Why do some vegans go back to eating meat?

December 9, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a 2014 study by Faunalytics, a staggering 84% of vegetarians and vegans eventually abandon their diet. The complex motivations behind why some vegans go back to eating meat range from health concerns and nutritional deficiencies to social isolation and personal inconvenience.

Quick Summary

Former vegans often revert to eating meat due to health problems, social pressures, inconvenience, financial issues, and a dissatisfaction with food options. Understanding these factors provides insight into the challenges of maintaining a long-term vegan lifestyle.

Key Points

Health and Nutrient Gaps: Unplanned vegan diets can lead to deficiencies in nutrients like Vitamin B12, iron, and Omega-3s, causing symptoms such as fatigue and anemia.
Social Isolation: Differing from the majority can lead to social pressure, awkward social gatherings, and a feeling of alienation from friends and family.
Inconvenience and Cost: The need for extensive meal planning, finding accessible options, and the expense of processed vegan alternatives often lead to reversion.
Cravings and Dissatisfaction: Psychological factors like strong cravings for familiar flavors and dissatisfaction with vegan food options can undermine a person's motivation.
Lack of Knowledge: Many ex-vegans did not possess a robust understanding of plant-based nutrition, leading to inadequate caloric and protein intake that negatively impacted their health.
Identity and Motivation: A 2014 study found that many former vegans did not see the diet as part of their core identity, and those motivated only by health were more likely to quit.
Psychological Factors: Feelings of restriction and pressure can result in poor mental health outcomes, including anxiety and depression, for some individuals.

Health Concerns and Nutritional Deficiencies

One of the most frequently cited reasons for reverting to meat is the onset of health problems attributed to the diet. While a well-planned vegan diet can be extremely healthy, a poorly managed one can lead to deficiencies that affect both physical and mental well-being. These health challenges are often the result of not properly supplementing or planning meals to replace key nutrients found predominantly in animal products. Issues such as persistent fatigue, anemia, and cognitive function decline are commonly reported by ex-vegans.

Critical Nutrient Gaps

Vitamin B12: Found almost exclusively in animal products, vitamin B12 deficiency is a prevalent issue for many vegans who do not supplement. It is crucial for nerve function and blood cell formation. Untreated deficiency can lead to irreversible neurological damage.
Iron: The non-heme iron from plant sources is less bioavailable than the heme iron from meat, requiring careful planning to ensure adequate intake. Deficiencies can cause anemia and fatigue.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Essential for brain and heart health, the long-chain omega-3s (EPA and DHA) are difficult to obtain from plant-based sources alone, which typically provide only the precursor ALA.
Other Nutrients: Low levels of zinc, iodine, and calcium are also concerns for some vegans. These minerals are vital for immune function, metabolism, and bone health, respectively. A 2021 review noted that European vegan diets were often low in zinc, calcium, and selenium.

Social Challenges and Pressure

Navigating social situations, family dynamics, and cultural traditions can place immense pressure on a vegan's commitment. Food is a deeply social construct, and differing dietary choices can cause friction and feelings of isolation. Former vegans frequently report feeling like they 'stick out from the crowd' and struggling to align their new lifestyle with existing relationships.

How Social Pressure Contributes to Reversion

Dining Out and Social Events: Many restaurants still offer limited vegan options, making social outings with non-vegan friends or family challenging and inconvenient.
Family Gatherings: Holiday meals and family dinners centered around traditional meat dishes can be a source of stress and awkwardness. Vegans may feel pressured by relatives who question their choices or view the diet as an inconvenience.
Peer Judgment: Criticism, stereotypes, or intrusive questions from peers can be mentally taxing over time. This can erode motivation, especially for new vegans who lack a strong support network.

The Role of Convenience and Cost

For many, the perceived inconvenience and cost are major factors that lead to abandoning veganism. Maintaining a healthy, whole-foods vegan diet requires conscious meal planning, cooking from scratch, and sourcing specific ingredients, which can be time-consuming.

