratives around food, and more specifically diet culture. Thanks for your vulnerability in writing about this topic!
This is such a great post and I couldn’t be happier that I stumbled across it. As a vegan, in recovery from an eating disorder who’s original route to veganism many many years ago was ethics, I have often felt like I am in battle with professionals around me. Despite the fact, they saw the ethics play out in other ways in my life, many saw the vegan side as my disorder. I’m glad to now be in recovery having maintained my ethics and beliefs (of course without putting myself in a medically unstable position). After all, to save all the animals I had to save myself first.
“to save the animals I have to save myself first” - such wise words and I’m so glad you came to that realisation. I’m no expert but I would advise you to maybe get in touch with a vegan dietitian. There are quite a few good ones and you won’t be judged in the way that mainstream health professionals can sometimes do.
Thank you for sharing this, and I’m so sorry you were bullied and had such a rough ride. I completely resonate with your food journey though, likewise when I went vegan my relationship with food completely changed because, as you point out, our food choices are no longer primarily about us but are so much bigger than us. I know it isn’t a quick fix for everyone, but this is why I think the ethical impact of food is sorely missing from a lot of narratives around food, and more specifically diet culture. Thanks for your vulnerability in writing about this topic!
Thanks so much. The ethical aspect of food needs more attention, and for eating disorders patients, this kind of reframe can be really liberating.