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?!

I really don’t understand the issue with flexitarian tbh. It describes someone who is trying. And as many have said this all or nothing ‘well if you eat anything other than soil from your own garden it’s the same as slaughtering 400 chickens a day’ attitude that puts people who are meat eaters off even trying. If every single person on the planet reduced their meat consumption by ‘just’ wanky #meatfreemonday there would be a huge difference, so if you care so deeply about the planet and the animals why would being a snarky twat about a name be more important?
I was raised by farmers, we ate meat every day for every meal excluding breakfast (though even that was bacon and eggs on non school days). When that’s what you’re coming from the huge leap to veganism feels utterly baffling and Overwhelming. I’m not even very old, 38. You have to encourage not ridicule if you want to see the results. Even if that means accepting wanky names.

The issue is that it's a bollocks attention seeking label for the normal eating pattern of a normal human being, it's nothing special to eat a meal without meat, go for a day without meat, or only eat meat occasionally. It's what everyone should be doing, without expecting a medal for doing so.

You can eat whatever you like, tell your sister to jog on

You're doing a good and conscious thing OP. Ignore anyone who tells you otherwise. I don't eat red meat of any sort, or chicken but I do eat fish (salmon mostly, haddock, monkfish) but no shellfish. I have a plethora of veggies, grains, seeds etc daily. Do what's right for you. .

I don't eat as much meat as I used to. If I go out to eat, I always look at the vegetarian menus to see if there is anything more appetising on there. Majority of the time, I have the vegetarian option. However, I love a lamb roast and a nice piece of steak. I don't think I could fully give meat up, I'm not keen on the meat substitutes and would always like the option. I don't feel like I'm a hypocrite at all.

People are just living their lives the way they want to.

I don’t think it’s being a hypocrite to cut down on meat. I think it’s beyond wanky to give it a special name. Or even mention it really- I can’t imagine circumstances where you would. It’s not like you have to warn your host, or think about what restaurants you can go to........

Lowering ones meat consumption is a very hot topic right now so i would imagine it's perfectly reasonable to discuss it without being a wanker

I clicked on this post because I've never come across the word 'flexitarian'. I thought I was about to read an opinion on a flexible Brexit option.

Veganuary 2019 sparked my interest in eating differently though.

Lowering ones meat consumption is a very hot topic right now so i would imagine it's perfectly reasonable to discuss it without being a wanker

I don't think anyone has been called a wanker for discussing lowering meat consumption.

However, the term 'Flexitarian' is unnecessary, trendy bollox speak.

Reducing your meat consumption- perfectly fine and reasonable. Calling it being a “flexatarian” is being a wanker.

You can't just switch to grass fed meat/dairy. That would be utterly unsustainable without people massively reducing their consumption. Reduction HAS to be the primary argument right now.

We have it arse about face though - we should be suppirting the switch to grassfed by buying that - JUST cutting down jyst puts those farmers, so vitally needed for wildlife, at a disadvantage in the marketplace.

If its so clear cut that we'd have to eat less if ALL meat was grass fed, let the market take care of amounts.

Tbh, the eat less idea does a lot of damage, taking the focus off method of production of either meat or plants entirely.

@onlinealienator in an ideal world your theory would work.

In a country/ world where the majority of people have never thought to give a shit where their food came from, the message to eat less animal produce is the simplest, easiest to follow and one that will have the most impact right now.

Of course this can be complemented by eating grass fed but generally, people don't have the inclination to go from eating 3 x portions of shitty meat a day to 1 x grass fed meat a week straight off the bat. In our middle class, liberal and educated bubbles (my guess) it might seem we have it arse about face but I'm certain social marketing would tell you otherwise. That's why the fruit and veg message is 5 a day when we should be eating 10, for example. It's simple, feels achievable and isn't too alienating.

Hopefully, as people eat less meat, they might start to take an interest in where it comes from and the impact of the stuff they DO eat and supermarkets etc might become more responsible. But that's sadly a long way off. Whereas the eating less meat thing is getting a bit more traction.

You’re doing your bit and that’s great. I was pescatarian for years but I’ve eaten meat for past 10 years again. I prob eat it once a week on average and tbh once DS leaves home I probably won’t cook it as he’s the meat lover - DD says she’ll prob go veggie at some point and only really likes chicken and isn’t keen on fish really.
I may still eat meat out occasionally but I would be v happy not to cook it.

It's the simplest, easiest way to....fuck up the environment right now.

It gives veg production a free ride
It punishes meat farmers doing the right thing
It drives meat producers doing the wrong thing to cut costs, what happens then?

Unfortunately, we have to admit that unless we do the hard stuff like looking into how EVERYTHING we eat (or use) is produced, our problems will only worsen.

I identified as vegan for a year or so, due to health issues animal products and byproducts don’t suit me. I started to go a bit awry over crimbo and then never quite went back to full veganism but am a vegan most days. Sadly my health deterioration has coincided with my becoming more of a ‘flexitarian’. Since this has happened I’ve some up against so much criticism from vegans and omnivores alike. It seems to really bother people if I don’t stay within a certain parameter!

nanbread

The problem is that the grass fed systems are often smaller family businesses farming poor land and who are hit disproportionately by cuts in prices (e.g. if meat sales generally reduced). So reducing all meat just makes it harder for the most environmentally sustainable systems to compete with the grain fed ones. So there'll be less meat consumed but possibly just the same amount coming from intensive systems as there is now - and we're no better off.

Gosh, could never have predicted it!

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

^^ This

I'm a lifelong veggie. It drives me nuts that I still have to explain, justify and generally apologise to people for what I do and don't eat. I don't care what other people eat, why do they care what I eat?

What’s wrong with a descriptive term for someone who is trying to cut down meat? I agree that sometimes dieting is not healthy, but someone may be described as a dieter in a neutral informative way?

“What’s wrong with a descriptive term for someone who is trying to cut down meat?”

Under what circumstances would you need to use it?

I'm a lifelong veggie. It drives me nuts that I still have to explain, justify and generally apologise to people for what I do and don't eat. I don't care what other people eat, why do they care what I eat?

^^So much this! I've been a vegetarian for over 35 years now and I am fed up of explaining myself.

OP, you are not being hypocritical at all.

Your DS IBU, not you.

You’re making your effort - good for you.

If everyone just did what they could, it would make a huge difference.

I think flexitarian is quite a useful term actually, and moreover it’s irrelevant what people say, it’s what people do that’s important.

why the label?

*NCforthis2019

why the label?*

because, irritatingly, Brits seem to like attributing boxes and labels to people. I get no end of crap from people when I go off piste from . Personally I don’t like labels or agree with them but it’s a lot easier to have a word like flexitarian than to deal with people’s baiting and twisting and challenging!