Eating on Autopilot

“A man should be upright, not be kept upright.”
– Marcus Aurelius

Most people don’t choose what they eat.

They just repeat it.

Day in, day out.

Same shops.

Same aisles.

Same excuses.

Not because they thought it through — but because they didn’t.

Welcome to the age of autopilot — where we consume more than just food.

We consume ideas, ads, habits, and harm — with our eyes shut.

The Default is Dangerous

In Stoicism, we’re taught to observe our impulses before acting.

To pause.

To choose.

But modern life isn’t built for that.

It rewards the opposite:

• Convenience over conscience
• Pleasure over presence
• Habit over honesty

That’s why veganism is a wake-up call.

It forces you to question what most people never do:

• Why is this “normal”?
• Who benefits from this habit?
• What does it cost — not just me, but others?

Eating Is a Moral Act

Every bite has a backstory.

And most of them are edited to make you feel good while hiding the truth.

Cheap food isn’t cheap — it’s just that someone else paid the price.

Usually an animal.

Sometimes a worker.

Always the planet.

But you can interrupt the cycle.

All it takes is presence.

A Stoic Plate Is a Thoughtful Plate

Stoicism isn’t about living a joyless life — it’s about living an intentional one.

A simple meal, chosen mindfully, brings more peace than a feast eaten mindlessly.

So next time you’re standing in front of the fridge, or about to hit “Order Again” on Uber Eats, stop.

Ask yourself:

• “Am I acting on awareness — or habit?”
• “Am I eating to nourish — or to distract?”
• “Would the person I want to be make this choice?”

Those questions don’t cost you anything.

But the answers might change everything.

Don’t let your fork be a weapon in someone else’s hand.

Use it like a tool.

Use it like a compass.

Use it like it means something.

Photo by Ella Olsson