Flexitarian...really?

[FrustratedTeddyLamp]

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

This is basically a vegetarian who will have the odd meal with meat in it. Vastly different to an omnivore who eats mostly meat day to day.

@TrooBloo

Mostly meat? I bet very, very few people eat mostly meat.

But why would that be helpful? In what circumstances would someone actually care how often you eat meat?
I was thinking along the lines of having a guest come to stay.

I suppose it could also be useful if someone sees that you eat mostly vegetarian food, and wants to check your dietary requirements for a one-off meal (“oh don’t worry about it, I’m a flexitarian not a vegetarian”).

I agree OP. I have eaten little meat/chosen mostly veggie options since I was 14. I call myself a person who doesn't eat a lot of meat/prefers veggie options.

@Copin

But why would that be helpful? In what circumstances would someone actually care how often you eat meat? I was thinking along the lines of having a guest come to stay.

I suppose it could also be useful if someone sees that you eat mostly vegetarian food, and wants to check your dietary requirements for a one-off meal (“oh don’t worry about it, I’m a flexitarian not a vegetarian”).

So no more helpful than asking "Do you eat meat?" and replying "Yes, but very little", then?

Instead, we go through the explanation of what a flexitarian is and why it's different from just having a varied diet?

I suppose this describes me although it's not a term I've heard or would use. Bit wanky imo. I try and have a few veggie meals a week but I love meat/fish so have them in moderation. I thought this was fairly normal

This describes me, although I have not used the term. It might be handy, as I will normally order vegetarian meals at restaurants, and people assume I'm vegetarian. They always seem to ask, and I always seem to end up explaining that I will eat meat, I just eat a vegetarian-ish diet by habit. "Flexitarian" would be a lot less long winded!

I'm not a big fan of all the criticism of "virtue signalling". It seems to be the Daily Mail equivalent of the "loony left" and "political correctness gone mad".

Many years ago I used to be vegetarian but I would not be fussy if I went to someone's house for dinner. I always thought it seemed quite rude (and disproportionate) to make a big fuss about whether the cheese on the mushroom lasagne had rennet in it, or whatever it was. I would eat what I was given.

If anyone is to be criticised as "virtue signalling" then it should be the people who want to read the packets of the ingredients used for their hosts' main course, not those who are prepared to flex to accommodate!

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

Well…..I mean, yes, I do eat meat, but not often and I am very fussy about it, so for your purposes as my dinner party host I would prefer vegetarian catering please, but it’s not accurate to say I am vegetarian - if I say I’m veggie because I want the veggie option, I’ve had aggro from veggies offended that I’m using that label! So…. “I’m flexi, vegetarian option for me if possible please” is my answer.

That’s about the only time I would ever use the term btw. Hardly go around starting conversations about being a flexitarian.

Well my DS is a flexitarian as the only meat he likes is a certain brand of chicken nugget, which we only feed him once or twice a week for obvious reasons. I'll post that on Insta and see if it inspires anyone 😇
Although he claims to be a fruitarian because he's not keen on veggies either.
I prefer the term fussy fucker.

I guess you can only truly be a flexitarian if you limit meat due to moral/environmental reasons?
And not fussiness (or skintness, health reasons, religious reasons or any other reason)?

It just means you are trying to reduce your meat consumption, and / or you only eat ethically raised meat.

I don’t know anyone who would describe them self as one, it’s just a description of a way of eating that’s gaining traction.

I will normally order vegetarian meals at restaurants, and people assume I'm vegetarian. They always seem to ask, and I always seem to end up explaining that I will eat meat, I just eat a vegetarian-ish diet by habit

To be fair this is is really annoying. I can see why it may have driven someone to invent the term.

I’m flexitarian. Left to my own devices I will eat vegetarian. But if I’m a guest in someone’s home I won’t make a fuss and will eat what I’m given. And I eat local butcher red meat maybe once a month because otherwise I get badly anaemic.

It makes sense to me, how do you describe "my friend who usually eats vegetarian but will occasionally eat meat"? I had a friend who twice a year ate bacon but the rest of the year was strictly veggie. I guess it would describe her.

