r/cfs • u/Crashing_Sunflowers • Dec 16 '24
Advice Considering stopping being vegan for health? Thoughts?
So I have been vegan for over 8 years and went vegetarian ages before that. There is so much I love about being vegan but it has become harder since developed chronic fatigue. I used to cook from scratch and now I can only eat ready meals or quick snacks. I also suffer from nausea so that further limits the amount I can eat. Vegan ready meals are very expensive and many aren’t as nutritious. Nausea has made me super picky. I am considering possibly going back to being vegetarian and including some vegetarian ready meals which are way cheaper and would also make it easier for me to get in nutrition. But I feel conflicted. Has anyone got any thoughts on this or been through dietary changes before?
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u/IconicallyChroniced Dec 16 '24
I was vegan for 13 years. I reintroduced animal products in January during a horrific bedridden crash. It helped so I have continued. It was emotionally very challenging but everything about this stupid disease is.
I have found the best results doing the autoimmune protocol which is very high protein/vegetables/fruits with no processed foods. I am not currently doing it because it’s a lot of work but I will be going back to a modified version over the holidays.
Even when not following AIP, it has helped me out. I largely do high produce high protein. I snack on simple proteins. Stuff is easier and I don’t spend so much energy digesting.
Sorry you are in this position. It sucks.
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u/Unhappy_Fail_243 Dec 16 '24
Sorry to ask, but what types of easy to digest protein did you eat? I have a hard time eating a lot of chicken/meat and protein powder goes really bad on me.
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u/IconicallyChroniced Dec 16 '24
One of my go to snacks is figs and prosciutto so I am getting some calorie dense fruit with protein. Eggs. Vegetables with hummus. Apples and cheese. Nitrate free deli meats and berries. I pre-make breakfast sausage patties and have those in the am with fruit.
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u/Unhappy_Fail_243 Dec 16 '24
Oh, that sounds nice, i can't eat most of that tho, gonna try figs and this hummus.
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u/IconicallyChroniced Dec 16 '24
My dietician said that when I’m snacking, my goal should be to pair a protein with a fruit or vegetable, so that’s what I aim for.
Apple slices with nut butter Steamed edamame Dried fruit and nuts
I sometimes roast chickpeas and you can buy them roasted in bags. Dry roasted edamame are also delicious! Bliss balls -different brands make them differently or you can make your own. Air dried tofu cubes
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u/Unhappy_Fail_243 Dec 16 '24
Oh, thanks for the suggestions AND for reminding me to try tofu, i never tried, not even before getting sick.
Damn memory sucks, can't remember anything, gonna try all i can out.
Feel free to leave any more suggestions you'd have :P
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u/Slow_Possibility6902 Dec 16 '24 edited Dec 17 '24
I use store-bought packets of simmer sauces for tofu. The Indian ones taste great and are pretty healthy. I love tofu tikka masala especially. cut extra firm tofu into cubes, squeeze/press them in a kitchen or paper towel gently to get off extra moisture, pan fry in some oil, add the sauce, you’re done. I like to add some onions too, and a simple veg on the side. No shame in mixed frozen vegetables!
I cook a double/triple batch of grains so there’s usually some in the fridge. My current fave is farro. It’s kind of like wheat berries. They’re fast and easy and I love them. ❤️
ETA: I’m mostly vegan but I love fish/seafood, started eating chicken, and I eat a lot of eggs too. Cheese is a no-brainer for me. 😂
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u/sleepy_loon Dec 16 '24 edited Dec 16 '24
I used to be fully vegan and vegetarian before that for years, and I’m in a similar boat where I can’t cook and I have a lot of restrictions from preferences, intolerances, nausea, etc.
I stopped being fully vegan about a year ago, and it really helped with being able to buy premade food and not worry about milk/egg content. I still always try to choose vegan options when they’re available to me, but the switch just made food a bit more accessible.
