I had been vegan for three years when my weight hit an all-time low. My dad said I looked starved. I also dealt with chronic health issues. Both concerns prompted me to give up my veganism. I argued that I would serve the greater good of the world better if I were healthier, that the health benefits of eating meat would enable me to help create a world where factory farming would be less likely. Eating meat didn’t seem to do much for my chronic health issues, but it did help me gain weight.

I further support my decision not to be vegan by the fact that it is very impractical for me given my allergies. I am allergic to wheat, soy, sunflower, canola, nuts (except for peanuts, coconut, and almonds in small quantities). These foods compromise the overwhelming majority of vegan food I could buy at restaurants or in the grocery store. I have never known anyone who has as many allergies as I do and also eats vegan. I also struggle with ADHD, which makes cooking incredibly difficult, often leading to much food waste.

Moreover, another way to bring about the end of factory farming is by paying for animal products that are more humanely sourced. I often pay for more humanely sourced meat when possible, purchasing it primarily from Whole Foods and Chipotle, which both have higher animal welfare standards. This is then not a bad thing, as I am supporting alternative systems while also supporting my health.

I do sometimes eat fish without regard for the welfare standards, but my assumption is that fish don’t suffer any extra under factory farming than they would from normal fishing.

So while I believe factory farming is a horrible practice, I don’t think my absolute abstinence would improve the chances of this practice ending. I’m genuinely interested in critical feedback, as I recognize that I may be overly biased by my own desire for convenience. How would you proceed if you had my allergies and also found yourself wasting a lot of food when you set the intention to cook and found yourself losing dozens of pounds when not eating meat?