What exactly is a flexitarian?

Question

I never heard of this term before I started coming to this sight.

I mean even if you eat meat in moderation, aren't you still an omnivore?

Back in the old days, my grandparents only ate meat once a week. Were they flexitarian?

Why even use that term? Why is it so important to some people to call themselves vegetarian when they're clearly omnivores?

Answer 1

You know what it is by now. However, it may perplex you, as it does me, that people use a label such as this... because it is truly moot. I mean it offers nothing in the way of benefit ever. For example, If I use the word vegetarian outside of V&V it is so that someone is aware of my eating habits that may or may not vary from theirs. I usualy only tell someone that I am a vegetarian if they have the possibility to at some point fix me food or get me food or invite me over for dinner or a party. It's so that I don't have to have an issue with what I eat and what I don't. Or at a resturaunt.



Now we can get to the skinny here. Why would a fleximeatavegefisha-- whatever call themselves by name to anyone. It even lengthens any sort of logical conversation for no reason when trying to tell people their diet. Example. If they are going over to someone's house for dinner, and they say, I'm a flexitarian.... What the hell good does that do except cause confusion. Sometimes I eat meat and sometimes I don't. But don't worry, if you make something with meat it doesn't bother me, I just don't eat a lot?



Wtf? I don't understand? Wouldn't it just be easier to say, I enjoy vegetables as a staple of my diet with meat playing a minor role? simple and to the point, everyone understands, no confusion.

Flexitarian as a label just doesn't make sense to me in any way I can think to use it. Maybe someone here can explain a situation that the term has had a practical use for them, I don't know.

Answer 2

Yes, a flexitarian is an omnivore. People who intentionally eat less meat or eat it less often than the average omnivore use it to denote that. I'm fine with the term as long as they don't use the oxymoronic "flexitarian vegetarian," which is clearly nonsense.



I'm guessing that your grandparents ate meat infrequently because it was expensive, not because they preferred or aspired to a vegetarian lifestyle. Which would mean they wouldn't likely have called themselves flexitarians even if the word had existed. I think of flexitarians as people who would like to be vegetarians but don't want to give up turkey at Thanksgiving or don't want to make waves at family gatherings.

Answer 3

Its pretty much a recent term and rarely heard outside of the internet.



It doesn't mean anthing to me. Its meateaters who eat less meat.



So ?



I don't eat much brocolli, does that make me a brocoliarian ?



Maybe it will become a useful term one day, who knows. But by the evidence in this forum its reserved exclusively for those that hate V&V and want to spread untruths.



Some people prefix vegetarian with the "flexi" stuff. "Flexitarian" sounds a bit like "vegetarian" so some could convince people who didn't know otherwise that they might be similar, which clearly they are not.



Because of this,.I believe most use of the flexi word is because people like the label and being associated with the word vegetarian.



If it was "flexist", i doubt it would be used so much.



The term is used a lot in this forum by the regular trolls because they know it winds vegetarians up.



If you can't go into a resturant ans say "I'm a flexitarian" and get full understanding, then the label becomes a bit pointless.

Answer 4

A flexitarian is a complicated identify for a meat-eater. So devour meat each time you wish... What I might like to grasp is why you suppose the have got to label your self in some way that shows that you're something almost a vegetarian...???? Why even hassle with the label? you're a meat-eater...

Answer 5

It's a made-up word to describe people who are consciously eating less meat, but can't or won't commit to being fully vegetarian. Some people are desperate for a label to describe them, so they made up the word. Still, if the only flesh you eat is fish, I'd rather you call yourself a flexitarian than inaccurately claim you're vegetarian.



Yes, they're still omnivores, but unlike indiscriminate omnivores and meaters (my term for those hostile to vegetarianism), they are aware of the problems inherent in meat production and consumption and are trying to eat less of it.

Answer 6

It's a recently coined term to describe someone who chooses to limit the amount of meat and fish they eat, so that plant-based food makes up around 70 - 80% of their diet.



