On Moving Toward Vegetarianism: Flexitarians

I have to say this post comes off as very defensive. As a vegetarian who made my transition gradually, I understand the benefit of the flexitarian diet and on focusing on reducing, if not eliminating, the consumption of meat.

What I do not like is the tone (of this post and the previous post) about more strict vegetarians - that we are holier-than-thou, meat-craving hypocrites. I occasionally eat meat substitutes because they make a quick meal, not because I am denying my deep-seated hunger for flesh.

I like the intent of this series to give support to people at all phases of the journey towards eating a more eco-conscious diet, but I sincerely hope that in the future you will refrain from reinforcing the idea that a diet without meat or animal products is a ridiculous or impossible task. There should be room at the table for all of us eco-eaters.

I have to say this post comes off as very defensive. As a vegetarian who made my transition gradually, I understand the benefit of the flexitarian diet and on focusing on reducing, if not eliminating, the consumption of meat.

What I do not like is the tone (of this post and the previous post) about more strict vegetarians - that we are holier-than-thou, meat-craving hypocrites. I occasionally eat meat substitutes because they make a quick meal, not because I am denying my deep-seated hunger for flesh.

I like the intent of this series to give support to people at all phases of the journey towards eating a more eco-conscious diet, but I sincerely hope that in the future you will refrain from reinforcing the idea that a diet without meat or animal products is a ridiculous or impossible task. There should be room at the table for all of us eco-eaters.

Isn't "flexitarian" just another term for "meat-eater"? A vegetarian who occasionally eats meat is not a vegetarian so that definition is contradictory. Pescetarians eat fish but avoid all other meat. Pollotarians eat poultry but avoid all other meat. Neither are vegetarians by any stretch of the term.

Flexitarian is just a term that makes people feel better about eating meat. If you want to eat meat, why do you need a special term that indicates you eat slightly less than the average Joe? If you feel guilty eating meat, instead of making up words, perhaps it's time to just stop eating it.

Why did the first 4 paragraphs go on and on about eating meat and list off reasons why its acceptable to call yourself a vegetarian and either eat meat in secret (which is ridiculous, by the way), or eat meat occasionally out of the secret...THEN after all that nonsense, the vegetarian recipe was thrown in at the end?

Can anyone who eats meat (secretly or not) please stop calling themself a vegetarian? I'm not much for labels and whatnot, but I think that it just confuses a lot of people out in the general, ignorant public. It would probably explain why, when I ask for a vegetarian meal on an airplane or a wedding or a fancy dinner with preselected menus, the attendant carts out a plate full of chicken or fish for me. It's just irritating and frustrating. Also, it probably stems from the idea that it's socially acceptable (like this article suggests) to call yourself a vegetarian but still eat the animal flesh. It's not acceptable. For the love of us actual vegetarians who prefer to not be served with meat. Please, stop.

On the positive side, if you dont have the motivation nor the discipline to restrict yourself to eating a vegetarian diet, I agree with the comment of cutting back on meat consumption and the trying to buy organic stuff, etc. Good suggestion.

As a sidenote: Fake meat is NOT the chemical equivalent to real meat. Not even close, but good try. I can see why you'd get confused since they look slightly similar in shape and texture.

I no longer call myself a vegetarian because last year I made the choice to start eating fish and stop eating dairy. It has been a difficult journey, and I do on occasion choose to eat dairy or something that contains a dairy additive (some dark chocolate, for example), but 98% of my diet is dairy free.

I felt conflicted for awhile, thinking how sad I was that I seemed incapable of being strict with my new diet. Giving up dairy has for the last year has been the most challanging thing I've ever done in terms of food choices, whereas when I used to not eat fish, I didn't have to even think about it? I'd never eating fish in my life until a year ago, so I didn't even realise I was "giving something up." Although I have given up my "vegetarian" status, I feel like I have created a better diet for myself.

Why did the first 4 paragraphs go on and on about eating meat and list off reasons why its acceptable to call yourself a vegetarian and either eat meat in secret (which is ridiculous, by the way), or eat meat occasionally out of the secret...THEN after all that nonsense, the vegetarian recipe was thrown in at the end?

Can anyone who eats meat (secretly or not) please stop calling themself a vegetarian? I'm not much for labels and whatnot, but I think that it just confuses a lot of people out in the general, ignorant public. It would probably explain why, when I ask for a vegetarian meal on an airplane or a wedding or a fancy dinner with preselected menus, the attendant carts out a plate full of chicken or fish for me. It's just irritating and frustrating. Also, it probably stems from the idea that it's socially acceptable (like this article suggests) to call yourself a vegetarian but still eat the animal flesh. It's not acceptable. For the love of us actual vegetarians who prefer to not be served with meat. Please, stop.