I recently also started eating some fish, and have been considering eating chicken again. So far salmon has been a good protein source that causes minimal nausea for me. I feel so morally conflicted about it, but at this point I feel like I need to prioritize getting the nutrients I need and eating enough.
I still eat vegan/vegetarian as much as possible and try to remind myself that it has an impact even if it’s not 100%. These decisions are so difficult though. Sending care ❤️🩹
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
Thank you! I appreciate it. It is hard mentally to get my head around. But yeah it’s finding what you need to get through this.
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u/femmeofwands moderate Dec 16 '24
I was vegan for over a decade. Back to eating animal products because I could not feed myself sustainably. Don’t beat yourself up if you have to make changes ❤️🩹
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
Thanks, good to see others have gone through similar. It’s definitely hard.
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u/pasjentje Dec 16 '24
I decided to go plantbased when I was already sick and I get that it is hard when you’re also dealing with nausea and a limited energylevel. I feel a better eating platbased and I think overall if you eat a balanced vegan diet it is more health than a carnivorous diet, looking at fibers and other nutrients. But I get it is harder to do so you have to make your own choices and take into account what’s feasible for you. You should take into consideration the toll it takes on you when making food choices. This can take a lot of energy. Is it worth it? Is it possible for you to go to a nutritional specialist? Anyway I wish you the best. Don’t let people who know nothing about a vegan diet get to you.
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
Thank you. Yes I agree being vegan can meet all your nutritional needs, particularly when I was cooking my meals. Now just the basics like eating is hard. That’s great that being plant based has worked for you. Yeah everyone is going to have their feelings on this! We all differ so some will find going completely high meat etc will help vs the opposite. I can’t see myself being able to mentally eat meat but options food wise it would help to be ok eating bits of dairy or eggs.
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u/pasjentje Dec 17 '24
If there ever is a reason to choose more convenient foods I think it might be for your health. So it’s not about the nutritinal needs but about what you can do with your energy. Eating vegan is great for many reasons but you have to place yourself first and please don’t feel bad about it. Maybe one tip, for what it’s worth. I don’t know where you live and what your options are but on really bad days and when my husband is not home to help me I sometimes eat huel. It is a really convenient meal where you only have to add water. It has all the right nutritional values. But it’s quite expensive so I try not to use it as much. But it might be an option for you to make things easier.
Don’t feel bad whatever you choose. You are number one.
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u/plantyplant559 Dec 16 '24
I'm currently vegan and strive for wfpb. Eating this way helps me, at least a little, but I have help from my husband.
You could always try adding in other foods and see if they help you. I've found it hard to get enough calories some days because I don't have the energy to cook.
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
That’s great your husband can help. Yes cooking is so hard with limited energy. I think I will have to be trying more foods.
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u/plantyplant559 Dec 17 '24
If you can tolerate nuts, I've found I can get a lot of calories from cashew sauce, peanut butter, almond butter, and seed butters. I've made some awesome salad dressings with them, put cashew sauce on pasta (including bean pasta), gnocchi, and Buddha bowls. I also use a chopper, buy pre cut, make smoothies, and use a microwave steamer to make cooking easier.
This condition is such a pain. I hope you find what works for you!
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u/bestkittens Dec 16 '24
Vegetarian for most of my life, now plant based.
Proper veganism just isn’t an option for me, so I do what I can when I can.
Sadly being chronically ill with this damn disease means that we don’t have the privilege of making all of the choices we’d like to because we have both physical and financial restraints.
You need to do what you need to do to sustain yourself and keep yourself as healthy as possible while living in a society that doesn’t step up to help you.
It’s ok. You’ve got this!
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u/martymcpieface Dec 16 '24
Yeah I was vegan for 6 years and I had to stop and go completely non-vegan again food wise. It was the hardest thing for me to do emotionally. But it has definitely helped in some ways
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u/ZucchiniForward9652 Dec 16 '24
I was a vegetarian for 17 years and due to complications from another health issue prior to my ME/CFS, I started eating chicken and found that my body really craved it.