Obstacles Related to Practicality

Meal Prep: A busy lifestyle can make it difficult to dedicate the time needed for consistent meal preparation, leading to a reliance on less nutritious, processed vegan alternatives or succumbing to convenience foods that are not vegan.
Accessibility: While vegan options are growing, they are not universally available, particularly in smaller towns or less urban areas. A lack of accessible vegan food can make it difficult to maintain the diet while traveling or on the go.
Expense: While staple vegan foods like legumes and grains are inexpensive, relying heavily on specialty vegan products (like mock meats and cheeses) can make the diet more expensive than a traditional one.

Disappointment with Food and Cravings

Some former vegans simply become dissatisfied with the food or experience persistent cravings for meat and dairy products. This is particularly common among 'health vegans' who follow the diet for health reasons rather than deep-seated ethical convictions. A lack of variety or flavor can lead to boredom and a strong desire for familiar tastes and textures.

Intense Cravings: Cravings for certain foods, often linked to habit and emotional associations, can be powerful. For some, the desire for meat or cheese becomes overwhelming, leading to a relapse.
Food Dissatisfaction: If a person does not master cooking diverse and flavorful plant-based meals, they may feel that their food is bland or unfulfilling, a common struggle for those who return to meat.
Psychological Factors: Some research suggests that feelings of restriction or a 'forbidden fruit' mentality can amplify cravings, leading to overindulgence when the diet is abandoned.

Comparison Table: Common Reasons for Reverting to a Meat Diet


Reason	Example Scenario	Contributing Factors
Health Issues	Experiencing severe fatigue and hair loss, later diagnosed with B12 deficiency.	Nutrient deficiencies (B12, iron, zinc), inadequate protein intake, and related physical and mental health symptoms.
Social Difficulties	Feeling isolated during family holidays where all traditional meals contain meat and dairy.	Pressure from friends and family, lack of support, feeling 'different,' and difficulties dining out.
Inconvenience	A busy professional finds they lack time for meal prep and resorts to non-vegan takeout.	Demanding schedule, lack of culinary skills, insufficient access to vegan options while traveling.
Cost	A student on a tight budget finds that specialty vegan products are too expensive.	High cost of processed vegan alternatives, perception that veganism is a luxury diet.
Cravings/Taste	An individual consistently misses the taste and texture of cheese and animal products.	Strong psychological cravings, boredom with current vegan food options, low satisfaction.

Conclusion

For many, a vegan lifestyle is a sustainable and fulfilling choice, but the journey is not without significant hurdles. The reasons behind why some vegans go back to eating meat are complex and multifaceted, often stemming from a combination of health, social, and practical issues. A 2014 study revealed that a large percentage of former vegetarians and vegans cited health as a primary motivator for reversion. Proper nutritional planning, finding a strong support community, and developing creative cooking skills can mitigate many of these common pitfalls. It is not a failure of willpower but a reflection of the intricate interplay between diet, health, and personal circumstances. Understanding these challenges can help both current and aspiring vegans better prepare for a successful, long-term commitment. For further exploration of studies on diet and mental health, visit the National Institutes of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

While multiple factors contribute, a significant study by Faunalytics showed that a majority of former vegans and vegetarians (58%) cited health concerns as their primary reason for reverting to an omnivorous diet.

Common nutritional deficiencies that can lead to health problems and ultimately cause someone to quit veganism include Vitamin B12, iron, zinc, iodine, and calcium.

Social pressure can manifest as feeling isolated, facing criticism or jokes from friends and family, and navigating awkward social situations like dining out with limited vegan options, which erodes motivation over time.

Not necessarily. Studies indicate that former vegans and vegetarians often become 'reducetarians,' consuming significantly less meat than the general population, although they no longer follow a strict plant-based diet.

Yes, research shows that a significant portion of those who abandon veganism do so within the first year. The challenges of navigating the diet are often highest during this initial period of transition.

Avoiding the common pitfalls requires careful nutritional planning, potentially including supplementation for key nutrients like B12, building a strong social support network, and learning to cook diverse and satisfying plant-based meals.

Yes, strong, persistent cravings for meat or dairy products can be a major factor. For some, especially those who became vegan for health rather than ethical reasons, these urges can be difficult to overcome.