Many people who try to become vegetarian or vegan struggle not because plant based eating is flawed, but because they are simply not able to fully satiate themselves on the new diet. Most of us grew up with the chemistry of a high flesh diet and the emotional world that comes with it. That chemistry becomes familiar consciousness. When we shift away from it, we can feel disoriented, flat, or uncomfortable, and we may not yet recognize the subtle signals from the body that indicate improvement. What we feel most clearly at first is the discomfort of being undernourished.
When we move toward a plant forward diet, maintaining adequate calories is essential. If overall intake drops, the body registers depletion, not healing. This effect is amplified in colder climates. In cold weather, the body burns more calories simply to maintain internal temperature. In winter, reduced sunlight can also affect mood, motivation, and appetite. Low energy, depressive symptoms, and changes in personality are common seasonal responses. These are natural human conditions, and they must be considered when we attempt to nourish ourselves with plants.
This is often where the loud call for more protein enters the conversation. That call is not always driven by careful science. More often, it is driven by discomfort, fear, and the desire for certainty. Protein becomes something solid and measurable to hold onto. When someone feels depleted, they want a simple explanation, and protein becomes that explanation.
There is also a collective psychological layer at play. People want reassurance that they are doing things correctly. They want agreement. They want others to validate their choices. Nutrition then becomes a group identity rather than a thoughtful, individualized practice.
Plant based eating can be deeply nourishing, but only when it accounts for climate, energy demands, mental health, and total caloric intake. When those factors are ignored, the body pushes back, and ideology rushes in to explain away the discomfort instead of listening to it.