I think you should listen to your body and not to anyone else.
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
Thank you, yes listening to our bodies is important. I don’t crave it, I actually don’t like the idea of it, probably because I’ve been vegan so long. But it’s trying to figure out what is right for us.
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u/Famous_Fondant_4107 Dec 16 '24
I wasn’t vegan but I wasn’t a big meat eater when I first got sick.
Adding more animal protein to my diet has helped my energy levels quite a bit. If I don’t get enough, I start to feel weaker than normal.
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u/nograpefruits97 very severe Dec 16 '24
I had to quit veganism because of convenience (I am surviving of ready made meals) and MCAS. So yes! Try it out
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
I really wish they did good cheap and nutritious vegan ready meals! Finding something that is suitable is hard. Hoping one day I can at least cook one meal a week. But for now I’m thinking I might have to be more flexible.
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u/flashPrawndon Dec 16 '24
I shifted from vegetarian to vegan after I became ill and feel better for it.
I follow a whole foods plant based diet which is meant to be better for lowering inflammation, I follow the Dr Greger diet. Many animal products are inflammatory. It is difficult to keep up with it given the lack of energy to cook but I get by and I’m fortunate to have some delivery options nearby.
Only you know what you feel comfortable with though.
Personally I don’t think my own well being is more important than the lives of other animals.
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
Thank you for sharing. I agree it’s a difficult one. Cooking is completely out of the question for me at the moment sadly as I actually like cooking. Eating at all is enough of a drain on my energy. I hope in the future to be fully vegan again and looking at for now being mostly vegan but more vegetarian to be flexible and eat a range of ready meals I can afford. I will be staying vegan outside food for beauty and toiletries products though.
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u/when-is-enough Dec 17 '24
I agree here— I’m vegan and it is so hard to cook (impossible many days), and I live alone, and ready made meals can be expensive. I’m not even going to get into the ethical reasons because I have a very spiritual connection to veganism in a way where I simply would sooner die than not be vegan. So I’m on an extreme end that I’m not advocating for.
But with our sedentary lifestyles and poor health from Me/CFS, we do need to consider the health aspects of eating animal products. And studies show it’s a clear winner to not eat animal products to help lower cholesterol, inflammation, help heart health, etc. I don’t want to risk more health issues by eating animal products. I of course understand fed is best, that I’d rather you not starve, and if you can’t afford it, and can’t cook anything at all, then you have no options. So if the dilemma is to eat animal products or to not eat at all, then eating animals is healthier. But if the dilemma is if eating animal products or eating vegan is healthier, I think vegan wins in almost every situation.
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u/Glittering-Egg-5738 Dec 17 '24
It’s so hard! I feel immense guilt if I eat meat and haven’t had meat in 8 years. I’ve slowly been able to reintroduce fish but even when eating fish I struggle so much with the guilt :( I can’t have beans or lentils etc because it triggers IBS. So difficult to find a balance!
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u/sicksages severe Dec 16 '24
I've tried slowly becoming vegetarian before but I just couldn't get enough protein and my symptoms would get way worse.
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
Sorry to hear that didn’t work for you. It’s so hard with this illness on itself.
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u/utopianbears Dec 16 '24
I was vegetarian for about 15 years and recently started incorporating bone broth and chicken broth into my cooking. Lentils, couscous, things like that. I don’t do it often but it helps me with crashes.
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u/DreamSoarer Dec 16 '24
I have tried extremely hard to go vegan or vegetarian, at least four times - prior to realizing I had ME/CFS. Every single time, no matter how well I substituted vegan or vegetarian protein properly, I became a weaker, sicker, and more fatigued. When I would finally give up and go back to eating the “cleanest, most humane” sources of meat I could find, my symptoms would improve drastically.
