Guest guest Posted November 21, 2005 Report Share Posted November 21, 2005 I really like this term. I know many don't like labels but I like this one. I think it is a good way of promoting a vegetarian or vegan diet. It's sort of a bridge between the two extremes of meat eating and vegetarianism (ok a more extreme would be a vegan diet). The word has become trendy primarily because many of the Hollywood types adopted this term for their diet. I think it is a positive force. Even though you are still eating meat, I believe it shows that you are at least concerned or care for some particular cause whether you just want to lose weight or save animals. I think the idea of the flexitarian diet finds vegetarianism more feasible in the long run for some. I also know that some people get annoyed that one may call themselves a vegetarian if they consumed meat 10 different times in the past year while maintaining the vegetarian diet for the other 355 days. Flexitarian may be a more suitable term here. ---- Flexitarianism From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (Redirected from Flexitarian) Jump to: navigation, search Flexitarianism is the practice of being flexible about the degree one practices vegetarianism or veganism. A flexitarian might make only vegetarian dishes at home, but eat dishes including meat at the home of family or friends. 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. " [edit] Why Flexitarianism Some reasons people choose to follow flexitarianism are as follows: * They consider a vegetarian diet to be healthier, but enjoy eating meat. * They are not ethically opposed to eating meat, but find a vegetarian diet to be less expensive. * Other members of their household are vegetarian and flexitarian diet is more convenient. * They believe vegetarian food conserves water and land resources and thus feeds more people. * Some, like freegans, believe that wasting already-cooked food does more damage than eating it. * They are ethically opposed to poor conditions of animal husbandry, and hence will only eat what they consider to be 'ethical meat'. This can make them effectively vegetarian in many situations. [edit] Origin of term The earliest known use of the term " flexitarian " occurred in the October 17, 1992 issue of the Austin American-Statesman. In this issue, reporter Linda Anthony wrote an article titled, " Acorn serves up 'flexitarian fare' " . The article discussed the recent opening of the new Acorn Cafe and stated that owner Helga Morath calls her fare " flexitarian " . ---- I hadn't heard of the term, Freegan, before. Interesting. S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 thanks for the definitions, shawn. i like the term flexitarian too. and if i had to label myself something, this would be it. i grew up in a meat-free house although my parents (who hate labels) never told us " we are vegetarians " . they never told my grandparents not to feed us kids meat. we took vegetarian dressing and other meat-free dishes to thanksgiving and christmas meals every year and i never once remember any kind of discussion of vegetarianism within our larger families. i think my parents' reasons for not eating meat were mainly based on the fact that we had very little money and could not afford meat. my dad also studied buddhism, so this may have been a secondary reason (concern for living things), although he never has said that to be true. later on, when my family was actually getting by financially, they did add a little bit of meat to our diet, but it was very rarely. even now, my parents follow a mostly vegan diet, but on occassion, will go out and get a hamburger and a milkshake. growing up, i never took up the issue of not eating meat with my friends. at restaurants and stuff, i would choose the vegetarian option and not make mention of it. i never got any crap for not eating meat. that's why i don't really understand why some of y'all encounter these hostile people that make rude comments and defend meat eating....i never once encountered that. a year or so ago, a friend of mine from high school was traveling in the area and stopped by and we went out to eat and she asked if i was a vegetarian.....she realized that over the years i ate very little meat and ordered veggie options. i told her i wasn't, that i just didn't eat much meat. she said that her and her hubby had been eating less beef and adding gardenburgers to their diet....i told her i thought that was great and that was the end of the discussion. it was quite pleasant. if i had gone off about all the peta-esque reasons for not eating meat, i would have had a different experience. people notice actions and don't respond well with being told what to do. and i have to agree with what shawn wrote previously about tone and so forth. the way i think about it....it's nobody else's business what i choose to eat.....i don't care what they think about my diet and i'm not going to force my opinion on them. ok, i'm rambling, but i would like to add that i think considering oneself flexitarian makes it easier to maintain a healthy meat free diet, but to not feel guilty if you accidently