It's a very healthy way to eat , of course, and if the people who eat such a diet want a label to describe themselves, fine by me.



It becomes a nonsense when it's used as an adjective before the words vegetarian or vegan. Like the word flexitarian, these two (also fairly recently coined) words have specific meanings, invented by the person or people who coined them.



Language evolves, and 'flexitarian' will find its way into a dictionary soon. It could even be a useful term; as a vegan I could presumably go to a party thrown by a flexitarian knowing at least 70% of the food available would be vegetarian.



It's a term that's been brought into disrepute on this forum though, by the actions of a group of four or five people (or anyway, 4 or 5 usernames) who claim to be flexitarian and post here to insult and abuse veg*ns, sometimes singling out one particular user for a bullying campaign



Whether or not they are actually flexitarians I don't know, but they are bullies, liars and foul-mouthed idiots.



Recently two of them, who both use the word 'vegan' in their user names in order to confuse (FlexiVegan and FlexitarianVegan) have said , on a forum they KNOW is read mainly by young and impressionable people, that 'true' vegans will allow themselves to die in the event of serious illness or accident, rather than accept medication or procedures that have been tested on animals. Could they sink much lower?



Any hostility you find to flexitarians on this board is because of them. There are some intelligent, articulate and courteous meat-eaters who use this board too.

Answer 7

The first time I ever heard of this was here also.



I stopped eating meat poultry and dairy about 12 or 13 years ago. I still eat fish though, so I would never call my self vegan, clearly because I'm not. Should I be calling myself pesco-vegan? Why not? Yeah, I should have a label too. LOL!Everyone else does right?



SST, I totally agree!

Answer 8

It supposedly means a "vegetarian" who, when the situation calls for it, will eat meat in moderation. Supposedly they eat mostly plant foods with an occasional chicken, fish/seafood or other meat thrown in. Their mantra I believe is "everything in moderation". There is supposedly an official entry in some dictionaries for the word "flexitarian".

Personally, I dont care much for labelling which just leads to a lot of discrimination and animosity especially among the fanatics. If people want to call themselves vegetarians or vegans or flexitarians or whatever-ians, fine. They can call thmselves "Shirley" and I wouldn't care one bit.

Answer 9

Sorry I've never heard of that term.



I became a vegetarian 1 year ago for moral reasons (I love animals so was contradicting myself by eating them), but this month I had exams at uni so I tried to eat some tuna again to boost my omega 3 levels (supposed to be good for your brain) but I was almost sick - my body wasn't used to the meat after so long. I wouldn't do it again!

Answer 10

A flexitarian is an omnivore that likes to make fun of veg*ans.



natrub: You can get omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil/ground, seed oil, hempseed, canola (rapeseed), walnuts, & tofu.

Answer 11

A "flexitarian" does not exist because a "flexitarian" is an OMNIVORE. A "flexitarian" is a HYPOCRITE troll omnivore who wants a trendy label.



I say if they want a label that badly, they could call themselves flexivores.



The way I see it, a "flexitarian" trying to be grouped with vegetatarians is like a racist who only engages in racism and lynches black people occasionally but not all the time calling themself an anti-racist.

Answer 12

Flexitarian = omnivore that wants a trendy label.



The definition is so vague that it can't be counted as anything more than a meaningless accessory.

Answer 13

Flexitarians are vegetarians who enjoy vegetarian 'bacon' flavoured crisps and if invited to a top class restaurant, will happily eat the most expensive animal on the menu, just for once, as long as someone else is paying.

Answer 14

There is no such thing as a flexitarian.



Some people who eat meat just want a title because they sometimes don't eat meat. It's really stupid, I just call them meat eaters lol.



In other words, it's a term for meat eater.

Answer 15

omnivores who want to feel special with a title.

Answer 16

A flexitarian is one of the healthiest diets in the world.



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4541605/

Answer 17

a troll on the V&V message board.