Relishments

Savoring life in the Berkshires

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
    • Start Here
    • Relishments Around the Web
    • Flexitarianism
      • Cookbooks
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Reviews
  • The Berkshires
    • Boothbay, Midcoast Maine and More
    • Adventures in Other Places
  • Contact
    • Sponsor

What is Flexitarianism?

What is flexitarianism?  Flexitarianism is a diet which is mostly vegetarian, but doesn’t cut out meat completely, sometimes also known as semi-vegetarian or meat-eating vegetarian.

If this way of eating sounds awfully familiar, you may already be a flexitarian! Many people, perhaps yourself included, already practice a low-meat way of eating without knowing that a term exists for it.  Sometimes it’s really awesome to find out that there’s a term for something you’re already involved in.

Here’s the thing about labels: not everyone with a particular label does things the same way.  Your version of flexitarianism will probably look a lot different than mine and that’s awesome.  My particular breed of flexitarian eating encompasses a lot of things including a love of cooking, an interest in local food and a desire to avoid processed foods as much as possible.  But you can be a flexitarian and not care about any of those things.  Changing your diet can be as easy or as hard as you make it.  Here are 4 tips to help you make the switch:

1.  Make simple substitutions: When I changed to flexitarianism, I started by making just my lunches meat-free.  My dinners (primarily cooked by my mother) stayed the same as they’d been for 23 years.  If you don’t want to be that extreme, try going meatless one day a week a la Meatless Mondays or try some of Dawn Jackson Blatner’s suggested swaps.

flexitarian infographic

2.  Find good produce: It’s a lot easier to eat more vegetables when the vegetables are appealing.  We get most of our produce from our CSA, but you don’t have to.  Check out the different produce departments at local supermarkets, farm markets and health food stores.  Wherever it looks the best, buy it there.  Fresh food that looks delicious is going to be much simpler to integrate into your diet.

fresh produce can make flexitarianism easier

3.  Keep trying: Experiment with different kinds of beans, grains, and vegetables: eating healthier food and trying new things can be difficult.  There’s a lot of choices out there; if you don’t like quinoa, try couscous.  If you don’t like broccoli, try peppers.  There are plenty of healthy vegetarian options that don’t include tofu or tempeh, so keep looking.

vegetarian cookbooks

4.  Get more information: There is no shortage of books, website and blogs on the topic of flexitarianism.  I highly recommend The Flexitarian Diet by Dawn Jackson Blatner and pretty much anything by Mark Bittman or Michael Pollan for expanding your eating horizons, but any vegetarian cookbook can help you get started with cooking meatless meals.  If you’re more interested in online sources, there are a multitude of vegetarian and semi-vegetarian blogs other there, especially for recipes.  Try Minimalist Baker, Cheap Healthy Good, Herbivoracious, Meatless Monday or Post Punk Kitchen.  I also have a list of my favorite cookbooks.

In the past few years, my eating has alternated between vegetarian and vegan and serious carnivore depending on the season, occasion and my mood, but that’s the beauty of being a flexitarian.  I don’t think full-time vegetarianism is in my future, but that doesn’t mean I can’t eat that way the majority of the time.

Dawn Jackson Blatner infographic used with permission.


Interesting related articles:

The Flexitarian Diet – US News and World Report Best Diets, ranked #3 overall. Lots of information! (2018)

What Does it Mean to Be Flexitarian? 10 Reasons to Try the Diet (PopSugar, 11/2/16) – I was interviewed for this piece!

Meats: A Health Hierarchy (The Atlantic, 7/3/14) – compares the environmental impact of various foods

Going Vegetarian Can Cut Your Diet’s Carbon Footprint in Half (Grist, 6/27/14)

Eat Plants and Prosper: For Longevity, Go Easy on the Meat, Study Says (NPR, 3/5/14)

Plant-based diets: The rise and rise of flexitarian eating (Food Navigator USA, 1/22/14)

Resolve to Lose Weight and Cut Carbon Emissions: Eat Less Beef (Live Science, 1/21/14)

Expert Explains How Flexible Vegetarian Diets Boost Weight Loss by 15 Percent (Examiner, 1/10/14)

Did you enjoy this post? Share it!