eat something that contains gelatin or a soup that contains chicken broth. shutting up now, susie --- subprong <subprong wrote: > I really like this term. I know many don't like > labels but I like > this one. I think it is a good way of promoting a > vegetarian or vegan > diet. It's sort of a bridge between the two > extremes of meat eating > and vegetarianism (ok a more extreme would be a > vegan diet). > I think the idea of the flexitarian diet finds > vegetarianism more > feasible in the long run for some. I also know that > some people get > annoyed that one may call themselves a vegetarian if > they consumed > meat 10 different times in the past year while > maintaining the > vegetarian diet for the other 355 days. Flexitarian > may be a more suitable term here. > ---- > > Flexitarianism > From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. > (Redirected from Flexitarian) > Jump to: navigation, search > > Flexitarianism is the practice of being flexible > about the degree one > practices vegetarianism or veganism. A flexitarian > might make only > vegetarian dishes at home, but eat dishes including > meat at the home > of family or friends. 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. " > Why Flexitarianism > > Some reasons people choose to follow flexitarianism > are as follows: > > * They consider a vegetarian diet to be > healthier, but enjoy eating meat. > * They are not ethically opposed to eating meat, > but find a > vegetarian diet to be less expensive. > * Other members of their household are > vegetarian and flexitarian > diet is more convenient. > * They believe vegetarian food conserves water > and land resources > and thus feeds more people. > * Some, like freegans, believe that wasting > already-cooked food > does more damage than eating it. > * They are ethically opposed to poor conditions > of animal > husbandry, and hence will only eat what they > consider to be 'ethical > meat'. This can make them effectively vegetarian in > many situations. > > Origin of term > > The earliest known use of the term " flexitarian " > occurred in the > October 17, 1992 issue of the Austin > American-Statesman. In this > issue, reporter Linda Anthony wrote an article > titled, " Acorn serves > up 'flexitarian fare' " . The article discussed the > recent opening of > the new Acorn Cafe and stated that owner Helga > Morath calls her fare > " flexitarian " . FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 I appreciate that definition also, Shawn. And I appreciate your posting it for everybody here. I think that is what my dh and I are, actually, " flexitarians " , somewhere between vegetarians and vegans. We've really tried hard to go totally vegan, but I'm sorry, we can't stomach the soycheese aspect. The only soycheese locally is Publix's brand and it's nasty, rubbery and most horrid of all--it doesn't melt! TOO weird. That gives us the feeling of eating something UNnatural, a total backfire. There is a natural foods store that is about two hours away from us which carries Vegan Rella, but again, it's two hours away--that's a lot of gas. And, of course you can order that online but it's expensive, and the shipping is expensive too. On the plus side at Publix, there's organic cheese and organic eggs. I haven't bought either thus far, but I am going to do so tonight when we go shopping. And stop feeling guilty for not being able to go totally vegan, now that I've read the definition of " flexitarian " . Dh and I do not and cannot and will not eat flesh of animals, ever again, but eggs and cheese --at least, eggs when I can't find the EnerG replacement stuff or flaxseed meal--when we can find organic versions, we will eat. And on yet another positive front, I've lost a whole size and a half since going vegetarian/vegan! We've only been vegans a little over a month, so it can't be totally the vegan thing; must be the vegetarian thing as well. We'd been vegetarians about four months and then went vegan. Wow! I keep hearing and reading things to the effect that vegetarians/vegans are skinny, but I never thought it would happen to ME! I have to inject insulin for my diabetes <grimace> and the insulin makes it very difficult to lose weight. So to me, this is a revelation, WOW! Even with daily insulin, eating veg in whatever way I choose is helping me shed pounds!! My stomach is shrinking! (It's the fattest part of my body, you see, because of the insulin injections there.) I mean...I bought a new pair of jeans the other night and felt they might be too tight. Au contraire! :>) They were just about too loose when I got them on. And they're baggy all over! Sorry, I'll stop gushing now, but honestly...I'm so thrilled about the weight loss. And I wasn't even trying, I was just eating the best I've ever eaten in my life (vegie). So there's yet another reason to go (or stay!) veg. Flexing and relieved, Bron On 11/22/05, artichoke72x <artichoke72x wrote: > > thanks for the definitions, shawn. i like the term > flexitarian too. and if i had to label myself > something, this would be it. > > i grew up in a meat-free house although my parents > (who hate