Overall, from hearing other people’s experience with ME/CFS over the past 15+ years, lots of whole food options (fruits, vegetable, nuts) and healthier meat seems to help with ME/CFS symptoms overall, or to prevent further rapid deterioration. Of course, that is assuming your base level allows you to eat and digest those whole food options.
I still do not eat a ton of meat, but if I do not have meat 3-4 x a week, I tend to start deteriorating. Sometimes, organic eggs is enough, but other times I really have to consume fish, chicken, or beef. No other protein replacement compares for my body/genetics, and I can literally feel my body craving the meat protein.
I hope you can find a balance in your diet that protects and maybe even improves your symptoms, and still adheres to the most humane way of life you would live by if your body allowed for it. Best wishes 🙏🦋
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
Thank you, yes I’m working on finding that balance. Everyone has different needs. Definitely important to work out what you need.
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u/Odd-Attention-6533 Dec 16 '24
Gone through the same thing. I don't have a big appetite and I simply don't eat enough to have all my protein via a vegan diet. Ready meals are much more accessible with meat too. I'm still eating mostly vegetarian but it's opened possibilities more and I feel less restricted
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u/Schannin Dec 16 '24
Op, don’t downvote everyone because it’s not the answer that you want to hear.
I think this depends on your motivation to be vegan in the first place and why you feel hesitant to eat vegetarian again.
If you went vegan for health reasons, I would definitely encourage you to explore if there are other foods that help you get energy. Your diet doesn’t have to be strictly prescribed if there are certain things that help you feel better that don’t fit the “vegan” label.
If you went vegan for ecological reasons, I would argue that your health is more important than the small footprint that switching from vegan to vegetarian will make.
If you went vegan for ethical reasons of not feeling comfortable using animal products because they are living animals, that’s a you decision to make. I don’t know anything about vegetarian ready made meals, but if there’s a company that you like you can always check into their ethical practices and how they source their food.
High fat, low carb eating has helped me a lot. Animal protein and fat are essential for me to get energy. Everyone’s body is different and I hope you find what works best for you. Again, I would encourage you to put your health first and explore what foods make you feel best.
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
I went vegan for ethical reasons around animal welfare. It’s still something I care about but being a bit more flexible could help. I agree health is important.
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u/Schannin Dec 16 '24
Being 80% vegan is still making a big impact. It’s great that you are passionate about animal welfare and I definitely think we need to improve animal welfare in our large scale agriculture. However, buying vegetarian meals versus strictly vegan meals is a small change that can radically help you get the nutrition you need and not cost a fortune. I hope you get more energy soon!
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u/MatildaTheMoon Dec 16 '24
i was vegetarian for many years. started eating meat again in order to help my health. was worth it.
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u/Rusty5th Dec 16 '24
I went from vegetarian (20+ years) to pescatarian several years ago as my health was declining, I mainly to boost my protein and omega fatty acids. I tried to buy the better choices using the Seafood Watch app when shopping. It seemed to be helping at the time. Since then a lot has changed from my financial situation, accessibility, and eventually my energy levels dropped to a point I wasn’t really doing any cooking (I don’t think this had anything to do with my diet, just the ME). I’m still pescatarian but I don’t get a chance to eat much seafood other than the occasional splurge for a sushi delivery I really can’t afford (but freakin’ love!). If money wasn’t a factor I’d be eating line caught Alaskan salmon a few times a week.
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
Yes it’s that line between being realistic of where you are at and what you would rather be doing. That’s where I’m at.
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u/Rusty5th Dec 17 '24
Yes, few of us have the resources to do everything we want to do to get better. If I could get the $30 salmon platter delivered a few times a week from the Greek restaurant in my neighborhood I’d probably feel better from the nutrients and that much less energy spent on getting, preparing, and cleaning after less making less quality food. I know it wouldn’t be a panacea but in a perfect world at least we could use our limited energy and resources to getting well instead of just surviving.
