"What If I Can't Go Vegan?"

This article is part of my FAQs series.

For well over a decade, I have been answering anonymously submitted questions on my Tumblr blog. Over that time, I have noticed many recurring themes, concerns, and misunderstandings.

This series brings together concise, practical responses to the questions I am asked most often, based on real conversations with people at every stage of thinking about veganism.

If you’d like to see more entries in this series, you can find them here.

The Short Answer

If you can’t follow a fully plant based diet right now, that does not mean you cannot do anything.

Veganism, as defined by the The Vegan Society, is about seeking to exclude animal exploitation as far as is possible and practicable. That wording recognises that people live under different constraints – health, finances, living arrangements, and food access all vary from person to person.

If a 100% transition is not realistic for you at this stage, the reasonable approach is to reduce animal use where you can and revisit the question if your circumstances change.

The Detail

What Veganism Actually Requires

The Vegan Society defines veganism as “a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose.”

Two points follow from this.

First, veganism is not defined as perfection – it is defined as sincere effort within real world limits. Second, unavoidable compromises do not invalidate the ethic.

For example, most medicines are tested on animals due to regulatory requirements, and many contain animal-derived ingredients. When treatment is necessary and no alternative exists, taking that medication is generally considered compatible with veganism. Refusing essential care does not reduce animal testing in any meaningful way.

Health Concerns and Nutrition

Most major dietetic bodies state that appropriately planned vegan diets can be nutritionally adequate. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the British Dietetic Association both support this position.

There is no recognised nutrient that can only be obtained from animal products. Vitamin B12 must be supplemented or consumed via fortified foods, but this is straightforward to obtain in most places, and they are relatively inexpensive.

That said, individual circumstances differ. Some people live with complex gastrointestinal conditions, multiple food intolerances, or metabolic disorders that make dietary transitions difficult. Others may have been advised by a doctor not to change their diet.

It is worth noting that general medical training often includes limited nutrition education. For detailed dietary planning, a registered dietitian with experience in plant based nutrition is usually better placed to advise. The key question is not whether vegan diets can work in general, but whether they can be implemented safely in your specific situation.

If you cannot eat 100% plant-based at present, partial reduction may still be achievable for you. There is no shame in that.

Eating Disorders and Mental Health

For people recovering from eating disorders, additional dietary restrictions or rules can sometimes be destabilising. Restriction, ingredient monitoring, and heightened focus on food may increase relapse risk for some individuals. For others, aligning food choices with ethical values can be helpful.

A friend of mine once described how it helped her reframe her food choices as positive decisions, but she still struggled with associating food with being “good,” or “bad” in any way, especially at first.

There is no single rule that applies in every case. If a full transition would undermine recovery, prioritising mental health is reasonable. Ethical commitments can always be revisted later – there is no reason why you should need to compromise your recovery.

Food Access and Living Circumstances

Not everyone controls their food environment. Children and financially dependent adults may not decide what is purchased or cooked in the household. In some regions, especially food deserts or remote areas, plant-based options may be limited or unaffordable.

In such cases, the practical approach is to choose vegan options when available and realistic. That may mean eating plant-based when dining out, selecting vegan snacks when shopping independently, or reducing specific animal products rather than eliminating everything at once.

Ethical change often happens gradually and unevenly.

Avoiding “All or Nothing” Thinking

A common assumption is that veganism only counts if it is total. This discourages people who face genuine constraints.

If you cannot change everything, you can still change something. Replacing certain foods, avoiding animal fabrics in future purchases, choosing cruelty free cosmetics, or reducing meat consumption can all decrease demand for animal products.

These actions are not meaningless just because they are partial. They reflect an effort to reduce harm within your limits. That is consistent with the core definition of veganism.

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“What If I Can’t Go Vegan?”