Don’t Be a Dietary Label Whore
Pescatarian, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Paleo, Grain-Free, Low-Fat, Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian…
…have you ever labeled yourself any of these things?
So many times throughout my healthy living journey, I’ve fallen into the trap of using labels. I’ve been a dietary label whore.
Now don’t get me wrong — if you have celiac’s disease or a gluten allergy, then saying you’re “gluten-free” is accurate. If you haven’t eaten animal products in 10 + years and have no plans to ever eat them again, then yes, you’re undisputedly a vegan.
If you’re someone like me though, who is constantly tweaking their diet in an effort to find the best way to fuel your body, then setting labels every time you switch things up is not beneficial and could actually be quite harmful.
A few weeks ago, I decided to incorporate more plant-based protein into my diet. I dubbed it, a “pescatarian” or “loose, plant-based diet.”
There I went, whoring myself out again.
With no set amount of time to participate, I didn’t intend to drastically change my diet or eliminate any food groups for good. It was more of a challenge to myself, to try to eat less animal products and more plants.
That in itself was a good thing.
But as the past month went by, I started to feel restricted in my dietary choices. It was like somehow by announcing that I was trying this, I had put invisible handcuffs on myself.
Labels end up tying you to something that may no longer be serving you. Whether you feel obligated to prove your dedication to others or to yourself, it becomes more of a competition and less of a learning experience.
I found myself making poor meal choices simply to fit into this new diet, which defeated the purpose of eating healthier in the first place.
It reminded me of how The Blonde Vegan said she felt when she was struggling from Orthorexia. Of course, it wasn’t that extreme for me, but I began to see how quickly a seemingly innocent dietary label could turn into a disorder.
It made me realize that every time I decide to throw a label on my dietary choices, it does more harm than good. It’s one thing to try new things, and it’s another to set parameters for yourself where none are necessary.
That’s when I knew this label thing needed to be nipped in the bud.
I currently don’t possess any definitive evidence that eating (organic, grass fed) meat is bad, therefore, I’m not going to cut it out of my diet.
And while I don’t like labels, I feel like this experience was mostly positive. I’ve learned a lot about protein in the past few weeks, and have gained some important take aways.
For one: just because you eat meat, doesn’t mean you have to always eat meat. There are so many other amazing sources of protein out there and I enjoyed discovering them.
For instance, I realized I could actually go a day without my precious eggs.
This basic tofu scramble was easy to make and absolutely delicious — come back tomorrow for the recipe!
True Food’s Brown Rice & Tofu Bowl
Baked Sweet Potato with Quinoa, Lentils, Avocado and Salsa.
Two, we don’t need as much protein as the the fitness freaks of the 80’s led us to believe. I spent a lot of time researching the amount of protein our bodies need on a daily basis to function and to support muscle gains, and for someone who is very active, it’s only .5 to .8 grams per pound, per day.
Three, this means I don’t need to worry so much about incorporating protein into every meal and snack I eat.
I quite enjoyed noshing on fruit, veggies and banana froyo without feeling like I needed to throw protein powder in the mix.
It also helped me get in way more greens that I would have otherwise — always a good thing.
Red Quinoa w/ Coconut Cooked Veggies
To reiterate, I’m not bashing people who use true labels. I’m discussing my own experience and why labeling doesn’t work for me. I’m also posing the perspective that (if you don’t have a legitimate medical concern), you can choose to eat any way you want without confining yourself to a restrictive title.
You want to do Meatless Monday? Awesome.
You want to eat mostly plant-based at home, but have a juicy, *grass-fed* bison burger on the weekend? Great.
You want to be like me and be Ovo-Vegan at breakfast, a Pescatarian at lunch and a Carnivore on special occasions? Sweet.
Whatever style of eating helps you stay on track with your health goals is the one you should follow, and if that style changes from week to week, so be it. You don’t need a label to allow it.
I hope this rant wasn’t too hard to follow and that it made sense for the most part.
Let’s hear your thoughts…
Weigh In: Do you use labels? Do you think dietary labels can be harmful?
*This post is linked to What I Ate Wednesday.
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets says:
I definitely think that dietary labels can become harmful sometimes…I have been working towards eating healthy over the past year, and I find all of the labels to be confusing and add too much pressure. What’s in a name anyway? I think as long as you do what you need to do to feel your best, that’s what matters. Dropping by from WIAW!
Whitney English says:
Thanks for dropping by Janelle! I like your outlook. Whatever makes you feel best is the way to go!
Anne says:
I thnk that makes a lot of sense.