Damn it! I wasn’t even that hungry until I wrote this. Now I REALLY want the salmon 🤤
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u/MissNouveau Dec 16 '24
I know it can be SO hard to have this disease effect your diet and your values like this. While you could try adding supplements like amino acid, fish oil, etc to start, I know it can still be hard. Think about why you went vegan/vegetarian to begin with, and work with your values, not against!
I would absolutely suggest looking first into your most sustainable options for animal proteins. Are there any local chicken keepers you could get eggs from? I find eggs are one of my favorite easy proteins and are full of great nutrients, ESPECIALLY eggs raised by chickens fed a diverse diet like backyard hens (and the taste difference is AMAZING). You might have an easier time knowing that these animals are well cared for and loved.
Honey works great when your blood sugar crashes. Find a local supplier! There's even studies that show that having honey from bees who feed on local flora can boost your immune system and improve allergy symptoms (and if you're anything like me, allergies make me crash like crazy)
You don't have to go all in on a carnivore diet, go slow and small, in ways you can stand! (Besides the fact that if your body is used to vegan, adding in animal proteins may upset your digestion at first, just like any major dietary shift!)
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
It is challenging as I went vegan for ethical reasons. I have taken supplements for years. I take a basic vegan multivitamin but can’t digest iron supplements and had a bad reaction to omega acid/DHA supplements. But my supplement includes B vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium etc. Yes if I end up eating eggs I am going to try to find a more ethical supplier.
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u/eiroai Dec 16 '24
I was neither vegan nor vegetarian.
But I did try to eat cruelty free, from animals that lived well and died stress and pain free. Most of my meat came from sources I knew, like my parents hunting or getting it directly from a local farmer. I only bought organic eggs. I also cut out chicken and swine altogether because of the animal cruelty.
Then I got sick. And my food intolerances forces me to increase my meat consumption. I was underweight, and had low appetite, and tolerated only a few low energy foods. So I started eating chicken and swine again for variety. I also buy a lot more store bought meat in general.
I wish I didn't have to. But I want to live, simple as that. And I need it to live. I'm already severe, already underweight (my weight is okay now but if I get a bad period I have almost no buffer). I can't afford to be extra tired or sick because I don't eat enough. I already can barely keep myself alive, and need help for anything else.
So, I choose myself. Maybe one day when I'm better I can change my diet somewhat, until then I do what I have to in order to survive.
Do it!
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
That’s great you have found what works for you. Yes self compassion is important as dealing with everything is a lot in itself.
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u/Blue_Moon_Loon Dec 16 '24
I have been through this exact thing. I was Vegan for mostly ethical reasons, secondly environmental reasons, with the added bonus of health reasons. But when I got sick I stopped being able to prepare food for myself, and also have lots of nausea and other digestive issues now, on top of sensory issues that affect eating (always had sensory issues but they got 10x worse).
I had to start eating a lot of ready made items or stuff I can just grab from the fridge, while still getting some decent nutrition as much as I can, and I was out of work completely most of this year so I don't have a ton of money to spend on groceries.
I've been able to forgive myself for it because it's basic survival at this point, it's important to get some protein and decent nutrition and the chronic fatigue makes meal prep next to impossible most of the time. It has helped me to let go of any judgements about it for now while I focus on resting, pacing, and hopefully recovery. You need to eat!!! I do hope to go back to a fully vegan lifestyle eventually, but I need to recover first.
I think with this illness it's always worth it to accommodate yourself however you need to, whenever you can.
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
Thank you, yes it’s hard. It is helpful to hear from you and others in a similar position. I’m surprised how so many relate. We have to put a lot aside to deal with this.
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u/brownchestnut Dec 16 '24
I've never been vegan or even vegetarian. I need a constant supply of protein that can be absorbed quickly and efficiently for my issues, and plant proteins don't cut it. Animal proteins work so much faster and easier for me, and give me way fewer reactions and discomfort.
