Signs the Plant-Based Diet Isn’t for You

The plant-based diet is not for everyone. No diet or lifestyle is going to be a good fit for 
everyone. You have your own needs, tastes, and preferences when it comes to food, 
what you eat, and how much you eat. It is still good to learn more about different ways 
of eating and try to reduce meat and animal consumption, but that doesn’t mean the 
plant-based diet is for you.

Here are some common signs that the plant-based lifestyle isn’t for you.


You Don’t Feel Your Best

A big sign that the plant-based diet isn’t working for you is when you don’t feel better 
when you eat more plant-based foods, but you feel worse. We do recommend you give 
it a little time, as sometimes your body needs to adjust to severe changes in what you 
eat.

However, if it has been a few months of plant-based eating, you know you’re getting 
enough nutrients and calories, and still just don’t feel well, it might come down to this 
way of eating not being optimal with your individual body.

Before you quit, however, see your doctor. It is very possible that your side effects are 
related to a medical disorder and have nothing to do with your diet.


You Aren’t Enjoying Your Meals

Do you find that you miss meat, poultry, or dairy much more than you are enjoying your 
plant-based foods? While it might come down to what food choices you are making, 
some people just simply don’t enjoy a diet without as much meat as they ate before, 
and that’s okay.

Fully plant-based diets aren’t for everyone. Though keep in mind you can still enjoy 
these foods on occasion, as long as you are also incorporating lots of plant-based 
options as well. However, you might feel more comfortable with a flexitarian lifestyle, 
where you don’t eat much meat or fish, but you still have dairy and eggs on a regular 
basis.


You Have Intense Cravings for Meat or Dairy

It is also a good idea to pay attention to what you are craving when you make the switch 
to plant-based. Not right away, as this is normal to have cravings the first couple weeks. 
However, if it has been a month or longer and you still can’t shake those cravings, it 
may be time to consider whether this is the best diet for you or not.

Cravings are sometimes just leftover emotions from your previous lifestyle or linked to 
emotional eating tendencies, but sometimes they are about what your body is asking 
you for. You don’t want to ignore cravings, as they probably aren’t just going to go 
away.


Your Mood or Energy Levels Have Changed Drastically

As you pay more attention to how you feel on the plant-based diet, also look at your 
energy levels and how your mood and overall mental health has been. 

Have you noticed a big downturn in your emotions? Maybe you are more lethargic and 
less interested in activities, you have increased anxiety, or your mood in general is 
worse. If you find you are more irritable or even angry with other people, or have 
extremely low energy, these might be signs that the restrictive nature of the diet is not a 
good fit for you.


