"People Who Quit Being Vegan" tend to be seen as "traitors." At least, that's how the author of this article felt. As someone who had been vegan for over a decade, he admits that he had somewhat assumed, "In the end, they just weren't committed enough." However, instead of making a sensational "I Quit" announcement online, he chose to speak with **"50 people who had been vegan for over a year but then stopped."** What emerged was not a simple story of missing bacon, but a blueprint of realities that made it "impossible to continue even if they wanted to." VegOut

1) The biggest reason is "social isolation" before "nutrition"

The most cited reason in the article was social isolation (23 people). And it's not just about the inconvenience of dining out. It's about not getting invited, the atmosphere changing, and family dinner tables becoming contentious—essentially, food choices shaking one's sense of "belonging." Even if the person thinks they're being amicable, they might be seen by others as "someone who complicates things," the author writes. VegOut

What's important here is that isolation stems not from "emotional weakness," but from the social structure where meals are central to communication. In fact, research shows that dietary restrictions can reduce opportunities to "eat together," leading to feelings of loneliness. ResearchGate

2) "Health concerns" are common, but access to support is limited

The next most common reason was health concerns (17 people). However, what struck the author was that few people had teamed up with doctors or nutritionists knowledgeable about plant-based nutrition (only four people in the article). When issues like fatigue, hair loss, or digestive problems arose, the conversation often ended with "just eat meat" instead of tests and adjustments. VegOut

Of course, any diet has individual differences. That's why, before deciding to "quit/continue," a **design (nutritional planning + support system)** is necessary. Major nutrition organizations also state that appropriately planned vegetarian/vegan diets can be nutritionally adequate. PubMed

3) The atmosphere of the "vegan community" pushes people out

Surprisingly painful is the **friction among vegans (12 people)**. Whether something is organic, ingredients are questionable, or questions are too lenient—such "purity" checks sting those who are struggling. The author reflects on having called this "passionate enlightenment" and states, "Passion that diminishes people is not enlightenment." VegOut

Here lies a "competition of correctness." The more one stands on the correct side, the more they want to discard those who are not. But at that moment, the movement changes from being an "entry-expanding device" to a "filtering device."

4) Life events are stronger than ideals

Pregnancy, childcare, caregiving, job changes, financial difficulties (11 people). When life is falling apart, food leans towards "survival" rather than "ideal." Free pizza, donated chicken soup, nights with no energy to cook—when "perfectionism" is present, a single exception can make everything seem "all wrong." The author portrays these situations as "issues of available choices" rather than "moral failures." VegOut

5) "Why do it" wasn't in their own words

**Weak motivation (8 people)** also quietly takes its toll. Those who started for health or trends have no support when the initial excitement wanes. They can't explain it in their own words when asked by others, and then inconvenience wins. The author concludes, "Instead of distributing someone else's 'Why,' we need to find that person's own 'Why' together." VegOut

6) Costs aren't just about "food prices" (time, availability, knowledge)

Lastly, cost (7 people). This isn't just about the simplicity of "vegetables being expensive," but about food deserts, limited selection, shipping costs for online orders, and above all, the **"time and energy required for home cooking."** While it's true that veganism can be done cheaply, it tends to be a story for those with "access and leeway." VegOut

Reactions on Reddit: Empathy and debate reinforced the "content of the article"

This article was shared on Reddit's r/vegan, and the comments section was quite telling.

The most common sentiment was straightforward empathy: "The isolation aspect is real." This short statement set the tone. Reddit

Additionally, there were laments like, "Even when I invite people over, they say they're afraid of vegan food and don't come. But many of the things they usually eat are already vegan," highlighting the reality that it's not "food" but "image" that becomes a barrier. Reddit

On the other hand, there was discomfort with advice within the community. While saying "You don't need a partner/ditch those friends" might be logical, for many, social connections are essential, a point that reinforces the article's theme (isolation) from the perspective of those involved. Reddit

In terms of health, comments like "Education is needed not just for the general public but also within the medical community" stood out. This aligns with the article's depiction of "lack of professional support" and the sentiments on social media. Reddit

And then there's the interesting debate about cost.

• "If you're centered on processed meats and cheeses, it might be expensive. But pasta, rice, and vegetables are cheap," was a counterargument. Reddit

• "Convenience foods (frozen, meal kits, etc.) aren't necessarily meat substitutes. For those with no time, that's the painful part," was an additional note. Reddit

• "Veganism is cheap... until it's not. When you have kids and no time, you end up gravitating towards 'immediate calories,'" was a realistic take. Reddit

This very mismatch indicates that the difficulty of veganism is amplified not by "price tags" but by "differences in living conditions."

Additionally, there's a typical social media tangent: "Too many ads, this site is the worst. But the article was good," leading to a UI critique (and a "use uBlock" debate), making the way the article was read and spread quite modern. Reddit

Moreover, the classic nutrition debate "pRoTeIN" sarcastic comments also flew, making it visible that this theme always gravitates towards the same points. Reddit

Instead of blaming "those who quit," it's more constructive to create a "system that continues."

The conclusion of this article is simple. "Quitting ≠ lack of willpower," but rather, the surrounding systems (society, healthcare, community) aren't supportive.