On the positive side, if you dont have the motivation nor the discipline to restrict yourself to eating a vegetarian diet, I agree with the comment of cutting back on meat consumption and the trying to buy organic stuff, etc. Good suggestion.

As a sidenote: Fake meat is NOT the chemical equivalent to real meat. Not even close, but good try. I can see why you'd get confused since they look slightly similar in shape and texture.

Adding to my previous comment, perhaps it's better for people to say, "I'm transitioning to vegetarianism" or "I'm trying to eat less meat" or "I only eat sustainable or humanely raised animals." The term flexitarian is a deceptive term that can degrade the meaning of vegetarianism. Vegetarians used to just eat plants and dairy(optional). Eventually, the term changed to include egg. How long before the official term includes fish, chicken, or beef? It's already happening in mainstream culture. I've seen tuna salad, pork, and chicken on "vegetarian" menus in several different restaurants.

Why is the author writing a series that claims to encourage people to move toward vegetarianism when, after reading said series, it's obvious that she harbors resentment toward vegetarians? One doesn't usually choose to write a piece advocating a cause unless they are, well... an advocate of the cause. Anyway. Since these are so poorly written and are merely bording factual... I'm going to have to declare this series to be an epic fail.

I'm a committed vegetarian, and I am not outraged by the suggestions in your article. I don't "malign" people for what they eat either, even though I feel VERY strongly about the ethics behind meat-eating. If I carried this huge chip on my shoulder about meat-eaters in general, I would have already denounced my whole family and all of my friends. What a cruel and vicious person I would be!

What does bother me is that a pseudo-word called "flexitarian" exists.

I LOVE to encourage my friends and family to eat more plant-based foods. For example, a couple of my friends who are in a relationship together just announced that they were going to try and reduce their meat consumption to about 10%. Crap, that is awesome news! These two were born and raised in Tennessee, which is, according to what I've read, one of the most unpopular places for vegetarians, and prior to meeting me a few months ago, they were hardcore somewhat-bloody steak eaters. BUT are they flexitarians? Nope. They are still omnivores.

My mom is starting to eat more vegetables and has greatly reduced her meat intake for various health reasons. Is she a "flexitarian"? Nope. She is an omnivore.

The word doesn't exist. If you are moving towards vegetarianism, then you are doing just that: simply moving towards it. You're cutting down your meat consumption, but you are still eating meat; thus you are an omnivore. "Flexitarian" is an excuse. An excuse because we can't commit. We're so fickle, and we can't make up our mind and commit to something because we're bombarded with advertisements and false information all around. So a newspaper columnist, who I read was the inventor of "flexitarian", invented a word to match the lifestyle of most Americans. We would be laughed at by people from other cultures for our indecisiveness...

Call it what it is really is and not with made-up words.

I think creating extra titles is amusing, but really just silly. Like calling a cup of coffee "tall" even though it's their smallest size. Pffft. My quest in life to become a better omnivore. I try to reduce animal intake significantly and reaaaly up the veggies. Yums!

Be you. You're loved!!

I don't eat meat often. When I do, I eat it sparingly. I don't mind the term "flexitarian" however I'm in no way, shape, or form "transitioning."

I've been using the term megetarian for myself, although I can adapt to flexitarian. I think these kinds of posts are very helpful, at least from an environmental point of view. We all benefit if there is decreased meat consumption, so I'm not sure it's useful to keep an elite status for those who will never eat meat again.

Two of my friends used to be vegetarians exclusively for a few years each until they fell off the wagon and never got back on. If I truly crave some meat, I'll eat it, but those occasions are rare and once I've had my little fix I'm good to go. I've eliminated probably around 95% of the meat from my diet. Because I only do this from an environmental standpoint, I think that's a pretty healthy approach overall. And because more people are reducing meat for one reason or another, it's also been nice to see more and more restaurants embrace having vegetarian choices.

Those of you who are vegetarians for ethical reasons aren't going to embrace this approach.

The belief that killing animals for meat is wrong is not the only ethical reason to restrict meat, or certain kinds of meat. People who generally don't eat meat because of ethical concerns about humane treatment of living animals may well eat meat on occasion when they can be assured that the animals were well cared for. That's an ethical position that doesn't necessarily require absolute vegetarianism. Plus, reducing one's carbon impact is an ethical matter, and one that, I think, welcomes incremental changes.

KR: Excellent point

I can't make sense of this sentence:
"As with weight loss diets, if you make a conscious decision to eat something normally forbidden to you, accept it and get back to your regular diet."