labels) never told us " we are vegetarians " . > they never told my grandparents not to feed us kids > meat. we took vegetarian dressing and other meat-free > dishes to thanksgiving and christmas meals every year > and i never once remember any kind of discussion of > vegetarianism within our larger families. i think my > parents' reasons for not eating meat were mainly based > on the fact that we had very little money and could > not afford meat. my dad also studied buddhism, so > this may have been a secondary reason (concern for > living things), although he never has said that to be > true. later on, when my family was actually getting > by financially, they did add a little bit of meat to > our diet, but it was very rarely. even now, my > parents follow a mostly vegan diet, but on occassion, > will go out and get a hamburger and a milkshake. > > growing up, i never took up the issue of not eating > meat with my friends. at restaurants and stuff, i > would choose the vegetarian option and not make > mention of it. i never got any crap for not eating > meat. that's why i don't really understand why some > of y'all encounter these hostile people that make rude > comments and defend meat eating....i never once > encountered that. a year or so ago, a friend of mine > from high school was traveling in the area and stopped > by and we went out to eat and she asked if i was a > vegetarian.....she realized that over the years i ate > very little meat and ordered veggie options. i told > her i wasn't, that i just didn't eat much meat. she > said that her and her hubby had been eating less beef > and adding gardenburgers to their diet....i told her i > thought that was great and that was the end of the > discussion. it was quite pleasant. if i had gone off > about all the peta-esque reasons for not eating meat, > i would have had a different experience. people > notice actions and don't respond well with being told > what to do. and i have to agree with what shawn wrote > previously about tone and so forth. the way i think > about it....it's nobody else's business what i choose > to eat.....i don't care what they think about my diet > and i'm not going to force my opinion on them. ok, > i'm rambling, but i would like to add that i think > considering oneself flexitarian makes it easier to > maintain a healthy meat free diet, but to not feel > guilty if you accidently eat something that contains > gelatin or a soup that contains chicken broth. > > shutting up now, > susie > > --- subprong <subprong wrote: > > > I really like this term. I know many don't like > > labels but I like > > this one. I think it is a good way of promoting a > > vegetarian or vegan > > diet. It's sort of a bridge between the two > > extremes of meat eating > > and vegetarianism (ok a more extreme would be a > > vegan diet). > > > I think the idea of the flexitarian diet finds > > vegetarianism more > > feasible in the long run for some. I also know that > > some people get > > annoyed that one may call themselves a vegetarian if > > they consumed > > meat 10 different times in the past year while > > maintaining the > > vegetarian diet for the other 355 days. Flexitarian > > may be a more suitable term here. > > ---- > > > > Flexitarianism > > From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. > > (Redirected from Flexitarian) > > Jump to: navigation, search > > > > Flexitarianism is the practice of being flexible > > about the degree one > > practices vegetarianism or veganism. A flexitarian > > might make only > > vegetarian dishes at home, but eat dishes including > > meat at the home > > of family or friends. 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. " > > > Why Flexitarianism > > > > Some reasons people choose to follow flexitarianism > > are as follows: > > > > * They consider a vegetarian diet to be > > healthier, but enjoy eating meat. > > * They are not ethically opposed to eating meat, > > but find a > > vegetarian diet to be less expensive. > > * Other members of their household are > > vegetarian and flexitarian > > diet is more convenient. > > * They believe vegetarian food conserves water > > and land resources > > and thus feeds more people. > > * Some, like freegans, believe that wasting > > already-cooked food > > does more damage than eating it. > > * They are ethically opposed to poor conditions > > of animal > > husbandry, and hence will only eat what they > > consider to be 'ethical > > meat'. This can make them effectively vegetarian in > > many situations. > > > > Origin of term > > > > The earliest known use of the term " flexitarian " > > occurred in the > > October 17, 1992 issue of the Austin > > American-Statesman. In this > > issue, reporter Linda Anthony wrote an article > > titled, " Acorn serves > > up 'flexitarian fare' " . The article discussed the > > recent opening of > > the new Acorn Cafe and stated that owner Helga > > Morath calls her fare > > " flexitarian " . > > > > > > FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. > http://farechase. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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