Flexitarians,
a fad or maybe a new lifestyle solution? Indisputably it would be just the
right way to reduce the amount of meat consumed by a carnivore human.
Let’s start with some facts and figures:
● The meat industry emits more greenhouse gases than all forms of transportation in the world combined.
● Most cows, pigs and chickens at factory farms won't even see the sun or breathe fresh air until the day they are loaded onto trucks and sent to slaughter houses.
● Every six seconds an acre of rain forest is cut down for cattle farming.
This is common knowledge. Horrifying and bare facts of the world which requires us to choose the sides of that constant battle: to remain a meat eater or turn vegetarian or even vegan.
Personally I find it challenging, if not troublesome. Majority of us have this dilemma whether to eat meat or not. Reasons for that struggle vary. While some people believe that meat is simply unhealthy, others just can't deal with the moral dilemma and the issue of animal cruelty and suffering. I belong to the latter group. I have been trying to give up eating meat altogether for quite some time now but unfortunately without any success. And I think that many of you could easily relate to my situation.
Another downside of the problem is that people around you are not usually supportive. My friends are constantly making jokes about my 'vegetarianism' every time they find me eating a meat dish. I must admit it’s quite frustrating and demotivating.
However, I’ve recently heard about a new way to reduce the consumption of meat. It’s called Flexitarianism.
If I were to give you my own definition of Flexitarianism I would describe it as the best way to transform an average meat eater into a proper vegetarian by means of gradual meat reduction in diet. Some will still mock the idea; nevertheless, I find it intriguing and can’t wait to implement it into my lifestyle.
There are many ways to start. My favourite one allows me to choose one or two days in a week to still include meat in the diet. After 10 weeks I’m planning to decrease this to one day and then eventually stop.
Questions:
Are you Vegan/Vegetarian or Flexitarian? Or you are planning to give it a try?
Do you think that meet industry is a serious problem for our planet?
Do you have a lot of Vegan, Vegetarian or Flexitarian people around you?
i love vegetables and meat. I eat everything. I was brought up at home in which everyone always eating meat. Hardly anyone who had any diet despite the fact that there is no obesity in my family. I am aware of what is happening in the world with animals,i saw a lot brutal video and photos however, I am used to taste meat from a child and I can not imagine giving up on it. I respect other choices, however I dont urge anyone to continue to eat meat if he gave up. A lot of my friends gave up the meat and suddenly we have a problem with orders online because they are very fussy.
ReplyDeleteFortunately for you and your friends, number of vegetarian bars and cousins growing very fast in our city and in the nearest future it will not be a problem ;)
DeleteWhen I was younger I had a big struggle to eat vegetables. I don't know why, because my family likes to eat everything and experience new tastes. Nowadays, I try to overcome my phobias and eat more healthy. I think I don't have to answer if I am a vegeterian or flexitarian :) I don't have may vegeterian people around me but those I know don't try to impose their beliefs on others.
ReplyDeleteThere was a time in my life I obtained that I'll feel much better if I'll get rid of meat from my daily basis diet. At some point I was even feeling like I don't like the taste of meat. It happened only twice in my life, just for really short period of time - like several weeks - and then everything was coming back to "normal". I found out that vegetarian food have much more taste sometimes and I'm really enjoying it from time to time. To be honest I can't imagine a life without meat but for now on I'm trying to stay the whole day without chewing animals, once or twice a week. I think that we shouldn't freak out about the industry because our planet have more self protection mechanism that we are aware of. Comparing our pollution (as a all human kind) to volcano eruption we're just like grain of sand on the desert. Moving forward to your last question - I've got several friends that identify as vegan/vegetarian. Most of them really are but I also meet few that they're only trying to pretend because of trend.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI think that my diet is quite balanced and I don't need to give up anything. I eat a lot of vegetables and fuits but I also eat meat.
I do think that meat industry is a big problem for our planet that's why I try to buy only ecological meat from known sources. I know a few people that are vege.
They are quite radical in their behaviour and opinions.
I'm none of these. Currently I don't plan to reduce amount of meat I consume.
ReplyDeleteJudging by your article it seems like it is a serious problem for our planet. Despite this fact we cannot forget about the benefits that are associated with meat consumption. For instance meat is great source of protein (much better than plant-based counterparts). It also does not increase blood sugar level, so is great meal for people with insulin level stability problems. Moreover, meat very rarely causes allergic reactions.