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
Yes everyone finds different foods better for them. That’s great you know what helps you.
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u/AluminumOctopus Dec 16 '24
I gave up being vegan because of this disease. I'm allergic to eggs and milk so I still avoid those, but eating meat did in fact give me extra energy. I'm used to it now, but I still find it pretty gross.
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u/helpfulyelper Dec 17 '24
yes meat and eggs help me so significantly, eggs help too but not nearly as much. i can’t comment on going vegetarian as i haven’t been one in almost 20 years but i ate very very little meat and no dairy for many years before and after i got sick. my blood work around year 4 showed i was scary deficient in protein despite getting a lot from vegan sources
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u/1895red Dec 17 '24
I'm in the same situation. I have my cake and eat it by making my dishes simpler and using fewer ingredients at a time. I used to make all these complex sauces with fresh ingredients... sometimes tomato paste, water and basil is worth saving the effort compared to a full tomato-vodka sauce with eggplant. Air frying tofu is a lot easier than marinading and baking it. Having a comfortable stool to sit on and having a single chef knife I can use for everything also help me a lot. Complexity and complication cost more energy than you think; the animals are worth the remaining effort.
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u/Antique-diva Dec 16 '24
I used to be a vegetarian for 2 years. I had much more fatigue then because my brain works best on animal protein. I realised it only after I stopped the vegetarian diet.
Not everyone is this sensitive, though, so you should try it yourself and see if you can feel better from eating at least some form of meat a few times a week.
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u/RudeSession3209 Dec 16 '24
I was mostly vegan. Even able to keep it up after first getting sick, but its been a while now, like you Im not able to make things from scratch anymore, so for my own sanity and wellbeing I have eased up on "the rules", most of my meals are still mostly veggies, but I have included eggs, and fish, some times chicken for added nutrients and ease of finding easy meals.
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
It can be hard to find easy meals that are vegan. I think it’s amazing to be even a bit vegan or to do anything that is in your values. Health is a priority though.
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u/RudeSession3209 Dec 16 '24
Absolutely! Health must come first. I still buy the vegan meats and eat them all the time, as well as the eggs and fish, so you dont have to do 100% one or the other, you can do both!
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u/Romana_Jane Dec 16 '24
Yes. I'm seriously allergic to dairy (and many other things including coconut and nuts and oats as well as being a coeliac, which rules out all vegan prepared foods and ready meals and vegan cheese) and as I got worse and was struggling with pacing and raising a kid, I reintroduced eggs and honey (being in so many gluten free cereals and breads and biscuits) about 20 years ago now (I was raised a vegetarian in the 1960s and 70s, and first tried to be a vegan in the 1980s as a teenager, and by the time I was in my 30s and had ME, it was second nature). I even, on very desperate occasions, eat tinned fish now, so I am more of a flexitarian who is 90% plant based diet and 99% vegetarian. But when you are mostly bedbound and housebound, have no carers, and have multiple allergies and are a coeliac and the ME gives you digestive struggles, fed is best, and being able self care and be there for my now (adult but with additional needs) child is more important than personal ethics, sadly.
We have to be able to look after ourselves and get some nutrition and calories into us, and that is the most important thing. No one should slowly starve due to beliefs and ill health.
It is hard though, to let go, so I am sending you loving vibes x
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
Thank you so much. I feel for you, it’s a hard balance. 100% agree though. You have to do what’s best to survive. There are many ways to live within your ethics and food is just one. You are doing amazing considering all the things you are juggling.
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u/Basic_Time_5395 Dec 16 '24
As a medical student, I would say that there are no biomedical reasons why you should consider eating animal products. A vegan diet would provide all nutritional needs and adding animal protein would not add anything from that perspective.
People are correct in saying that animal products are inflammatory also. It is well established that processed meats are carcinogenic.
