5 Takeaways from 3 Years of Being Vegan (From Someone Who Is No Longer Vegan!)

For three years, I followed a vegan diet. No meat, no dairy, no animal products. Just plants, always. While there were benefits and eye-opening moments along the way, stepping away from veganism helped me learn even more about what health really looks like.

This post isn’t here to bash veganism, it’s to share a more nuanced story. Because sometimes what starts as a well-intentioned choice becomes something that’s no longer serving you. And that’s okay!

Here are five honest takeaways from my time being vegan (and why I’m not anymore):

1. Protein Is Overhyped

If you’ve ever been vegan, you’re probably all too familiar with the question:

“But where do you get your protein?”

Sure, protein is important - but it’s not the only important nutrient. At one point, I was hyper-focused on hitting a certain protein number, but that often meant I was neglecting overall balance, i.e. carbs and fats, which are just as essential for energy, brain function, hormone health, and satiety.

What we often forget is that when you eat a whole foods-based diet, you naturally accumulate trace amounts of protein from a variety of foods throughout the day. And when you pair certain plant foods together, like rice and beans, they complement each other to form a complete protein, meaning you’re still getting the full set of amino acids people worry vegans miss out on.

Fun fact: If you consume excessive amounts of protein while crowding out other essential macronutrients such as carbs, your body is smart enough to convert that protein into glucose (AKA carbs!) anyways. Though, through a much less efficient process called “gluconeogenesis.”

Takeaway: Chasing high protein without a balanced plate isn’t healthy. 

2. Food Is More Than Fuel

One of the most unexpected challenges I faced while vegan was around social eating.

I skipped dinners with friends. I felt isolated at holidays. I brought my own sad veggies to potlucks. And eventually, I realized: food isn’t just nutrients. It’s memories, tradition, comfort, culture, celebration, and connection.

Food should nourish you, not just satisfy the targets you have set on your calorie tracking app.

Takeaway: If your diet disconnects you from people or joyful moments, it’s worth asking: Is this really serving me?

3. …But Sometimes, Food Is Simply Just Food

Funny enough, I also learned the opposite side of the coin.

With limited options, I found myself letting go of the need to make every meal Instagram-worthy or emotionally fulfilling. Sometimes I just needed to eat what was available and move on with my day, and that was okay too.

Takeaway: Not every bite needs to be a spiritual experience. It’s okay if some meals are “just fuel.”

4. Restriction ≠ Health

There were times I found myself skipping meals - especially when I was out and about with no vegan options available. I have a vivid memory of sitting at a brewery pretending to enjoy myself when all I could focus on was how hungry I was and frustrated by the lack of vegan options. I told myself I was being “disciplined,” but in reality, I was just undernourished and hangry.

Following a diet that led me to regularly skip meals, eat less, or stress over food wasn’t helping my health, it was ironically hurting it.

Takeaway: If a restriction causes you to eat less, isolate yourself, or stress more… it’s not wellness and should be a major red flag that what you’re doing isn’t sustainable.

5. You Can Outgrow a Food Identity - and That’s Okay

For a while, being vegan wasn’t just the way I ate - it became part of who I was. It felt like I had to stick with it or I’d be “giving up” or betraying my values. But eventually, I realized something important: food isn’t supposed to be a fixed part of your identity. We’re allowed to change. We’re allowed to make choices based on what feels supportive and nourishing for us now, not what made sense three years ago.

That’s why I encourage my clients to avoid putting strict labels on how they eat unless a medical need (like an allergy) is involved. Labels often box us in and make it harder to listen to what our body actually needs. Today, I enjoy a flexible mix of both plant- and animal-based foods, which gives me freedom, variety, and balance without the pressure of “sticking” to a certain food identity.

Takeaway: Changing your diet doesn’t mean you failed - it means you’re paying attention, thinking critically, and allowing yourself to evolve.

Health Is Bigger Than What’s On Your Plate

You can eat perfectly “clean” and still be undernourished. You can follow every rule and still feel out of sync with your body. Health isn’t found in rigid food rules,  but in flexibility, connection, nourishment, and self-awareness.

If your diet feels like it’s taking more from you than it’s giving… it might be time to reassess!