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Original poster

Flexitarian...really?

254 replies

FrustratedTeddyLamp · 14/03/2022 18:48

Seen flexitarian a few times now and so off I went to Google which gave me this definition:

Flexitarianism or 'casual vegetarianism' is an increasingly popular, plant-based diet that claims to reduce your carbon footprint and improve your health with an eating regime that's mostly vegetarian yet still allows for the occasional meat dish

So a meat eater? An omnivore am I missing something? This seems stupid to me and just another unnecessary label

OP posts:
Thatswhyimacat · 14/03/2022 19:34

It's just a word, I don't get why people get so worked up about it.

OpheliaThrupps · 14/03/2022 19:34

Eye but like anything (recycling, giving to charity etc) this is just something you quietly get on with, no need for a special name and announcing it to the world, unless you are indeed a virtue signaller hmm

Making a big virtue-signal song and dance about it is no worse for the environment than doing it meekly and silently. And in fact if you trumpet it a bit on Insta it might make others think about their own behaviour.

PierresPotato · 14/03/2022 19:35

@A580Hojas

I eat meat, fish and eggs but am fussy about the meat, fish and eggs. So if I'm eating out will always choose the vegetarian options unless in a very expensive restaurant who post the provenance of their meat. That makes me fairly wanky so I don't label myself.

I love my vegan foods/meals - I just don't eat them full time. Isn't that most of us to a greater or lesser extent?

This is where I'm at. Fussy and I own it!
Clymene · 14/03/2022 19:36

@TheMarzipanDildo

The idea is that you eat less meat then you ordinarily would. Doesn’t bother me but then I’m a shit pescatarian
Well I eat a lot less meat than many people I know. I still eat it though and don't see that anyone else needs to know (or be interested in) how much.
FourChimneys · 14/03/2022 19:37

It's nonsense and just a way of having a special label to shout about.

Copin · 14/03/2022 19:41

It's just a word, I don't get why people get so worked up about it.
Meat-eaters have become extremely fragile over the last decade or so.

DdraigGoch · 14/03/2022 19:43

So it's just the same as a normal, omnivorous diet. Only you get a label in order to sound interesting. Hmm

Copin · 14/03/2022 19:45

So it's just the same as a normal, omnivorous diet. Only you get a label in order to sound interesting.
Most ‘omnivores’ I know eat meat at least daily.

So I can see why having a word that’s shorthand for “I’m not vegan but only eat meat and dairy once in a blue moon” might be helpful in some circumstances.

PierresPotato · 14/03/2022 19:45

@DdraigGoch

So it's just the same as a normal, omnivorous diet. Only you get a label in order to sound interesting. Hmm
Yes.
Superbabe64 · 14/03/2022 19:50

DD is a flexitarian. Her partner is vegetarian so in the week she's happy to eat the same as him but when out or at ours she's happy to eat fish or white meat.

donquixotedelamancha · 14/03/2022 19:53

Meat-eaters have become extremely fragile over the last decade or so.

Bit weird to assume the people agreeing with OP eat meat. There are comments thinking it's a twatty word from both vegans and meat eaters. Also flexitarians are, by definition, meat eaters too.

PierresPotato · 14/03/2022 19:53

I think the issue is that people wrongly equate being omnivore with high meat consumption.

RewildingAmbridge · 14/03/2022 19:54

My breakfasts and lunches are generally vegetarian just because of the things I like to eat, I eat fish 2/3 evenings a week, veggie 2/3 and meat 1/2 nights. I thought this was just how people eat, am I a Flexipescavegetarian?!

PierresPotato · 14/03/2022 19:55

I'm a flexipotatoeater. As long as I've got potatoes I'm good.

AddictedToOlives · 14/03/2022 19:56

So funny… I googled it today too! (McPlant thread, OP? )

And discovered to my surprise that I’m probably one…. The definition I found said as an example, flexitarian might eat a small quantity of meat say 3 times per week…
I eat chicken couple of times, and tuna or salmon maybe once per week.

But for me, it’s mainly because money is tight… and I like veggies anyway
I can’t afford beef (which I love) and I’m quite fussy about fatty meat, so don’t like lamb, I’m neutral about pork, not keen on sausages, like bacon but forget to buy it… and I just really love vegetables!

I eat a lot of stir-fry and salads, and when cooking will enjoy a vegetarian lasagne (with grated carrots, courgettes, lentils etc) just as much as a traditional mince one so always choose to make the cheaper, lower fat version. I eat pasta with peppers, mushrooms etc - forget that other people have meat most meals now I’m not cooking for anyone else too

Had no idea that the way I have evolved into eating has a name! 🤣

MardyMandy · 14/03/2022 19:56

Bit of a throwback, haven’t heard this term for years

True. 25 years at least.

OpheliaThrupps · 14/03/2022 19:57

Well I eat a lot less meat than many people I know. I still eat it though and don't see that anyone else needs to know (or be interested in) how much.

So don't use the label then!

I mean this thread is very bizarre indeed. It consists mainly of contradictory people who seem to be very touchy about other people using a word, who are saying: "why do these people make such a big fuss about a word?"!

AddictedToOlives · 14/03/2022 19:58

@RewildingAmbridge

My breakfasts and lunches are generally vegetarian just because of the things I like to eat, I eat fish 2/3 evenings a week, veggie 2/3 and meat 1/2 nights. I thought this was just how people eat, am I a Flexipescavegetarian?!
Pretty much same as me!

Love that word… ❤️🤣

Copin · 14/03/2022 19:59

True. 25 years at least.
Yeah it was a bit of a 90s trend.

kittensinthekitchen · 14/03/2022 20:00

I'm a panitarian... I don't GAF if it's meat or plant, I'll eat it.

Gerbilteeth · 14/03/2022 20:00

I think it's a good idea. You cut down on meat but there's a bit of flexibility if someone invites you round, or whatever. Or if you're finding it hard to miss out on meat altogether.
It's actually okay to do a 90% job, rather than a 0% job like most people. It's usually the selfish 0% people who complain about other people not living in mud huts on a diet of grass.

carefullycourageous · 14/03/2022 20:03

I think it is fine, it distinguishes from a person who would be put out if the meal didn't have meat, so it is quite useful when catering.

People who perceive it as 'virtue signalling' are being twats IMO, it is just a fucking word.

Cbes · 14/03/2022 20:04

It’s a term that’s been used since at least the 70s, so all of the “these days” comments are a bit amusing.

hangrylady · 14/03/2022 20:04

Probably because being vegetarian or vegan is too mainstream now and they need make bloody well sure they're seen as a bit special by having an important label.

kittensinthekitchen · 14/03/2022 20:04

@Copin

So it's just the same as a normal, omnivorous diet. Only you get a label in order to sound interesting. Most ‘omnivores’ I know eat meat at least daily.

So I can see why having a word that’s shorthand for “I’m not vegan but only eat meat and dairy once in a blue moon” might be helpful in some circumstances.

But why would that be helpful? In what circumstances would someone actually care how often you eat meat?

Dinner invitation - "Are you vegan/vegetarian or do you eat meat?" "I eat meat"

It was always the source of many tears for vegans when people made the joke "How do you know if someone's vegan? Don't worry they'll tell you!" But it's true!

I've been asked if I was a meat eater before, but never how often I eat it. Certainly never often enough to need a word to describe how often.