What is a flexitarian? Discovering 5 benefits of eating less meat

You’re probably wondering, what is a flexitarian? 

If you’re anything like me you live for the simple things in life: good health, a good time, a good drink, and good FOOD! Nothing can elevate my mood faster than knowing I’m about to eat a good plate of food.

What often comes as a surprise to people when I discuss food is the fact that I rarely eat meat and limit my dairy consumption as much as possible. Because everything needs a label, flexitarianism is the official term that describes my eating lifestyle.

For me, being flexitarian is not a fad or a diet plan, it is a lifestyle choice. It complements my beliefs and makes me feel my best.

Are you thinking of choosing a flexitarian diet? This blog post will teach you more about the benefits of eating less meat with a flexitarian diet.

This post is all about answering the question what is a flexitarian?

What is a Flexitarian?

A flexitarian is a person who occasionally eats meat. Flexitarian, or semi-vegetarianism, is a diet that consists of mostly plant-based, vegetarian foods. On occasion, flexitarians eat meat.

The beauty of a flexitarian diet is in the name – flexible. Flexitarians have the ability to practice flexibility in their diet while mostly committing to a vegetarian lifestyle. This is different than a meat-eater diet, vegetarianism, veganism, and a pescatarian diet.

For an individual considering a flexitarian diet, researchers suggest eating 90% less pork, 75% less beef, and half the number of eggs normally consumed or two 5-ounce servings of meat per week.

Benefit of Eating Less Meat

Here are some mind-blowing benefits of reducing your meat consumption and becoming a flexitarian.

It’s good for the earth. 

There is a direct correlation between meat consumption and environmental impact. Reducing meat and dairy consumption is the ‘single biggest way’ to reduce your impact on Earth.

Did you catch that? The single biggest way to reduce your impact on the earth is by eating fewer animal products! The way food is produced, consumed, and wasted has an enormous impact on the environment.  

It’s better for your health.

Why should a relatively fit 28-year old be thinking about eating food that is good for my health?

One reason my health is so important to me is that preventable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are extremely prevalent in my family. It’s important for me to recognize this and make a conscious change to maintain good health. 

A thorough report by scientists at Oxford University and the University of Minnesota presents an excellent case on the health and environmental impacts of foods.

Here’s the gist: consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, unprocessed red meat, and processed red meat are consistently associated with increased disease risk.

You feel lighter.

Did someone say weight loss? I know this sounds cliche, but I mean this in all sincerity. Until you stop eating meat daily, it’s harder to recognize how bloated and heavy you feel after eating.

When you’re eating a plant-based diet you’re naturally consuming fewer calories. This means you’re not only feeding your body good food, but you’ll also notice that you drop a few pounds! 

It’s cheaper.

In my household, we call my husband the pocket-protector. This is because he’s always trying to protect our pockets and find ways to save money. If none of the other reasons for dramatically reducing our meat consumption had him on board, this one did!

Why? There is a noticeable difference in our grocery budget when we don’t purchase meat. The cleaner you eat, the cheaper your groceries will be. I’ll admit, buying meat alternatives and fancy organic snacks can add up pretty quickly.

If spending less while eating less meat is your goal, avoid purchasing fancy food “natural” which is often greenwashed.

It’s not stressful.

Is it just me or do some eating lifestyles seem stressful?! The joy of being a flexitarian is that it’s FLEXIBLE!

It’s not all or nothing.

You can take the pressure off yourself as you begin to explore plant-based eating and learn how to adjust your lifestyle to meals without meat. The way you chose to flex your diet is up to you.

How to start a flexitarian diet:

Find your why

Why are you interested in eating becoming a flexitarian? For health, the environment, weight loss, to try something new? Identifying why you’d like to start will help you find the motivation to continue.

Start with choosing one animal product to eliminate/eat less of

Choose one! Maybe you’d like to give up cheese or chicken? Turkey? Sausage? Steak? It doesn’t have to be an entire food group. It can be one single item.

Start slow and take your time. It’s not all or nothing. Above all, the point is to reduce your consumption.

Don’t listen to haters

If I had a dime for every time someone asked me if I eat enough protein. Yes, I eat enough protein.

If eating less meat is your goal, don’t let other people try to shame you into changing your mind. This relates to choosing your why.

People will constantly ask you “why”. Not that you owe them an explanation, but it’s important for you to know that you’re doing this for you and that doesn’t require anyone else’s approval.

Try new things

If you’re eating less meat that means you should be eating more plant-based foods. For example, eating less meat has opened me up to trying so many different foods.

I’ve always been a picky eater, but I am much more open-minded than I used to be. It’s so much fun to try foods you’ve never had before or thought you didn’t like. The new foods you try may surprise you!

Learn more

There are so many books, blogs, and Netflix series with helpful resources. In full disclosure, I don’t have too many to share.

I’ve learned most of this by doing. At some point, I will create another post with food and research recommendations.

My Food Journey

I was raised with a southern appetite and a love for all foods fried, glazed, and comforting. Some of my favorites included fried hot wings, sausage, and smothered chicken and gravy. 

It wasn’t until I was in college, working towards my degree in Environmental Thought and Practice, I began to learn how my choice in food impacted the environment.

Between factory farming, water consumption, pollution, and increased risk of health problems, I made the decision to stop eating red meat in 2012. For me, this was huge! I was giving up one of my favorite foods: sausage. I LOVED sausage. Absolutely loved it. On everything. However, learning how to reduce my impact on the Earth and decrease my risk of health problems was more important to me. I researched recipes and tried different types of foods. I stayed in this lane for a while – not eating red meat.

Eventually, I experimented with giving up other meats in my diet. I’ve dabbled in and out of vegetarianism and finally found what works for me. I still do not eat red meat and most days I don’t eat meat at all, but I have not eliminated all meat consumption from my life forever.

While I strongly encourage and support a completely plant-based diet, I also enjoy an occasional plate of hot wings on football Sunday. I remain flexible with my meal choices and that works for me.

So, what is a flexitarian? A flexitarian diet means a person occasionally eats meat. One of the benefits of a flexitarian diet is the fact that it is flexible and could look a little different for everyone. Whether you are looking to ease into vegetarianism, choose a healthier diet or simply save some money, a flexitarian diet could be for you!

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