Page 102 - Vegan Food & Living (February 2020)

Balance your blood sugar

WE NEED TO TALK

about revert vegans

The huge number of people going vegan inevitably means

some fail. Charlotte Willis investigates...

worn vegans who make the decision to return to omnivorous ways, the press are
to return to omnivorous ways, the press are
to eat animal products again fill our hot on their tails to expose veganism as an

hot on their tails to expose veganism as a
unrealistic, non-sustainable and faddy dietary
Snewsfeeds with exposés and add fuel unrealistic, non-sustain

choice adopted for January and January only,
to the fire of reluctant omnivores. What, as a choice adopted for January and January only,
culminating in an unrelenting cycle of meat-
community, can we do about revert-vegans? culminating in an unrelenting cycle of meat-
feasting and regret come February.
Revert-Vegan. Noun. Someone who feasting and regret come February.
previously followed a vegan lifestyle, I wonder if these individuals consider
who decides to consume animal products the impact of their decision? News stories
on a regular basis, labelling themselves reach the hands of individuals who may
omnivorous, flexitarian or vegetarian. indeed be on the cusp of making the

I totally made that definition up. Turns decision to give veganism a try. Such is
out there’s no dictionary entry for revert- society that the majority of us tend to take
vegan. It’s surprising, seeing as recently we what we read in the papers and headlines,

were inundated with news that this runner, or hear from influential individuals, as
that YouTube-er and a singer/rapper are no gospel. These messages lead society into
longer living their best ethical lives. Naturally, a are prominent further confusion about whether veganism is
further confusion about whether veganism is
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when you discover that your close friends, figures in your conscious circle of influencers, beneficial or achievable, adding yet another

co-workers or family members have decided advocates and notable names. The mass fire for the vegan community to fight against.
to try Veganuary or adopt a plant-based media are keen to pick up on just about Revert-vegans could be argued to have a

lifestyle, you’ll be bitterly disappointed when anyone with over 50,000 followers whom knock-on effect of influencing hundreds of
they order a chicken club the next time you claims to be vegan, and are even more people not to bother with veganism.
see them. It’s a sinking feeling, leaving you receptive and vocal when it comes to exposing
wondering what went wrong? Did they not try them as revert-vegans. It can be a very bitter Why go back?
the latest non-chicken burrito? Bet they didn’t pill to swallow for those of us who are trying to Videos of a revert-vegan decision (akin to a

use oat milk in their coffees or subscribe to the change people’s opinions about veganism. confessional video) breed comments such
podcast you suggested. Or, maybe, just maybe, We all know how damaging the plant-based as “Just remember you can never be pure
if you’d have shown them Vego Bars... stereotypes can be. The mass media love to enough for these cult members. It is never
hold onto the belief that all vegans are, of enough” and “I did a vegan fast earlier this
One decision, many repercussions course, still battling with protein deficiency, year and it was tough”. These videos often

Hearing about a failed vegan is a sad and dying of B12-related exhaustion, secretly touch on very personal, individual stories
frustrating concept, craving bacon sandwiches and hugging trees about why veganism didn’t work for certain
which is made in our bamboo sliders. It’s a people. It is important to note that the
even worse when hard life eh? So when overwhelming majority of these decisions
the individuals a well-known vegan
individual decides
102 VEGAN FOOD & LIVING OCTOBER