For years, I ate very little meat, but I find myself explaining sometimes that I have never been a vegetarian – I just ate like one most of the time… (And sometimes I’d call myself vegetarian, just becase it was easier… but I knew perfectly well that even if I ate without meat at home and in restaurants, I was going to have a pork chop at my best friend’s house, because that’s what she cooks, and it didn’t matter enough to me to ask her to do something different.)
Now, I do eat some meat regularly – at the moment, I seem to feel better if I do. But I routinely mix it with beans, or have meatless meals – but that seems to defy current labels. Which is fine.
I eat the foods that I seem to do well with, that I think taste good, that make me feel well. These are not always the same foods that make even my Rich feel well – 95%, perhaps, overlap, but each enjoys foods the other does not eat. It’s a very Anne-Centric diet? And that’s all it has to be, after all.
Whitney English says:
Anne-Centric, I like that label!
GiselleR @ Diary of an ExSloth says:
This is so true! After my elimination diet, I never fully reintroduced meat into my diet, so I’ve been labeling my diet as pescatarian. But today, I had fish and chips for lunch because it was the only pescatarian dish allowed.
Cutting out meat helped with my stomach issues for a while but it’s not like battered & fried fish and chips is any good for me either.
Labels aren’t all bad, but when they start affecting your health (negatively) it’s time to take stock.
Thanks for sharing!
Whitney English says:
Exactly! As with everything in life, what works for one person may not work for another.
Ellen says:
I’m glad to read this and agree people shouldn’t rush to label themselves if they aren’t making a lifelong change-but for different reasons than you cited.
I’ve been vegetarian for moral, not health, reasons since I was twelve and have no intention of going back. Unfortunately, because people are under the impression that you can be a “sometimes vegetarian”, or flexitarian or whatever they want to call it, I find people less likely to respect my true vegetarian lifestyle because they assume it’s not that big a deal which can lead to trouble if you are eating out and propel assume that “oh well it’s ok for a little meat product to be in that, right?”. When it’s not…
I think everyone should eat in the way that suits them best. So I applaud you deciding not to use the labels, if they are not a true lifelong change. It will help us that DO actually adhere to different eating patterns be better understood.
Whitney English says:
This is a VERY good point. Thank you for sharing. It’s like the “boy who cried wolf.” When everyone is claiming to have dietary restrictions without true dedication or necessity, it negates the real commitment of those who truly need to restrict their diets.
Linda @ Fit Fed and Happy says:
I don’t think my dietary preferences define me–but they certainly attract people with the same diet!
Whitney English says:
That is a good point. Labels CAN help you connect with people with similar interests/beliefs!
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner says:
I have truly been a vegetarian since I was 12 so I’ve always labelled myself that. I can see how labeling one’s self could lead to poor eating behavior. I also love a good tofu scramble!
Whitney English says:
I hope I clarified enough – I think labels are perfectly fine and necessary for those with strict adherence to a certain diet for medical reasons or ethical/personal beliefs and I commend you on your lifelong decision!
Jane Liddy says:
LOVE THIS!
Excuse my excitement but I found myself nodding this entire post and think yes! Exactly right! Yes!
I work at Whole Foods in customer service and it is too often I have customers come in preaching their health from the roof tops just because they are vegan, vegetarian, gluten free etc. I completely understand if it is a medical reason, like celiac, or if you are a vegan who focuses on whole plant based foods. But just because you are eating vegan cheese puffs or gluten free cookies does not make that item any healthier!
I also tried eating a more whole foods plant based diet recently and found myself feeling restricted and “handcuffed.” Then I had a lightbulb go off. This grilled chicken sandwich will be way more satiating than that white pasta plate. When I’m making my own food it’s easier to have plant based meals. But I find it more difficult when I go out to eat.
Awesome post!!! Couldn’t have said it any better myself.
Whitney English says:
Thanks Jane!! Don’t apologize for the enthusiasm – so glad it resonated with you! Going out to eat was the most difficult for me as well.
Arman @ thebigmansworld says:
I love this Whit. You are so right- it’s so easy to become obsessive with it or guilty to the point of it turmoiling to an eating disorder. You took the benefits from it and now can mould your choices as you wish.
My biggest issue personally is the damn protein pedestal…I continue to feel like every meal or snack needs to have some form of protein in it- when it legit doesn’t.
Cel says:
Im so so so glad you mentioned we dont need as much protein and that you ate more greens! Its crazy how so many people think they need to add powder to real food!? I do eat raw vegan and NEVER feel restricted (um you need to check out your asian markets and try a new fruit/veg everyday!) but i do not label myself as that. I am ME and i choose to eat juicy ripe fruit and veg :) Do whatever makes you feel best! It never hurts anyone to eat more plants :)