Flexitarianism

I happened to thumb through an old Chatelaine magazine from last December (the one with Nigella on the cover) and read an article on flexitarianism. What?

Well, apparently this is a new movement in eating that's kinda like being a vegetarian...except you get to cheat. Those who are "flexitarians" choose to eat healthy diets with a variety of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains but can consume meat every now and then. They're the vegetarians who eat meat. Even Oprah and Mark Bittman are part-time veggies.

Though it may seem like cheating, if you don't resolve to strictly veggie and then you eat meat are you really cheating. You didn't promise anything to anyone. Then it hit me...without knowing it I have become a flexitarian. There's a word for me!

Some choose their eating habits due to ethics, some for finances, tastes, thoughts of local foods/producers, etc. To be honest, I think often think of food in terms of health and tastes. I don't eat a lot of meat and can go without it entirely for the most part. I just finished up a month where I didn't eat any meat products (except for fish, eggs and dairy) and I have been a stricter vegetarian in the past. But could I do it exclusively and forever? Could I turn down Christmas turkey dinner, my dad's meat chili, fish and chips and gravy, or fresh bacon as part of a breakfast in bed? Hell, no. Maybe that makes me weak or less pure than devout vegans. But it's my diet and my choice.

I know I will still eat meat. But I will also choose to eat healthy, consume a variety of fruits and vegetables and other non-meat options. I'm constantly learning new things and educating myself about food and cooking. I choose to see 'flexitarianism' as a positive thing and a step in the right direction.