Flexitarian

Have you ever heard of this term? I haven’t as well until I stumbled across a source that  provides information about different types of Vegetarians.

A vegetarian is someone who lives on a diet of grains, pulses, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, fungi, algae, yeast and/or some other non-animal-based foods (e.g. salt) with, or without, dairy products, honey and/or eggs. A vegetarian does not eat foods that consist of, or have been produced with the aid of products consisting of or created from, any part of the body of a living or dead animal. This includes meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, or any food made with processing aids created from these.”

And of course you have your different types of Vegetarians:  ( And I will admit,  from this list the only term I am familiar with are vegans and pescatarians. So we are all learning something new in this research!)

• Lacto-ovo-vegetarians eat both dairy products and eggs; this is the most common type of vegetarian diet.
• Lacto-vegetarians eat dairy products but avoid eggs.
• Ovo-vegetarian. Eats eggs but not dairy products.
• Vegans do not eat dairy products, eggs, or any other products which are derived from animals.
• Lacto-Ove Pesco eat diary, fish, and eggs.

I am no guru when it comes to breaking down the insight on vegetarians, but I have watched enough Food documentaries ( ie, “What The Health,” ” Hungry for change” also refer to my blog  I wrote last year about food documentaries —https://thehealthysoulvibe.wordpress.com/2017/07/12/food-documentaries/ )  to know that eating meat/poultry comes with high cholesterol, saturated fats, calories, inflammatory and will put you at a high risk of many types of diseases and cancer. Not to mention, us killing animals is like reverse cannibalism.

Sorry my vegetarian people, but even THAT information does not stop me from liking chicken as much as I do. Ha!  I need my protein, and eating beans every day, will not cut it for me. I will say this! This week, I have decided to go meatless and I have never felt better solely eating different types of cooked vegetable meals and incorporating fruits, nuts, and grains for snacks.  I am not a huge pork or beef eater, so I honestly could say, that I could probably go without meat from Monday-Friday and then indulge in some fish and chicken on the weekends!

Which brings me back to the term, Flexitarian. Apparently, in this 21st century, a Flexitarian is someone who is normally meatless but occasionally includes meat or fish.” Sounds like a Vegetarian who cheats right?! lol

“The flexitarian label suggests an active and purposeful movement away from a meat-heavy diet. It’s a healthier way of eating that includes significantly more whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables than the Standard American Diet”, says Michael Roizen, MD, chief wellness officer of The Cleveland Clinic and co-founder of RealAge.The main gist of the flexitarian diet is exactly what is sounds like: It’s flexible.

So what do you think about this term? Do you think this should even be another type of Vegetarian like vegan, pescetarian? Or is it just another way to put labels on a eating habit?

Either way, A Flexitarian might be becoming!

 

Sources:

https://www.vegsoc.org/definition

https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/flexitarian-diet

https://greatist.com/eat/flexitarian-diet