Jordan Younger - Breaking Vegan: One Womans Journey from Veganism, Extreme Dieting, and Orthorexia to a More Balanced Life

Orthorexia, although largely unknown outside of the blog world, is a prevalent issue among food bloggers who constantly compare and compete to see who can have the best, the healthiest, the most virtuous diet. And while veganism is a wonderfully fulfilling and healthy lifestyle when its done correctly, many young and impressionable girls are citing veganism as an excuse to dangerously restrict their food intake in a quest to purify their bodies. Jordan learned the hard way that even a vegan diet can be unhealthy when its not a balanced vegan diet. Her speaking out will hopefully inspire others to question their own food rules and restore balance to their lives.

Katie Higgins, author of Chocolate-Covered Katie and founder of chocolatecoveredkatie.com

Jordans story mirrors that of what so many of us women go through: shame, self-doubt, and a hungry search for well-being. I hope women read her story and find the inspiration and nourishment she discovered in learning to listen to her own body.

Alexandra Jamieson, C.H.H.C., C.A.P.P., author of Women, Food, and Desire

Im constantly impressed by Jordans bravery and ceaseless commitment to growth, no matter how difficult. She is an inspiration to anyone who wants to change their lives, and living proof that one can do it with joy, grace, and compassion.

Kelsey Miller, senior features writer at Refinery29.com and author of Big Girl: How I Gave Up Dieting and Got a Life

For anyone who has struggled with an eating disorder, or knows someone who has, Breaking Vegan is a must-read. Jordans honest and brave portrayal of what it is like to struggle with every bite will help many girls, boys, women, and men to recover from their struggle. She helps to let you know you are not alone, and that recovery and a happy life with food are possible.

Jamie Graber, founder of Gingersnaps Organic cafe

Breaking Vegan is incredibly honest, and Jordans decision to fight for her personal happiness is very inspirational. Its a book that all young people need to read, regardless of their dietary choices.

Max Goldberg, founder of LivingMaxwell.com and The Pressed Juice Directory

an extremely well-written book that will change your relationship with food and teach you how to care for your body and feel your best. I am so ecstatic this story is being told and applaud Jordan for her transparency and courage to share her experience.

Annie Lawless, co-creator of SUJA Juice and coauthor of The Suja Juice Solution

a transparent peek inside of Jordans personal life and an inspirational bible for intuitive living, with the scripture being, theres no one size fits alland thats allll gooood.

Emily Nolan, founder of mykindoflife.com

Youngers brave journey toward self-acceptance will resonate with anyone whos craved control over their diet or image. This candid memoir is a fascinating account of orthorexia, an eating disorder that takes healthy eating to dangerous extremes.

Alexandra Orlov, writer at DailyBurn.com

ONE WOMANS JOURNEY FROM VEGANISM AND EXTREME DIETING TO A MORE BALANCED LIFE

JORDAN YOUNGER

2016 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

2016 Foreword by Steven Bratman, M.D., M.P.H.

First published in the United States of America in 2016 by

Fair Winds Press, an imprint of

Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

100 Cummings Center

Suite 406-L

Beverly, Massachusetts 01915-6101

Telephone: (978) 282-9590

Fax: (978) 283-2742

QuartoKnows.com

Visit our blogs at QuartoKnows.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned, and no responsibility is accepted by producer, publisher, or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize for any inaccuracies that may have occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing information in a subsequent reprinting of the book.

Digital edition published in 2016

Digital edition: 978-1-62788-789-2

Softcover edition: 978-1-59233-700-2

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available

Cover and book design by Kathie Alexander

Page layout by Megan Jones Design

Photography by Tynan Daniels Photography, except pages , courtesy of Jordan Younger.

From the publisher: The information in this book is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of a physician or medical practitioner. Please see your health care provider before beginning any new health program.

dedication

For each and every one of my blog readers. My love for all of you is unreal.

And for the two people who have made me everything I ammy mom and dad . There are no words to express my love and gratitude.

disclaimer

This is not a book bashing veganism. This is not a book saying veganism causes eating disorders. This is a book that captures my personal journey through veganism, how I took it too far, and how many of us with extreme personalities may be capable of doing the same.

For you

For anyone who has ever gotten lost in an extreme and felt that there was no way out; For anyone who has controlled an aspect of his or her life through food, exercise, or any outer source rather than dealing with a problem head-on; You are not alone. Balance is within reach.

Can eating healthy food become an eating disorder?

The idea sounds patently ridiculous. We live in a society where high fructose corn syrup infests the supermarket shelves, antibiotics and other chemicals pile up in the food chain, and obesity starts in childhood. Any intelligent person interested in health would naturally want to find a better diet than the one on offer.

Nonetheless, some people who are devoted to healthy eating develop an eating disorder in relation to that focus. This disorder is called orthorexia nervosa, which may be defined informally as a focus on healthy food that involves other emotional factors and becomes dysfunctional, even dangerous. Consider this analogy: It is indisputably healthy to maintain normal weight and avoid obesity. However, in pursuit of this goal, and in combination with psychological factors, some people develop anorexia nervosa. A similar process can happen with healthy food.

To be clear, choosing healthy food does not equate to orthorexia. Quite the contrary. People can adhere to just about any theory of healthy eating without having an eating disorder (with the caveat that their diet must provide adequate nutrients). For example, veganism in itself is