If you want to be flexible, you need the flexitarian diet!
Health benefits and environmental preservation are tempting reasons to go vegetarian. Recently a new diet has been introduced that has given vegetarians a little more freedom to enjoy meals with meat-eaters. Ever heard of the Flexitarian Diet?
Author Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD has developed a diet based on vegetarian eating without having to completely eliminate meat. The term Flexitarian is basically just what it sounds like, flexible vegetarianism. Since a diet based solely on plant-based food is one of the healthiest ways to eat, the Flexitarian way of eating provides the same benefits but without the strict discipline it takes to remove meat from the menu.
What is the Flexitarian Diet?
The Flexitarian diet is exactly what it sounds like, a flexible vegetarian style of eating. The benefits of eating strictly vegetarian are numerous, but you don’t have to go completely plant-based to enjoy them.
Making the switch from eating meat to becoming a true vegetarian means making changes to your diet that can also have downfalls. Going vegetarian is not an easy task and beginners may suffer nutritional deficiencies. Strict vegetarians may suffer from protein deficiency, and may also lack the daily recommended amounts of vitamins and essential minerals. Recent studies have shown that vegetarians, on average live about 3.6 years longer and weigh about 15% less than meat eaters. Author of The Flexitarian Diet Dawn Blatner estimates that an average person could shed up to 30 pounds just by sticking to the Flexitarian diet for 6-12 months. Blatner says, “It is perfectly acceptable to pepper in meat and still be able to gain all the health benefits [of a vegetarian diet].”(1)
Want to Try Going Meatless?
The Flexitarian Diet makes it easier to transition your eating plan to include less meat, and more nutrient-dense foods. Start your Flexitarian diet by eliminating meat from meals just a few times a week. On your meatless days, try a protein-rich food like tofu, legumes, quinoa. Try this SkinnyMs Vegetarian Recipes to get started.
You might be surprised at how satisfied you are without meat, and how much easier the digestion process can be. A recent release of the dietary guidelines for Americans urges people to consider eating a plant-based diet for the health benefits. With an emphasis on vegetables, whole grains, beans and fruit, this diet is full of nutrients in whole food form. Plan a few meatless menus that are typically meaty meals, like lasagna or hamburgers and ask yourself if the health benefits are worth forgoing the meat.
What do you think? Are you ready to get started? Purchase your copy of The Flexitarian Diet here!
or just eat dramatically less meat at each meal. Instead of eating am 8+ oz steak try only eating 3. Use one oz of meat on a sandwich instead of the 5-6+ most people use. Meat is awesome in moderation, most americans just don't know what that means. Most americans eat in one meal about 4 days worth of meat.