Flexitarianism: Can You Be A Part-Time Vegetarian?

It might seem like being a vegetarian of convenience isn't particularly inspiring, but a growing number of experts and even some famous foodies are fans. They say that cutting back on meat, rather than abstaining completely, may be a practical compromise that benefits our bodies and our environment.

"It gives you the health benefits of a vegetarian diet without having to follow the strict rules," says Blatner, a registered dietitian and author of "The Flexitarian Diet: The Mostly Vegetarian Way to Lose Weight, Be Healthier, Prevent Disease, and Add Years to Your Life" (McGraw-Hill, October 2008). "We know that people live longer and live healthier when they eat vegetarian, but it's just too darn hard to do it 100 percent of the time."

Keep reading.

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Check out The Flexitarian Table: Inspired, Flexible Meals for Vegetarians, Meat Lovers, and Everyone in Between or The Flexitarian Diet: The Mostly Vegetarian Way to Lose Weight, Be Healthier, Prevent Disease, and Add Years to Your Life.

Comments

[NoSillyName]

Can you be? Of course.

[Checquoline]

I eat no beef or pork ever. One day a week I eat chicken and one day fish. In a blue moon I have a lamb chop. I have more energy than ever before. I have been doing this for a year. I had some arthritis which is much better. I can go longer periods without getting hungry and I no longer have week and shaky spells if I don't eat. It has changed my life.

[Lupin77]

I'm basically a vegetarian even though I will eat pork, lamb and chicken once in a while and fish, but if there are great vegetable dishes on the menu, I'll have those. I don't eat beef ever as I can't stomach the smell of it or the fact that I've seen beautiful cows on farms that left me forever unable to eat beef. I feel my system is cleaner because of eating vegies and I feel healthier. It's best to try to go vegie at least 5 days a week and then on the other two days have fish or poultry.

[bluprojekt]

What prompted me to become mostly vegetarian (I still eat Salmon, Halibut, Tuna and most shellfish) was getting sick on two different occasions from meat that was supposedly fresh.

I'm a part time chef so I know how to handle meat safely and all I can say is after those two experiences early this year, I more or less swore off meat coming from an animal that had legs. I've tried free range meats a couple of times recently and I was miserable for days - I honestly think I"m better off not eating those kinds of meat.

I've also found that I like to eat vegetables that I never liked until the switch: Broccoli, cabbage, Brussel Sprouts, Squash, Cauliflower, and many others. It's a much healthier lifestyle - and is better for the planet as well.

"Now Go Away or I Will Taunt You a Second Time."

[Smirk]

I think it's an easy way to become a vegetarian gradually, and even if you never give up meat entirely, eating less meat is healthier, saves money, and is better for the environment.

[exploder98]

I've been a vegetarian for a year now, and it's wonderful! My one piece of advice: start by cutting out red meat. Once you eliminate red meat, you start to look for alternatives and begin to see there's a whole wide world of stuff out there that has no meat in it, and the ball gets rolling from there.

You also start to see that we (read: Americans) through meat in tons of crap that doesn't need it. Case and point: Chili. Vegetarian chili, with or without meat substitutes tastes almost exactly the same as meat chili minus the grease. It's wonderful! Also, many salads contain extraneous bits of chicken that could be replaced simply with croutons or more hearty nuts like walnuts.

Overall, it keeps me healthier, makes dining more of an adventure, and allows for a lighter conscience. It's seriously not that hard, coming from a person that used to LOVE "Triple Stackers" from burger king.