I have only one friend who does not eat meat for years. It's not really common among my acquaintanceship.
I eat meat and I don’t plan to give it up, however I have some vegan cookbooks, because they are a great source of recipes with vegetables. I like meat and I believe that from plants we can’t get all amino acids and some minerals, like iron, are assimilated worse than from meat. I know one person, who is vegetarian and others who eat only poultry. Producing big amount of food is a problem and it concerns not only meat but plants too. Cultivation of cereals is also harmful, especially when farmers use tones of glyphosate.
ReplyDeleteAre you Vegan/Vegetarian or Flexitarian? Or you are planning to give it a try?
ReplyDeleteI did try to switch to Vegetarianism, but unfortunately also gave up this idea. But now I'm eating meat, especially now when it's a barbecue period.
Do you think that meet industry is a serious problem for our planet?
Yes, I know that, and I feel guilty. We have to stop consuming this amounts of meat, because what you stated in the article is a serious problem to our planet. And we have no other planet to destroy. But maybe this is our fate?
Do you have a lot of Vegan, Vegetarian or Flexitarian people around you?
Very small group, maybe some people who are honest in this diet. And I respect them :)
I've never been vegan or vegetarian or flexitaran and I was never really planning to give a try for any of them. Not only avoiding eating meat in specific diet is a problem but also the group of people who are trying to fight to turn everyone vegan are really tiring. I don't mean that everyone is like that, but I've already met a lot of people in my life that only topic that they can talk about is veganism (mostly only veganism, vegetarianism very rarely) and trying to change Your life in very offensive way and it really makes me only more oppose.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that meet industry is a serious problem for our planet?
I think it always was but there are more and more solutions.
Do you have a lot of Vegan, Vegetarian or Flexitarian people around you?
I've had some time ago. Unfortunately when the only topic is food and when You're "meat eater" they treat You like enemy I've cut off those friends. Still have some vegetarian friends and I respect their lifestyle when they respect mine.
I'm neither vegan nor vegetarian but I'm thinking about becoming flexitarian since my stomach can't handle too much meat and I have digestion problems very often. Besides that it's just good for our health in general.
ReplyDeleteI don't think meat industry is at fault and I think it's complex problem which is usually flattened by vege or meat lovers. I believe the biggest problem is people's mindset and knowledge. If people change, industry will adjust as well.
I don't know any vegetarian or flexitarian but I know few vegans and they're usually nice people. There's stereotype that vegans are usually obsessive and intrusive about their outlook but I haven't seen any real life example yet.
1. I am vegetarian for a few years and sometimes eat vegan. Don’t like taste of meat and don’t miss it.
ReplyDelete2. Yes definitely, one of the reasons I decided to quit eating meat. Hate eating something that was harmed. Meat industry is terrible, I saw many Netflix documentaries about it and it really opened my eyes.
3. Not really unfortunately. My ex used to be vegetarian too but don’t know if he is now. Most people don’t have a problem that I don’t eat meat, I don’t tell me what to eat and they don’t force me- easy solution.
1.I used to be a vegetarian for about 6 years. Now, I eat meat, however, quite rarely - once a week sometimes less often.
ReplyDelete2. Of course, farm animals produce huge amounts of nitrogen that gets into our atmosphere. The industry itself and the waste that produce productions are unimaginable.
3. Rather, most of my friends like meat. However, I convinced my partner (who couldn't imagine life without meat) that vegetable cuisine can be tasty, interesting and you can eat it and be full.
I don't consider myself Flexitarian (actually I haven't heard this term before), but there are times where I don't eat meat for a few days. It's not really a conscious decision, but rather sort of a coincidence ;) I wouldn't be able to fully commit to vegetarianism since I tend to have craving for meat.
ReplyDeleteI have couple of friends who are either Vegan or Vegetarian, and also my fiancee might be Flexitarian, since she very rarely eats meat.
Are you Vegan/Vegetarian or Flexitarian? Or you are planning to give it a try?
ReplyDeleteI do think that vegetarian cousin is tasty and healthy so I eat a lot of vegetables/ However I don't want to give up on eating meat. I just try to limit my meat consumption because it is important to have healthy and balanced diet.
