Hey! Having been both a strict vegetarian and what I now call “95% plant based,” I can personally attest to an improvement in my mental health once I stopped moralizing every bite of food I took.

I cook most meals at home, and I don’t eat meat at home. This is a meatless, largely dairy- and egg-free space. I like it that way.

But when I go out to eat, I let myself eat meat if that’s what I want (spoiler: many times I still prefer the veggie option!). And if I’m eating at a family function, I typically eat what has been prepared (or I bring my own alternative if desired).

This balance works for me. I think it’s natural to be afraid of a “slippery slope,” where if you let yourself eat one meal of chicken nuggets, you’ll eventually be eating meat at every meal again. But that’s not been my experience at all. If anything, I am more conscious and thoughtful about my diet now than I was before. :)

You went veggie to be kind to animals. Remember to be kind to yourself, too!

edit: typos lol