Welcome!

photo of EmilyWelcome to Relishments! Follow along with my adventures in cooking and eating in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts.

The Berkshires
Recipe Index
CSA Menu Plan
First Time?
 

Support Relishments on Patreon

Just so you know…

I’m just a girl who loves to cook and eat. This site is not a source for nutritional information.

Relishments is affiliated with various sponsors. Some product links on this site are affiliates; I may get portion of the sale. All opinions on this site are honest, regardless of revenue opportunities. Find out more about my policies here

relishments

Emily
I am literally weeks behind in my work life and my I am literally weeks behind in my work life and my blog posts, but I just hit publish on my end of August/beginning of September meal plans! Some blogging progress is better than none! Click the link below or visit my profile to see how we used these 2 CSA pick ups from @mightyfoodfarm.
.
.
.
https://www.relishments.com/blog/august-slipped-away-csa-meal-plan-153/
.
.
.
#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
It's always a beautiful day at the @coastalmainebo It's always a beautiful day at the @coastalmainebotanicalgardens.
.
.
.
#Maine #CoastalMaineBotanticalGardens #Boothbay
We made our annual trip to @thebistrobox in Great We made our annual trip to @thebistrobox in Great Barrington today, bringing along our 6 year old for the first time. 
Pictured: onion rings, pressed Cubano, BOX burger, raspberry mint iced tea/ (huge) side of fries, grilled hot dog, strawberry lemonade. Everything was delicious and my daughter especially enjoyed trying out the lawn games.
Until next year!
.
.
.
#igers413_food
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #GreatBarrington #TheBistroBox
New on the blog: a list of everything I made for d New on the blog: a list of everything I made for dinner this week. A double @mightyfoodfarm CSA pick up plus hosting my in-laws for dinner resulted in me actually planning quality meals.
.
Get the recipe links at https://www.relishments.com/blog/twice-as-good-csa-meal-plan-152/ or click the link in my profile.
.
#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
I had the opportunity to visit the Bridge of Flowe I had the opportunity to visit the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls this morning. It was as beautiful as I remembered and a great morning for hanging out with some friends.
.
.
.
#igers413 #ShelbourneFalls #BridgeOfFlowers #WesternMass #WesternMA
Brian and I finally made it to @ the week before w Brian and I finally made it to @ the week before we went on vacation. I loved the atmosphere, decor, location and, of course, the beer. All eight beers we tasted were delicious and I'm looking forward to going back soon. 
More thoughts on the blog at the link in my profile or at https://www.relishments.com/blog/hot-plate-brewing-in-pittsfield/
.
.
.
#PittsfieldMA #MassachusettsBrewery #igers413_food #igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #DrinkLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires
I made my first ever trip to @seconddropfarm in La I made my first ever trip to @seconddropfarm in Lanesborough this morning to pick blueberries with my daughter. We had a lovely time at the farm, and especially enjoyed the short walk to the lush blueberry bushes, and the beautiful flower and lavender fields. We didn't participate in pick-your-own flowers today, but it's definitely on my radar for the future.
We are looking forward to some muffin baking soon! 🫐
.
.
.
#igers413_food
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #LanesboroughMA #SecondDropFarm #PickYourOwnBlueberries
It's good to be home, but we had a great time with It's good to be home, but we had a great time with Brian's side of the family in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina last week.
.
.
.
#WrightsvilleBeach #NorthCarolina #WilmingtonNC
15 seconds of calm. Wrightsville Beach, NC . . . # 15 seconds of calm.
Wrightsville Beach, NC
.
.
.
#WrightsvilleBeach #WilmingtonNC
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in