To think ‘Flexitarian’ isn’t hypocritical?

[MotherOfDragons90]

My DH and I have been gradually phasing meat out of our daily lives. For environmental and financial reasons. I’m not finding it difficult to not eat meat day to day, but I refuse to cut it out completely. I will still enjoy a cheeseburger at bonfire night, roast lamb at MILs on the odd Sunday and a nice steak on our anniversary.

I said to my DSis today (who is a full vegetarian) that I think our balance works well and if everyone did the same it actually might make a difference environmentally, and for animals. She is adamant that it makes no difference and I’m just a hypocrite who may as well eat meat all the time.

It’s really got my back up because I feel like I’m genuinely doing my bit and she’s just stamped all over it! Am I being a hypocrite?!

Ofc you are doing your bit. Good for you OP

You are doing absolutely the right thing

I don't like the silly phrase but we're the same- trying to eat small amounts of high welfare meat & much more veggie options.

If everyone did that, and accepted that 3 meat meals every day isn't a human right, it'd be good

Tell her unless she's a full vegan who wouldn't wear leather or eat jelly that she's complicit in animal genocide....
Then have a nice steak

No you're not, and actually if we all did the same of course it would make a difference! A huge one, actually. We've started doing meat free Monday's, and I plan to make more meals meat free.

It's fine. If everyone reduced their meat consumption just by one meal a week, it would have an impact.

YABU to call yourself a Flexitarian though. You're either veggie or you're not.

Why does it have a label?

I think people being so militant on vegetarian and vegan stops alot of people reducing meat intake.

It makes people feel the option is all or nothing. But actually any reduction is good.

Good for you op. You can follow a mostly vegetarian diet and still enjoy meat as a treat.

So you're a standard omnivore? Just because you eat meat doesn't mean you have to every day, I never have. YABVU to use the term flexitarian.

It would make an enormous difference if everyone did this - HUGELY impactful

There are a lot of people in the uk who eat meat at every meal

I'm sort of flexi too - I eat mostly vegan food - as far as possible I eat vegan. And a couple of times a month I eat fish and a couple of times a year I eat a steak.

I just used flexitarian as I know that’s what people refer to it as, including my Dsis, I don’t say it in real life tbh

I don’t think you’re a hypocrite at all, I tend to call myself a vegan, but really I’m a flexitarian as I sometimes eat eggs and I buy myself and my son leather shoes.

Some (maybe most) vegetarians hate the thought of eating animals. So cant understand the thought of eating meat.

You are doing it for a different reason, which if you ask me is even harder. You enjoy it but are having it less for environmental/financial reasons which takes more self discipline. It's just difficult for someone who doesn't eat meat ever for more emotive reasons to understand.

Yes, me and dc are the same as tea. We are all too fussy to survive as veggies but the aim is a mix of veggie days, fish days and meat from the butcher days.

So you're an omnivore then...

I'm pg and have gone off most meat so this kind of describes me right now. You should eat what is right for your budget, lifestyle and preferences.

I think in general people should be free to eat whichever diet best suits them. The problems start when they say their way is the best way and try to argue about diet on an ideological basis.

I eat meat so I would say I don't care what choices OP or others make.

I think if your DSis was my DSis I would take great delight in finding ways to wind her up.

Such a good idea.
I'm trying to cook more veggie meals, (I am usually a 'No meat, no meal' kinda woman) but am trying at least one veggie evening meal a week.
Last night I made a spicy Spanish hotpot and DH tried to put chorizo in it!
I put feta in mine (but I suppose it has the same effect on farming, by consuming animal products?)

Can anyone recommend some filling foods to add to meals to bulk things out a bit? I find just veg and lentils/beans/chickpeas still leaves me feeling hollow.

Of course you are having an impact! If lots of meat eaters consciously reduced their meat intake slightly the benefit would be huge, far greater than a small number of strict vegetarian/vegans.

In order for a big impact globally the lifestyle has to be accessible, cutting meat out of several meals is a doddle, cutting completely might be too much for many.

Why not just say, we are dont eat as much meat as before?

It's probably, the fact that you label it that put her back up

It's only hypocritical if you preach to other people and do the opposite yourselves. Honestly, I've never understood why people get so het up about what others eat, and I say that as a lifelong vegetarian.

YANBU OP. I’ve been saying this for years. While the label may grate on some, I think it is necessary to have a label so more people might think about trying it. If we all reduced our meat consumption it can only be a good thing!

Never heard this phrase before, but dh and I eat vegan once a week and think it does make a difference.
We could potentially increase it but are happy with the way it is at the moment, I love to cook and it’s a great way of trying new recipes.
I don’t think it needs a label though.

@lavibr that was exactly what I was trying to say

If I went vegetarian it would be on animal welfare grounds and I'd still eat sausages from my friend as I know her pigs have a very happy life and live as natural a life as possible. They certainly run rings round my friend.

Reducing meat consumption and choosing high welfare when you do eat meat is fine.

Cutting down on meat consumption = great

Calling yourself a flexitarian = bit stupid. You’re an omnivore like most people.