Do you think that meet industry is a serious problem for our planet?
As for meat industry I heard that it is having a bad impact on our environment. Additionaly animals in slaughterhouse are usually treated awfully. It is a problem and hopefully society will try to solve this issue.
Do you have a lot of Vegan, Vegetarian or Flexitarian people around you?
I know few vegetarians. Beside more and more of my friends are considering to give up on meat so maybe one day I will also be part of this vege club
I like meat too much to think about it. I’ve never been vegetarian, vegan or flexitarian, I didn’t even know that there is some kind of diet like flexitarian. One of my dinners last week was vege chops made of mushrooms and lentils and they were great. I respect your point of view, none of my friends are vegetarian or vegan, so that’s why I can’t even check what you can usually eat.
ReplyDeleteI learned about the existence of the term "Flexitarian" from this article for the first time. It seems to me that this is a new name on the oldest way of human nutrition, that is, omnivorous or varied diet.
ReplyDeleteI am an omnivore, but I tolerate eating habits of other people until they try to impose them on me. Ideological questions such as suffering animals, caring for the planet or "not eating what has eyes" - I will skip it.
I think that the scale of the planet is a problem for consumer habits, such as buying more food than they are able to eat. Excessive consumption of meat is a wider problem - above all medical contraindications to eating too much meat. The quality of the meat eaten is not essential. Certainly, good quality meat does not come from mass farms, about which the author mentioned at the beginning of the article.
I do not know any evangelizing vegetarian / vegan, but sometimes I talk to people who are on a diet, including limiting the consumption of meat.
I'm not Vegan, Vegatarian but accidentally it seems that I'm Flextarian. I never planned to eat only veggies, but in my company we have free dinners and I started to eat vege meals only, because I found out that I'm feeling better after such meals than after meat meals. I don't think that meat industry is serious problem for our planet. Meat is good for most of the people and I believe if some one likes to eat meat, he or she should have permission to do so.
ReplyDeleteI know only one person that is vegetarian (and this person is from India!). I see that people often are offended by people eating only veggies. It is strange for me, because we should allow people to eat what they want.
I agree with you that people should eat what they want but the problem is when the cost of preparing meat is so huge and it's destroying our planet.
DeleteI am not any of those mentioned types. I do enjoy eating meat and it appears I eat it almost every day. Sometimes I switch to fishes and there is always this one day when I skip meat and focus on vegetables only. I think that being Flexitarian is something I could do, but it's quite hard to keep that much of calories without meat in my daily diet which currently oscillates at up to 3000 kcal. Those facts you've mentioned are strong, no doubt. The meat industry has a huge impact on our environment and I think that this is a serious issue which needs to be handled as soon as possible. There are many Vegans, Vegetarians and Flexitarians around and I keep finding more and more friends who are one of those. Honestly, in some groups I feel like being a meat eater is beginning to be a hipster thing. We've been eating meat since always.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying not to eat meat every day and I don't have any problems if I can't have a meat meal for a few weeks, but I never gave this approach any name, I guess this could be called flexitarianism.
ReplyDeleteMeet industry is pure evil in my opinion, not even considering the cruelty those animals are receiving. Resources that are needed to produce meat as well as side affects of this are exceeding the positives multiple times. So having that in mind it meat industry should be much more controlled.
I have many friends that are vegetarians or vegans and I have no problem with that, we can go together for lunch and no one have any issues towards the other :)
I like meat, vegetables, fruit and vegetables, and I'm fine with it. I don't think I'm going to change my eating habits. And I didn't care if anyone was a vegan, or if they follow other eating habits. Industry has a strong influence on the planet and unfortunately there is a negative influence. Cutting down forests and more and more trucks are doing their job. It is becoming harder and harder for people to live. Mass-produced meat is of dubious quality. Personally, I try to buy meat that is as little processed as possible and prepare it myself to my liking. Such meat is healthier.
ReplyDelete1. Are you Vegan/Vegetarian or Flexitarian? Or you are planning to give it a try?
ReplyDelete2. Do you think that meet industry is a serious problem for our planet?
