Flexitarian is a casual vegetarian but have not given up meat totally but aiming to get the health benefits of a vegetarian diet.
Increased intake of plant-based meals without completely eliminating meat, fish or dairy.
A flexitarian diet is increasing in popularity as many people do not want to commit to a full vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. But want to a commitment to a healthy lifestyle with less environmental impact and kinder to animals.
Reasons to become a Flexitarian
Health: Meat & especially red meat is high in fat and processed meats are now linked to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Intensive factory farmed animals are reportedly contributing to increased resistance to antibiotics.
'Red meat chemical' link to heart disease
New study links L-carnitine in red meat to heart disease
Environment: Animal Agriculture contributes to a huge amount of greenhouse gases and deforestation
Study claims meat creates half of all greenhouse gases
Rearing cattle produces more greenhouse gases than driving cars, UN report warns
Animal Welfare: Buying smaller amounts of meat which are raised to a higher welfare standard, local, organic or free range.
How to become a Flexitarian?
- The first step is to commit to one meat-free day a week
- Where will you will your meat from - Local maybe local to local farms and think Organic
- Reducing Meat -Buy more vegetables to fill your plate so reducing the meat on your meat eating days
- Food swops - These can be small easy changes. e.g First swop mince to shop brought soya protein and then maybe move onto changing over to lentils which can be brought in a tin or dried.
- Experiment with new vegetables to increase colour and variety.
- Dairy - Buy local and organic and experiment with plantbased milks and yoghurts
- Eggs - Buy locally produced farms where you can see conditions
Small changes can improve your health, protect the planet and help animals.
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