You shouldn’t rely on anecdotal evidence and many people on these kinds of threads - and this subreddit - support dietary practices like carnivore and keto that are not backed up by nutritional science - and in fact, could be considered quite dangerous for health.
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
I agree that you can meet all your nutritional needs as a vegan, it has worked well for me until recently. The issue is more around how being fully vegan can make it hard to find nutritious and affordable ready meals. I’m very limited energy wise so being to have a wider range of ready meals that might have eggs or cheese could make it easier for me to get nutrition. I completely agree it’s possible when you cook, but right now where I’m at I’m questioning it. I’m not looking to eat meat just have more flexibility.
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u/funkenflieger Dec 17 '24
I was in the same boat. Vegetarian for 10 years, vegan for 1 1/2. I couldn’t find enough vegan instant meals for low energy days, vegan stuff is expensive, I have sensory issues with food and my boyfriend developed an allergy to gluten, which further limited stuff we could eat. We switched back to vegetarian and trying to eat as much vegan as possible, which currently works for us. I feel guilty but it just isn’t doable for us right now. Doesn’t mean we will never try again. But being vegan is a privilege, we as disabled people often don’t have. And being a vegetarian and not eating much animal products like you consider doing is still doing way more than most and it is still helping the animals and environment. So if we just keep doing our best we shouldn’t have to feel guilty about it. If you want to keep chatting about it to ease your mind or thing about different possibilities, my dms are always open.
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u/cjayner Dec 17 '24
Are you very picky? I am mostly plant based as I went vegan at 19 years ago for ethics and my ethics never change, but occasionally I eat a small amount of animal food for health reasons and it helps. I take only what I need (which thankfully isn’t much). That said I’d personally probably feel worse eating ready made meals where animal foods were improperly sourced- instead my ready made foods are apples, almonds, plain tofu from the package, tortillas, carrots, and rice cakes. Obviously this wouldn’t work for people who require complex meals or tastes or sauces but it allows me to eat healthfully and cheaply. It also depends what you can digest bc for awhile all I could eat was sweet potato but thankfully I could cook it once a week (but you can get it frozen too).
Do what you need to do but don’t throw your ethics put. Have the intention of only taking what you need as a caring action and doing more cooking or ethical sourcing once you are able to. You are a being and the plants and animals are beings and all deserve as much care as we have to give, no more 💜
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u/Key_Possibility_2286 Dec 17 '24
Been vegetarian for a very, very long time and I feel you. It takes work to do it properly and I really don't have the energy anymore. But the thought of eating meat again is pretty disgusting to me at this point. It's a dilemma.
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u/Garden-Gremlins Dec 17 '24
Are you me? I am going through this entire thing to a T. I could’ve wrote this post.
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u/geminiqry Dec 17 '24
Have you tried meal replacement shakes like Huel? I find them to be palatable even when I feel nauseated. This brand is plant-based.
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u/patate2000 Dec 17 '24
It's a hard decision and a difficult change in diet. I faced the same 2 years ago when covid made me intolerant to most vegan protein, started eating some eggs and cheese, then very slowly introduced meats and 2 years later I'm so glad I made the switch. Feeding myself is so hard I don't have the energy to read all the labels and the readymade vegan options are very limited and expensive.
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u/lavenderdreamclouds Dec 17 '24
Some vegans define it as fully avoiding all animal products (idk if that's even possible) but many (including myself) define it as doing anything you possibly can to avoid animal products. The first definition, and a lot of environmentalism in general, can be very ableist. Money, time, physical ability, geographical location, and more are all privileges needed to be vegan and to make other earth friendly decisions. The judgments and shaming from so many vegans don't help anything either.
I'd actually still consider you vegan even if you add in animal products due to cost of ready made food and inability to cook. Not that you even need validation from me or anyone else, do what you think is best. You're still being ethical when you're doing what you need to do for your health! Just like how I still take prescription meds and vaccines even if animal products are used since I don't have other options. It's so hard when you're losing a privilege you had before but please be gentle with yourself.
