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Original poster

To think ‘Flexitarian’ isn’t hypocritical?

201 replies

MotherOfDragons90 · 01/05/2019 19:37

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?!

OP posts:
BossAssBitch · 02/05/2019 10:46

mirime

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

You absolutely would not be a vegetarian if you ate pigs, 'happy' pre slaughter life or not ! I have a happy life, does that mean that it's ok to butcher and eat me?

MrsBethel · 02/05/2019 10:52

YANBU OP.

"She is adamant that it makes no difference"
Well then she's an idiot.

Who gets through more meat:
House A - 1 vegetarian, 3 meat eaters
House B - 2 flexitarians (each eating 80% less meat), 2 meat eaters

It's not difficult stuff, is it?

MrsGolightly · 02/05/2019 10:55

IMO the term flexitarian shouldn't have people up in arms. If anything, it's a label that may help us all have a bit of clarity that it's a movement/way of eating. People are eating less meat which is a great thing, not something to criticise in anyway... let it have a label, why is it so offensive?

claragolightly · 02/05/2019 10:59

Any effort to reduce consumption of animal products is commendable, and in not calling yourself vegetarian you're not being hypocritical.

I say this as a vegan.

goingonabearhunt1 · 02/05/2019 11:21

Lots of people eat meat every single day so tbh I don't see the point of criticising someone who is eating less however they are doing it and for whatever reasons.

I don't call myself anything but I don't really ever cook meat and I have very low amounts of dairy (plant milk, don't really eat yoghurt, eggs or cheese much). I don't like to be annoying so if I'm travelling or at someone's house I'll eat whatever is there but if I'm going to an event and get asked dietary preferences in advance I ask for veggie. A lot of people I know assumed I was veggie but if it comes up I just explain I'm not that into meat. It didn't even start as an ethical thing for me, it was just cheaper and easier to cook and I love vegetables/beans/chickpeas etc. In the years since I've realised the ethical side of things so that has made me reduce it even further (particularly dairy).

goingonabearhunt1 · 02/05/2019 11:23

I find the whole 'Meat-Free Monday' thing a bit baffling though, does that mean people eat meat every other day? (that's still a lot of meat!) Is that not very expensive?

ShirleyPhallus · 02/05/2019 11:44

does that mean people eat meat every other day?

I think it’s pretty easy for a lot of people to do. Even a ham sandwich every day gives you the “eating meat every day” thing.

I think for some, it’s trying to get around the idea that meat is the central point of a dish.

LaurieMarlow · 02/05/2019 11:47

There’s a difference between chowing down a big steak and a bit of leftover chicken in a veg stir fry.

But yes, lots of people do eat meat everyday and small steps to reduce this are a good thing.

AGoodWench · 02/05/2019 11:54

We will sometimes have a bit of bacon in a pasta sauce, so it's not vegetarian but it's not heavy on meat either.

To eat steak and chops each day would be expensive.

MidnightCereal · 02/05/2019 11:55

Inn baffled that people eat meat every single day and several times a day to the point where eating a cheese pizza for tea has to be labelled ‘meat free monday’

AGoodWench · 02/05/2019 11:58

I guess they are making a conscious decision to change an aspect of their diet.

AryaStarkWolf · 02/05/2019 11:59

Of course not, every bit helps, I don't know why some meat eaters get so defensive when others choose to give up meat or eat less meat. It's like they take it as a personal attack or something

lazylinguist · 02/05/2019 12:05

God there are some sanctimonious, snarky people about. Yes of course the OP is an omnivore, but if she's having a conversation about diet and her reasons for eating the way she does, "I'm an omnivore" does not convey that, does it? Low-carbers? Omnivores. People who only buy fair trade bananas? Omnivores. People who only eat organic meat? Omnivores. Coeliacs? Omnivores. Someone who eats nothing but sausages and pineapples? Omnivore. All true, but not a very useful or informative label.