"accept it and get back to your regular diet" sounds like you're advising people to give up and go back to their old way of eating. That doesn't make sense, but neither does any other interpretation of that sentence. Are half the words missing?

And to whomever doesn't understand eggs being vegetarian: eggs are by definition not animals. They're just the eggs. You need egg AND SPERM to get a new animal.

KR: I should perhaps have left out the word "regular"

I eat meat 3-4 times a year. I used to eat at least a half pound per day. I do this purely for environmental reasons (although my serum lipid profile is now much improved) and my eco-footprint is now a small fraction of what it used to be. I don't deserve full credit like those who eschew all meat products like vegans, or even those who won't have turkey at Thanksgiving like vegetarians. However, I deserve a lot more credit than those who simply eat few less cheeseburgers a week.
That's why I call myself a flexitarian.
The main reason I am willing to eat meat on rare occasions is so I won't come off as a pompous snob at my Aunt's house. Nothing undermines the environmental movement like pompous snobbery.

For the record, as a vegetarian I do not get offended by people eating meat. Or trying to transition into eating meat. To each their own, and while I would love others to change, people have to want to change and they will do so in their own time. I think people that want to transition to eating less meat are doing a great thing.

If you really want to make this series about moving towards vegetarianism, then do just that. Stop being defensive, and stop with the ridiculous statements like "vegetarians who eat meat in secret" - I mean, really? You ask vegetarians to stop maligning people who eat meat - I didn't get that impression from any comment in the last post. Stop maligning vegetarians yourself by saying we are intolerant, or by stating in an incredulous manner that you don't know why people would want to eat fake meat. There are plenty of vegetarians out there who fully realize that fake meat is LESS environmentally friendly than an organic, non-feedlot, grass fed, humanely raised animal, and that there are reasons why those who eat meat would choose that over a fake meat. But for those of us that don't wish to eat meat, there are reasons why fake meat might be appropriate. Please understand that it's the TONE of the posts rather than the fact that there are people that choose to eat meat that is annoying.

Holy smokes! Tough crowd again.

Flexitarian is quicker than saying "omnivore that eats meat only sparingly" or "vegetarian most of the time, but sometimes the bacon just smells too good to pass up".

It's not like Kelly is making any of this up. People do self-identify as flexitarians. It's not her coinage folks.

Man, the messenger gets it rough sometimes.

This is ridiculous.
An Omnivore is an Omnivore, just like a Vegetarian is a Vegetarian and a Vegan is a Vegan.
I'm a Muslim and only eat halal meat... does that make me a Halalitarian? Heck no! I also enjoy vegan meals... does that make be a flexigan? Gosh I hope not!
Why do we have to come up with "snappy" names to even further pigeon hole the population into smaller and smaller areas.
We have pigeon holed sexuality in the same way as we are now food for years, are we going to go even further with that too and have Gingersexuals for those who only sleep with red heads? Homobrunettesexuals for those who only sleep with brunettes of the same gender?

I think people think in really black and white terms. Everything does not have to be one extreme or another. And thinking that way, leads people to be turned away from really positive changes.

My best friend just attempted to become vegetarian due to her disgust of how animals are treated and the ridiculous degree of pollution that is caused by the meat industry. She, however, couldn't withstand going without meat for such a long time and decided to become a carnivore again.

She now eats meat much less than she did before and I think any decrease of meat consumption is better than none whatsoever. We should embrace anyone who changes, even if its a little, for a more animal and environmentally friendly lifestyle.

http://rise2peace.blogspot.com/

seitan is simply wheat gluten and is probably the most used mock meat. please explain how that is some "chemical equivalent" to real meat, implying that it is some evil cancer filled crap cooked up in some evil lab by evil scientists.

also, didja know, everything is made up of chemicals! its true!

"The main reason I am willing to eat meat on rare occasions is so I won't come off as a pompous snob at my Aunt's house. Nothing undermines the environmental movement like pompous snobbery."

Flexitarian, I'm so sorry your family is so close-minded. Seriously, your family views you as a snob for not wanting to eat meat? That is ridiculous. Your suggestion that not eating meat to please someone is ridiculous. I think you need to do a little research to better educate yourself and your family about what it means to be a vegetarian. A little self-help book on being happy with who you are may be a good read as well. I'm quite certain that people do not choose a vegetarian diet to earn "credit." If calling yourself a flexitarian is your way of validating what you're doing, then again, I'm sorry. It is exactly this type of uneducated attitude toward vegetarians that comes off as snobbish, not the people who truly understand a vegetarian diet.

Although I like the general idea of this article - that there is a middle ground for people who aren't up for going veg - it still strikes me as beside the point for an environmental website and general conversation about how we can reduce our impact through what we eat.