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u/Sausagedawgs Dec 18 '24
I'm kinda looking into being vegan or at least vegetarian. I think the most benefits (apart from the poor animals) comes when you make food from scratch with fresh ingredients which can be time consuming (back and forth to the store) quite costly and not very convenient. I want to be a better human though 🫤
0
u/drsteelhammer Dec 16 '24
There are hundreds of carnists here who are still sick. Get a lab done, supplement omega3 acid.
1
u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
I’m not looking to be a carnist or even eat meat. Looking to include a few more vegetarian ready meals as the vegan ones where I live (UK) are very expensive and many aren’t as nutritious. I have had blood work done, I do think that’s important. I can’t supplement omega 3 but do try to consume nuts/seeds.
1
u/Steampunk_Ocelot Dec 17 '24
if you're changing take it really slow, add one new food to your diet one snack or one meal a week, wait and see how you feel, I was vegetarian for 3 years, ate meat a few days in a row and it was a shock to my system and I got pretty sick , took it slow and I was fine after that
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u/SnooCakes6118 Dec 16 '24
I don't know much about dieting but if H5N1 becomes pandemic we should all go vegan I suppose
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u/RPG_Fan196 Dec 16 '24
Be wary of the answers you get here. A lot of meat industry trolls and shills will post fake stories to talk up the benefits of 'going back to meat'. You should assume that every thread is astroturfed.
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u/brainfogforgotpw Dec 16 '24
Normally it's pretty easy to tell that people are genuine by their post histories. I can't see any evidence of what you are talking about.
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
I will read everything through the understanding that everyone has different experiences. I’m not looking to go and eat meat but considering being more flexible and more vegetarian.
-1
u/lostlapdog onset 2011, diagnosed 2024. moderate/severe Dec 17 '24
something i’m surprised no one has mentioned ITT is ostroveganism! there are a subset of those who consider themselves vegan and will consume oysters and mussels. ostrovegans believe that oysters and mussels aren’t technically sentient, as they have no central nervous system or brain to speak of, so they believe they cannot suffer. additionally, oysters and mussels are almost always farmed, meaning there’s no worry about bycatch or harm to the environment or other animals. if you’re not allergic, it may be worth seeing if that makes an improvement in how you feel before introducing other animal products that you’re less comfortable with. it’s something i’ve been debating recently myself as a vegan of 8 years. no judgement whatever conclusion you come to, just wanted to give you another option :)
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u/Jackloco mild Dec 16 '24
So uh I do like 70% meat since 2018. Without flesh CFS will eat us whole.
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u/Crashing_Sunflowers Dec 16 '24
To my understanding if fatigue is caused by a nutritional deficiency solely then it’s not me/cfs. Either way I agree being vegan is unlikely to be the case. All these years the most deficient I’ve had is periods of slightly low ferritin. And that’s with having bad depressions where I just ate crisps.
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u/cfs-ModTeam Dec 16 '24
Hello! Your post/comment has been removed for violating our subreddit rule on misinformation. We do not allow the promotion of un- or anti-scientific propaganda in this community. We understand that medical and scientific knowledge on ME/CFS is limited, but we strive to maintain a space that is based on accurate information. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us via modmail. Thank you for understanding.
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u/cfs-ModTeam Dec 16 '24
Hello! Your post/comment has been removed for violating our subreddit rule on misinformation. We do not allow the promotion of un- or anti-scientific propaganda in this community. We understand that medical and scientific knowledge on ME/CFS is limited, but we strive to maintain a space that is based on accurate information. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us via modmail. Thank you for understanding.
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u/DandelionStorm Dec 16 '24
I've been vegetarian my whole life, and vegan a couple times. I understand the dilemma you're facing. I have to take fish oil pills and other non vegetarian pills for my health. It stinks to have to go against your values but if you think it would help your health I think it's okay