Flexitarian is indeed a very annoying word, and one I definitely wouldn't use. But eating less meat is a good thing and there is nothing at all wrong with saying you do this. Other people might follow suit. I read somewhere that meat consumption in the UK has gone down by 30% in the last decade. I doubt that is entirely down to pure vegetarians and vegans. So how can it possibly not make a difference to cut down?

WeAreAllAdults · 02/05/2019 12:21

YANBU OP. You are doing your bit and she's too militant to see that you're right.

The term is a bit daft but there's nothing you can do about that. You didn't create it. I myself am a flexitarian and the term makes me cringe.

I don't eat meat for moral reasons. That's my choice and I don't judge others who do. However, I have a 2 year old son who I feed meat to because I don't want to force my beliefs on him. He can choose for himself when he's older. The problem is he's great at not finishing any meal I put in front of him because he's a stubborn toddler. If he ever leaves any meat I will always eat it rather than put it in the bin. I can't stand the thought of killing an animal for food and then not even eating it. It didn't die just to go in the bin. It doesn't sit well personally with me.

Foxmuffin · 02/05/2019 12:22

Every little helps!

BogglesGoggles · 02/05/2019 12:23

It’s hypocritical to say that it helps animals. It just means there are less of them suffering exactly the same harm. But it’s definitely not incirrectvto day that it’s beneficial for the environment.

AryaStarkWolf · 02/05/2019 12:25

It’s hypocritical to say that it helps animals.

It just means there are less of them suffering exactly the same harm.

So it does help animals then............

FreddysTash · 02/05/2019 12:42

I’ve started buying less meat. DH hasn’t noticed. On Monday we had Veggie Supreme pizza and chips, Tuesday nut grills and pasta, Wednesday bean chilli and nachos.

Tonight we’re having chicken

HoustonBess · 02/05/2019 12:46

I prefer the term meat reducer.

People get really funny about meat tho, as any veggie will tell you. You get hostility or often some gormless 'I would be vegetarian... but then I really like meat' as if that's some profound revelation.

Snowflakes1122 · 02/05/2019 12:48

I recently turned vegan from vegetarian after watching Forks Over Knives. Was a real eye opener to how bad it is for the environment and body.

Any change is a good change in that respect, and you have made a conscious effort in wanting to help the environment:

Also my skin is great now, I have energy and I have lost weight easily, so it’s win win for me. Smile

NannyRed · 02/05/2019 12:50

Of course you’re not hypocritical.

I’m married to a vegetarian, so all meals I cook are vegetarian. (Only two of us at home) but I enjoy meat when we dine out, so I’m not a vegetarian, I’m just mostly vegetarian, or flexatarian as it’s now known.

Your sister sounds deranged, of course it would make a difference if everyone cut even their meat consumption down by one day a week.

AryaStarkWolf · 02/05/2019 12:50

You get hostility

Imo you get hostility and defensiveness because deep down everyone knows what we do to animals is horrific, they just don't want to say it out loud so get defensive instead

AryaStarkWolf · 02/05/2019 12:51

I recently turned vegan from vegetarian after watching Forks Over Knives. Was a real eye opener to how bad it is for the environment and body.

What the Health is really good too if you haven't seen it already

Snowflakes1122 · 02/05/2019 12:58

AryaStarkWolf-yes, I have seen that too.

They have changed my outlook on what foods do to you and how the industries try to hide it.

Billions to be made promoting foods that make you sick and billions to be made selling the drugs to treat it Angry

LaurieMarlow · 02/05/2019 13:09

imo you get hostility and defensiveness because deep down everyone knows what we do to animals is horrific, they just don't want to say it out loud so get defensive instead

I agree with this and I’m a meat eater.

However meat eating has been central to how humans celebrate, mark occasions, connect with one another for hundreds of thousands of years.

Culturally (and probably biologically) it’s totally ingrained. Naturally that dies hard. Which is why I feel the softly softly approach is most effective in changing behaviour.