In no other area of consumption that I can think of (electricity, gasoline, paper products, etc.) do we set the discussion up as total abstinence vs something else, the way we do when we discuss the environmental impact of animal product production. Usually we discuss individual steps people can take like buying efficient appliances, insulating their houses, buying post-consumer-waste recycled paper, driving a plug-in hybrid, etc.

Although there are arguably good non-environmental reasons (animal rights, welfare) to stop eating meat or all animal products, I get frustrated by how we import the concept of vegetarianism rather than treat it like we do the other consumption problems - that people should make the decision when they go food shopping, or order takeout, or pack their lunches, not necessarily feel like the options are different grades of a life-long committment.

Bernard Brown
PB&J Campaign

Wow. I've never heard of the term Flexitarian before but it definitely speaks to my diet. And I would like to be able to share in the good feelings and accomplishment of eating WAY less meat than most people that I am around.

All of the comments in this post just give evidence toward why the author had to use a "tone" in her article: veggies make up a tonne of America's pompous population. Get over yourselves and let us have our lesser-than achievements. We've come a long way too.

Jenn,

I don't think any of the vegetarians here come off as pompous. It's great that you and people like you are eating less animals and caring about the conditions they were raised in. Every several meals without meat adds up to an animal saved(or in the case of fish, every single meal.) That's great for everyone!

However, vegetarians are often mocked and scrutinized due to what we don't eat. People try to trick us into eating meat or try to guilt us into eating meat. Can you blame us for wanting to at least preserve the definition of vegetarianism? Flexitarian is a term for an omnivore that eats less meat than the norm, NOT a term for a vegetarian who sometimes eats meat.

I didn't really think the term "flexitarian" was in any way calling yourself another form of vegetarian, but judging the way a lot of people reacted to the term in the comments, that seems to be a common way of interpreting the term. Interesting.

I do think there's a huge difference between how the "average" American eats and how a "flexitarian" eats, if you define a flexitarian as someone who eats mostly vegetables and only occasional meat. As far as I can tell, it's pretty common in America to eat meat far more often than that. I think it's a pretty major improvement simply eat a lot less meat. This article (and series on the whole) doesn't seem to be really aimed towards people who already are vegetarians, since it's called "On Moving Towards Vegetarianism".

Melanie: the response "... is exactly this type of uneducated attitude...." is in itself rife with pompous snobbery. A rigid, all-or-nothing approach to an elective diet IS a burden to yourself and others when you are a guest at someone's house who does not share your dietary habits. How about if I were on an Atkins diet and were a guest in your house; am I entitled to some sort of special accommodation then?
The primary point is that a rigid, dogmatic and inflexible approach does little to advance your cause and tends to dissuade others from seeing your point of view.

Anyone interested in eating a more vegetarian diet should get the book The Flexitarian Diet by Registered Dietitian Dawn Jackson Blatner. It is the bible of flexitarian eating. http://dawnjacksonblatner.com/books/index.php
I bought it on amazon.com for $17 and it has helped me tremendously to change my lifestyle. The book has more than 100 flexitarian recipes and great science based nutrition advice. If you look at the bibliography in this book you will see that this dietitian knows what she is talking about and backs it up with all kinds of research. I have also downloaded a bunch of recipes from the author's website. All have been quite delicious and you know they must be good because she has tried and tested them in cooking classes that she teaches. I highly recommend the book!!

My own word for it is "Lessmeatitarian" and I am a proud follower of the diet. ;)

Wow, these articles just keeping getting worse and worse. You know, if these articles would have been title something like "Moving towards a healthier diet" and contained some advice about lowering your meat intake, I don't think there would be such strong responses. But for the author to get defensive and say that “there are vegetarians out there who eat meat in secret” is pretty insensitive and childish. I would advise the author to either stop writing these columns or to change the focus away from vegetarianism and move towards a “healthier, more environmentally friendly” angle—this is something that everyone on Treehugger could agree on.

"vegetarians who secretly eat meat"? They're called "meat eaters"!

I've been a vegetarian for 14 years. I've never ever come across a vegetarian that secretly eats meat. I find that comment insulting to say the least.

Furthermore, I don't mind people using the term flexitarian, because any reducation in meat consumption is good all the way around the issue. But, make no mistake - it's not a vegetarian. It's merely a meat eater that has reduced their meat consumption and upped their plant based food intake.

But I did find this article offensive to vegetarians, especially the comment about vegetarians secretly eating meat. It's things like that which perpetuate such myths and make people skeptical of vegetarians. I would not have expected such crap from this site.