More confusing I would think if you had someone who told you they ate veggie and then you saw them eat some meat, it would feel dishonest.

I guess the name is a little goofy but that is the only problem I have with it. No more goofy than pescatarian or fruitarian or anything else though.

@RonCarlos why on earth is it annoying? She’s answering a question asked of her. They don’t have to ask if they don’t want to know. It takes approx 8 seconds to say “I don’t really eat much meat by choice, I just prefer vegetables”.

I read about this the other day. Absolute bonkers. You either eat meat or you don’t.

@kittensinthekitchen

This is basically a vegetarian who will have the odd meal with meat in it. Vastly different to an omnivore who eats mostly meat day to day.

@TrooBloo

Mostly meat? I bet very, very few people eat mostly meat.

Inuits, Aleuts and other groups native to the Arctic traditionally ate a predominantly meat diet, but this is generally no longer the case and is unlikely to be what anyone here is referring too

I think flexitarian is a reasonable term for someone doesn't buy or cook meat but will for example eat it if served at a family or friends home or who won't object to parmesan in a shared pasta dish at a picnic or geletine in a shared birthday cake. Not a regular consumer of it but can be flexible in certain circumstances.

I’d say it’s this too- or a “not a strict vegetarian”, which is open to more misinterpretation, I guess.

Why does it matter so much?. I'm not vegetarian, but I often eat a vegetarian (or vegan) meal. I wouldn't give myself any sort of label, but others can call themselves what they like. Why do people care so much?

I am a lapsed vegetarian. I was veggie for decades and then went for drunken tapas and wanted seafood. I now occasionally eat meat and fish but do not consider myself to be veggie because I do eat meat and fish a few times a year although I try to ensure that these are cruelty free etc but I am no longer a veggie. I mainly prefer a veggie diet but certainly do not think I am one these days. Flexitarian just seems meaningless to me. Vegetarian and vegan is a dietary requirement, most I know just quietly get on with it and have done for years. Choosing to eat less meat is great but not really a lifestyle choice in the same way and it seems very odd that peole need to find a way to announce it. No one really cares, the most committed vegans and vegetarians I know have been so for decades and only friends and colleagues know in passing because they do not announce it at every opportunity.

To me it means almost entirely vegetarian at home.
But will eat meat occasionally, eg when a guest at someone's house, and will eat meat contaminated food (like potatoes cooked in goose fat, or soup with a tiny amount of meat in, or eggs fried in the same pan as some bacon).
So similar environmental impact as a proper vegetarian, but not bothered about purity. Much easier when living with non-vegetarians and makes life a lot simpler for the cook.

@rainyskylight

I’m flexitarian. Left to my own devices I will eat vegetarian. But if I’m a guest in someone’s home I won’t make a fuss and will eat what I’m given. And I eat local butcher red meat maybe once a month because otherwise I get badly anaemic.

Not being arsey, I am interested in this on behalf of my anaemic dd and anaemic dm. Is eating red meat once a month enough to prevent anaemia?

So no more helpful than asking "Do you eat meat?" and replying "Yes, but very little", then?

Yes, I suppose like if you asked a vegetarian what their dietary preferences are, they could say “I’m a vegetarian’ or ‘I don’t eat meat’.

I’m ‘flexitarian’ in that my diet is vegetarian/vegan but I’d consider eating a meat dish when travelling somewhere where it’s difficult to find vegetarian food. I also very occasionally will eat something with fish.

I certainly wouldn’t consider eating a vegetarian breakfast and lunch followed by a dinner with meat ‘flexitarian’. I doubt most non vegetarians are eating meat at every meal.

@A580Hojas it really helps! Otherwise I need to take a daily supplement. I love pulses and leafy greens but I can’t absorb enough plant-based iron to keep from getting unwell, and the supplements give me awful stomach aches.

I doubt most non vegetarians are eating meat at every meal
Most of my family and work colleagues eat meat twice-daily, on average.