Ok, so I'll be bold and just blame not living in the States for being slightly behind the times when it comes to the latest healthy-eating trends. In fact it was a very American-based book which inspired me to start this blog in the first place, and this new (to me) concept, flexitarianism, is the conclusion I got from The Omnivore's Dilemma, without actually realizing it was already a thing.According to wiki: Flexitarians avoid, but occasionally eat, meat. In 2003, the American Dialect Society voted flexitarian as the year's most useful word and defined it as "a vegetarian who occasionally eats meat".
Anyways, here's my take and why I don't think it's just being a wobbly veggie cheat. Being omnivores, the human body was designed to have some meat. Some. Like once or maybe twice a week, if that. I see flexitarianism as less a "new" diet and more like going back to the diet humans were designed to have. I'll call it a "vintage diet". Plus, it's nothing new, but I'll re-iterate, cutting down on meat not only is healthier and cheaper but also has an environmental impact. Lucky for me I like vegetarian food, but I also like meat. Double win.
While I wouldn't be someone mad into giving my eating habits a "name" I do like this flexible term as I am trying my darndest to cut a lot of the meat consumption that goes on in my house. It's not so much a moral thing on my part, I do believe in the food chain, but I also believe that we, as people, are not meant to eat as much meat as we do in this post-industrial age. Huge factory farms, feed lots and chicken with 40% added water gives me the heebie-jeebies. Buying meat from a local butcher who buys direct from local farms however? That is something I can feel pretty good about.
I generally haven't bought meat from the mega supermarket in nearly a year, which is a start. And I've been making a conscious effort to order the vegetarian option when eating out. Sometimes. So now it seems a good few American restaurants are getting in on the action as demonstrated by Tasting Table.
So... My fellow flexitarians... Unite!
Further reading:
Newsweek
Books: Almost Vegetarian & The Flexitarian Table
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