If You Can’t be a Vegetarian, be a Flexitarian
Many people want to become vegetarians but find it difficult to maintain a vegetarian lifestyle. Wanting to avoid meat, yet being flexible as to what they eat, they choose to become flexitarians.
People aspire to become vegetarians for ethical, religious, moral, aesthetic, economical, environmental or political reasons. Vegetarians eat plant-based foods, fruits, vegetables, cereals, grains, nuts and seeds. Some vegetarians eat dairy products and even eggs, while many don’t. Vegans are strict about avoiding all animal products in their diet and clothing.
Why Become Vegetarian?
If you want to live longer, stop eating meat!
- Vegetarians live longer, according to a metastudy combining data from five studies among 76162 men and women in Western countries.
- This study showed mortality from ischemic heart disease was 24% lower in vegetarians than in non-vegetarians, 34% lower in people who ate fish but not meat.
Stay healthier! The consumption of animal products causes the pH of the body to become acidic, leading to cellular degeneration and the onslaught of disease.
Meat production is wasteful and not environmentally viable.
- 2,500 gallons of water produce a single pound of meat compared to only 25 gallons of water needed to produce a pound of wheat.
- Over a billion cattle, weighing more than all the humans on the planet are sustained unnaturally. Beef cattle produce only 1 pound of meat for 16 pounds of grain and soybean they are fed.
- The water used to produce 10 lbs. of steak can provide for a vegetarian family for an entire year.
Billions of animals are kept in horrendously cruel situations and killed for meat. For ethical reasons you don’t want to kill animals or subject them to cruelty because you know that they have emotions and feel pain, joy or sorrow just as you do.
“For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love.” Pythagoras, mathematician
Different Kinds of Meat Avoiders
- Classic vegetarian: Eats no part of any dead animal
- Vegan: Eats no animal product
- Meat-avoider: Tries not to eat meat but has occasional lapses (Flexitarian)
- Meat-reducer: Is trying to eat less meat, probably for health reasons
- Green eater: Avoids meat because of environmental impact
“Now I can look at you in peace; I don’t eat you anymore.” —Franz Kafka, while admiring fish in an aquarium.
History of Vegetarianism
Before the 1850s, non-meat eaters were known as Pythagoreans. But vegetarianism was a common practice in ancient India. The word “vegetarian” spread after the Vegetarian Society was founded on September 30th, 1847, by Joseph Brotherton and others, at Northwood Villa in Kent, England.
The origin of the word Flexitarian is rather recent in comparison. One probable origin is a quote from Helga Morath, who used the term flexitarian fare in the Austin American-Statesman, October 17, 1992, to describe the eclectic menu of health/vegetarian food served up in her recently opened Acorn Café at 26th and Guadalupe streets in Austin, Texas.
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User Comments
Francois Hagnere
On November 5, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Very informative article. Great article indeed, and illustrations.
Goodselfme
On November 5, 2009 at 4:41 pm
TX for sharing your wisdom. I learned from your well written post.
Katien
On November 5, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Great article! I am a classic vegetarian, and have been for many years. “Now I can look at you in peace; I don’t eat you anymore.” Franz Kafka – that is exactly what I say when I look at farm animals!
Ruby Hawk
On November 5, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I’m a vegetarian too.
Rana Sinha
On November 6, 2009 at 2:02 am
Thanks for your comments. I’m also trying very hard to be a vegetarian.
Jackie118
On November 6, 2009 at 4:53 am
Like you Rana, I’m trying hard to become a vegetarian. I no longer eat beef or lamb – mainly due to the fact that my back garden overlooks a meadow owned by Hillside Animal Sanctuary. We occasionally have cattle there and it’s wonderful to know they’re safe for the rest of their days. The same ones come back year after year and I found it hard to talk to my old friends over the fence knowing that I was eating their relatives! I have to confess though that I do still eat chicken and fish.
Holla
On November 7, 2009 at 9:04 am
I liked this. I’m also trying to be vegetarian, but it’s always so impractical. I travel a lot for work and meat is often the only option. New term for me – flexitarian.
Brian Daniel Stankich
On November 8, 2009 at 11:55 pm
I’ve been eating less meat in my middle years. I still enjoy beef but don’t miss it as much if I go without for a short while. Brian
wonder
On November 9, 2009 at 4:10 am
Flexitarian is the word.Meat should be minimized—-should be satisfied with varied diets—no hang for anything.
Beth Suess
On November 13, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Very interesting!
Themax
On November 19, 2009 at 3:16 pm
very interesting and well written,Thanks for sharing mate
PhoenixRox
On November 23, 2009 at 6:31 am
The first image scared me
..lol.. But I loved the article. I am a vegetarian 
. But I have tasted chicken :p
LOVELY HONEY
On November 24, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Wonderful
But to enjoy life
Only one life
We must enjoy all that exists in nature
Fish, eggs, meat and whatever
Plants are a part of life
If we can eat plants
We are also eating living things
Though equally dumb
As a mans’ mind
recklessrealist
On January 16, 2010 at 2:35 am
I am a veggie…
Barbara Horter
On January 17, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Thank you for the great article. I have almost come back to being a vegetarian. I was a vegetarian just before my first husband passed away and was very satisfied with little food and (my habit still) lots of water and veggie and fruit juices) then I remarried and to a man who loves beef and tended to try to satisfy his food loves with a small amount of sharing myself. But after 18 yrs of marriage, him having various heart, lung diseases and diabetes, I have gone back to veggies and cook lighter foods for him. He will eat great amounts of seafood and veggies which is good for him. I am satisfied with only veggies and fruits and water.
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