3. Do you have a lot of Vegan, Vegetarian or Flexitarian people around you?
1. I tried to be a vegetarian in a past but it ended with bruces and weak bones and bone joints. So now i eat meat normally, but maybe in a future I will reduce amount of meat in my diet, but I am not sure about deleting it completely.
2. Yes.
3. In my closest environment I think there is only one person according to what I know.
Are you Vegan/Vegetarian or Flexitarian? Or you are planning to give it a try?
ReplyDeleteI am not, but recently I am doing a lot to change my eating habits. For the last weeks I was only buing vege burgers and other plant products with little meat. It's not that easy to get tasty replacements, but I am trying and researching the non-meat products at the moment.
Do you think that meet industry is a serious problem for our planet?
I think it is a serious problem for our planet. We really need to reduce the meat production for the sake of ours planet health.
Do you have a lot of Vegan, Vegetarian or Flexitarian people around you? Not really, maybe one or two.
I cannot be considered a flexitarian as I eat meat everyday (my friends and coworkers also do). When it comes to environment protection issue, I can indeed try not to eat meat to reduce amount of greenhouse gas emitted to the atmosphere, but will it work as USA, India, China do not give a damn and burn huge amount of coal everyday. Another point: Are forest not cut down to make place for farmlands? I think it was my mother who taught me to eat lot’s of meat – when I was a child, she always told me, over and over again: “You are growing, you have eat meat to have enough protein). My company is located in WeWork – no meat is served there on the community parties – this is the official policy, just not to offend anyone by chance (Nevertheless, I am not convinced whether community team is really convinced to this :) - I always have fun of it (my workmates also find it a bit hilarious)
ReplyDeleteAre you Vegan/Vegetarian or Flexitarian? Or you are planning to give it a try?
ReplyDeleteI'm not but I'm trying to limit daily portion of meat. As you wrote, I see that we have problem related to enormous amount of meat produced nowadays. We're eating it for breakfast, dinner or even as snacks.
Do you think that meet industry is a serious problem for our planet?
Yes, we're producing too much meat, we don't need to eat so much meet everyday.
Do you have a lot of Vegan, Vegetarian or Flexitarian people around you?
Yes, some of my friends called themselves as semi-Vegan as they're reducing meet in their diets.
I'm not any of them and I'm not going to be. I cannot imagine that I would give up meat to such a large extent. I am aware, however, that the meat available in the cheapest stores is of terrible quality. In addition, the meat is cheap, available to almost everyone and it takes much more space in our diet than it should. This is a serious threat to human health in the world. Personally, I like meat very much but I do not have a problem with eating something vegetarian or restricting meat consumption. However, not to the point of becoming a vegetarian.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment I am in between Vegetarian and Flexitarian, but lately I almost don’t eat meat at all. I grew up in a home where meat was cooked almost everyday, but ever since I moved out for university, I developed new dietary habits and slowly replaced meat by other ingredients - mostly more vegetables. I think that the fact that a lot of people around me are vegan or vegetarian helped me make more informed decisions on my diet.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think that the meat industry has quite a threatening impact on the planet and people should try incorporating other plant-based ingredients into their diet.
To begin with I’d to admit that I was fussy eater since I remember. Nowadays I eat everything and there is really hard to find a thing that I wouldn’t like. Except maybe some local dishes. It is true that eating too much meat isn’t really healthy. Especially when Polish people like it fat and fried. I guess I could try all that flexitarian diet and I’d recommend to it many people. Reducing meat to zero isn’t best idea because you need to supply yourself with vitamin B12.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion meet industry is really terrifying. The thing is that farm animals understand their near future and they know that when someone of them disappears it doesn’t come back so they are scared of taken away.
I do and I don’t have any problems with it until someone is stubborn with their own believes. I truly hate this whole “war” between vegans and meat eater. I’m convinced that it’s people own choice whatever they want to eat.
I did not do it on time because the post was not published in the required time.
ReplyDeleteI wrote all the comments at the beginning of week and did not come back here again.
I'm a little angry because it's not my fault ... well. With a delay, but I will write.
1. I am not a vegan.
2. No, however, I think that vege terrorism and pushing people vegan's ideologies is a big problem.
3. I do not know. I do not pay attention to whether someone is a vegan or not. I am not attracted to someone's menu and does not sort people in this category.