I do not identify by what I eat

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

~ Lao Tzu

My dietary choices change based on needs and circumstances.

I am not vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, keto, Paleo, carnivore, or what have you. 

At one time, I did refer to my dietary preferences as flexitarian. My eating behaviour is flexible. 

It is a privilege to have a choice. Historically, we ate what nature provided. There were times of feast and times of famine. We adapted. We ate what was in season until we developed the skills, tools, and abilities to preserve food when it was abundant.

Although I may have said, “We are what we eat” in the past, recognizing that words matter, I am now careful about identity statements. What follows “I am” or “we are”  can become self-limiting or exclusive. We are much more than what we eat.

Becoming dogmatic about any particular dietary approach serves no one well. When diet becomes part of our identity, and we judge others for not making similar choices, we diminish our quality of life. An us versus them mentality is not conducive to optimal health. Making peace, not war, is the way to sustainable well-being.

Although it is comforting to surround ourselves with like-minded people, it can lead to small-mindedness. Subjecting ourselves to divergent opinions and challenging relationships facilitates growth and transformation in all aspects of life.