Why do many of us find the need to label ourselves and others when it comes to our diets? We have vegans, vegetarians, raw foodies, lacto-vegetarians, ovo-vegatarians, lacto-ovo-vegatarians, fruitarians, pescetarians, macrobiotics, and so forth. Do these classifications not set us apart instead of bringing us closer together?

Two reasons we do this is for 1. a sense of belonging and 2. to feel like we have a uniqueness that isn’t shared by everyone.  However, we are all special due to the magnificent beings that we are, not because of the group that we belong to. These labels seem to be disconnecting us from the world and each other, perhaps even desensitizing us from feeling any connection with others that we negatively label and feel are “not like us.”

These labels tend to restrict us. They inhibit us from following our instinct and listening to what our body needs. We are free-spirited entities and we are ever changing and adapting to our surroundings. Once we’ve labeled ourselves, we may feel pressure not to change our mind. This can add stress and self-doubt into our consciousness, leading to poor health.

Labeling our diets can also bring negativity into our lives. There are often those who do not agree with our choices and who will judge us based on our “label”; I am sure we have found ourselves, at one point, defending our diet choices. This may at times be invigorating, especially if we crave a good debate, but is this a loving and peaceful way to interact with others?

Why not celebrate the free will that we all have? We may choose to eat a specific diet of foods, but can we leave the labels behind? Is this even possible in our society? With so many labels out there, it has become a way of identifying ourselves to others. I am not saying I have the answers or that I am not guilty of doing the same. I am just putting the question out there and hopeful that one day, we will all live free of judgment together in harmony.

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