to try Veganuary wit dietary limitations?

I am just feeling more and more guilty about meat produts the more people turn away from them. I feel like, eventually, we're all going to have to do it. But maybe I could look at some smaller compromises first.

So don't eat meat. If you do chose or need to eat meat, buy organic high welfare meat.

The point is, eat mindfully. Don't follow a fad: feeling guilty because others turn away from meat is not mindful, is not taking ownership of your choices. There is no need for an all-or-nothing approach; it just puts you under unnecessary stress.

My DS would prefer not to eat meat for ethical reasons but he is allergic to dairy, eggs, all nuts, some seeds and some legumes. I consulted a couple of dieticians and a vegan chef and they all agreed that it would be very difficult to get sufficient protein into his diet and he'd probably end up over reliant on processed substitutes if he tried.
Obviously your eating disorder is another side to things which I have no experience of so I won't attempt to comment, but purely from the nutritional view I'd say you could probably follow a vegan diet short term without it being a huge problem, though I don't think it would be a very good diet. Longer term I think you'd really struggle to maintain a healthy diet and it's probably not a good idea at all.

@miniaturepixieonacid do you like hummus? Chickpeas and sesame seeds but all whizzed smooth.

With your restrictions you might find it difficult to eat sufficient varied protein to be healthy.
You could try to do a day or two a week and see how it goes.

@miniaturepixieonacid that's partly why I suggested to see the gp
You could easily introduce vegan things into your diet, some you might love some you might hate.
Food is fuel or bodies need.
Whatever you decide to do good luck with it.

Why do you want to try being a vegan? I wouldn't suggest any sort of restriction on food categories to someone with an ED unless they were necessary, like an allergy or celiac disease. Controlling food like that can be a manifestation of disordered eating and in fact I have hear that a lot of times that's how Ed is presenting - controlling types of food rather than just restricting calories.

Low carb, high fat.

@MrsTerryPratchett what is LCHF? Like I said, I'm bowing out because I know nothing about eating disorders, therefore, I don't feel able to offer this OP advice anymore.

Ummmmmmm...

I hate nuts. All nuts, including peanut butter and almonds. I also hate beans and pulses, including baked beans and chick peas. I hate tomatoes, onions and avocadoes.

From the OP.

And restrictive isn't an insult. It IS restrictive because it restricts what you can eat. I eat legumes, beans, nuts and tofu. You don't have to be vegan to eat those.

I eat LCHF. That is restrictive too. Great, delicious and good for me. But restrictive.

@MrsHemswoth actually, a vegan diet is not at all restrictive 🤣. You are basically cutting out meat, dairy, eggs and honey - you are opening up to a world of vegetables, legumes, and fruit. Thanks for making me look at the OP again though.

I'm not a knowledgeable person on ED, so I'm not going to be responding to this thread again. I missed that paragraph when I was reading the OP's initial post.

@miniaturepixieonacid there is a vegan section on this site and I wish you all the best.

And it's one of those things you look out for when working with people who've had EDs.

If someone's veganism predated the issue, or culturally it's significant, then it's different. But someone saying, "I can't eat <huge list of vegan foods> but I want to be vegan. Oh and I've struggled with EDs." It doesn't take a genius.

Easy to look up - there is a lot!!

Fuller SJ, Brown A, Rowley J, Elliott-Archer J. Veganism and eating disorders: assessment and management considerations. BJPsych Bull. 2022 Apr;46(2):116-120. doi: 10.1192/bjb.2021.37. PMID: 33928893; PMCID: PMC9074139.

@HereForTheAnimals

Reputable links aren't needed. Anyone that's worked remotely near the field knows this. But feel free to have a quick Google. Any restrictive diet (and veganism is restrictive) is used as a smoke screen for EDs.

"Sorry I can't have that"
"I brought my own very tiny portion"
"Oh shame, I can't eat here, it's not vegan" while eating nothing with friends/family.

OP please come clean with yourself. You've had EDs, your eating is already restricted, you're giving yourself permission to restrict further. Talk to someone. If you are actually convinced it's you wanting to eat vegan, rather than restricting food, why not try adding various vegan options to your diet AS WELL AS the food you currently eat? Have your egg and add a vegan food as well. If you instantly think, "no I don't want to add food" there's your answer.

Mumsnet will roll their collective eyes and I might get a kicking, but op have you ever wondered if you are autistic? Ed and lots of food sensory restrictions is what causes me to ask - and an assumption that you are a female, and present autism differently

I cameto this thread as my dd who has a dairy allergy wants to be veggie for January. Like others I am unsure about fake meats. I ha e no idea whether she can do this (and am certain other family members cannot.)

Not with this: I have a long history of anorexia, bulimia and OSFED. Possibly ARFID too. Fairly stable for years now but it's always a factor.

You're already focused on what you cannot eat, on restriction rather than exploration.

There are other ways to support a healthy and eco-friendly lifestyle. I don't think this is the one for you right now.

Please could you share some reputable links?

It's easy to pass off food restrictions under the guise of Veganism in some people who have ED's. So it doesn't flag up to anyone. If not a full blown ED, disordered eating of some sort.

The majority of vegans don't have an ED but there is a higher than average incidence in vegans

@MrsHemswoth what the actual hell does this mean please:

I agree with others, veganism is an easy place for ED's to hide in plain sight.

I don't have an eating disorder, but why is veganism a way that people can hide it?

I agree with others, veganism is an easy place for ED's to hide in plain sight, this is well documented among Nutrition and psychology professionals. You are absolutely right to flag this and reach out on here as with your history, my advice would be to avoid any black and white restrictions. It's a good sign that you have self identified this.

I know that veganism is one way to help the planet / animals, but there are many others so maybe you could consider some of those?

Unnecessary! There are vegans here who are happy to offer support, the one you quoted is one of them. It is advisable to seek medical attention in particular circumstances, so I think the PP you quoted is just being cautionary.

I'm vegan so I'm obviously all for it, but be cautious with your history.

You need to frame it as what you can eat, not what you can't. Try replacing a couple of meals a week and gradually building it up as you find things you enjoy. Here are a few ideas. I usually make at least double portions so I'm not cooking every day.

For breakfast I usually have a homemade green smoothie with mixed fruit, spinach or kale and a tbsp of milled flax seeds for protein & fibre.

Some lunches I love:

Home made veggie soups

A base of those ready cooked puy lentils from a packet with small-chopped salad veg, herbs and dressing

Chickpea tuna - mashed chickpeas with finely chopped nori seaweed, vg mayo, lemon juice, pepper maybe a bit of cucumber, sweetcorn etc. With salad or on Ryvita, in a sandwich, etc

Roast veg & homemade hummus in a wrap

Scrambled tofu on toast.
Finely dice firm tofu or use silken tofu and fry with a pinch of turmeric, salt & pepper, a couple of chopped mushrooms and sundried tomatoes, a handful of spinach or kale, maybe a sprinkling of nutritional yeast.

Some non-tomato/bean dinners (loads of recipes online):

Curry using tofu or vegetables in place of meat

Lentil shepherd's pie

Mushroom bourgingon

Veggie risotto

Mushroom or aubergine fajitas

Jacket potato with vg cheese & coleslaw

Homemade pizza

A shop bought vegan burger with potato wedges is my favourite low-effort dinner.

@AquaPeer you are welcome to your opinion.
Can't say I've ever waited five weeks for a gp appointment ever .
Last time my wait was three hours from speaking to the reception team to seeing the Dr.

Also OP this vegan idea is very clearly your Eating disorder speaking - you post is not the thought process of someone ok with food. Just eat what you like and concentrate on improving your ed