Word from the Flexitarian Front

I haven't posted about flexitarianism in a while, but I found this segment on NPR's Tell Me More really interesting. Host Jennifer Ludden had ADA's Dawn Jackson Blatner—the author of The Flexitarian Diet—to discuss the need to be a little bit, um, flexible during the holiday season.

In short, the main message is to cut back on meat and load up on vegetables. Blatner also tells vegetarian listeners how to get that savory umami flavor found in meats. She also encourages vegetarians to just have a little turkey and enjoy the meal, treating meat as a condiment.

It's an interesting suggestion. I suppose it all depends on why someone chooses to follow a vegetarian diet in the first place. I will say, I did have a meatless Thanksgiving, and I didn't feel a bit like I was missing out, thanks to the nontraditional yet delicious spanikopita my mom brought!

Really, when it comes down to it, you just have to do what works for you.

Another interesting bit about Flexitarianism

I know I said I should give up women's magazines, but I think Self magazine would be my exception. They have great blogs!

Today's Healthy Bites blog featured a post about flexitarianism. As someone who only eats meat once or twice a week, I'm always interested to read about others who do the same. While I don't identify myself as a flexitarian, I guess the shoe fits.

In this post, blogger Merritt Watts interviews her flexitarian friend Archana about her lifestyle and eating habits.

Also, the American Dietetic Association just put out a position paper on the vegetarian diet—worth reading, for sure.

Recession Flexitarians

I came across a really interesting article from Gourmet magazine while procrastinating on a work project earlier. I don't know about you, but I feel like I've been hearing a lot about how more people seem to be citing money as a reason to go vegetarian in recent months.

So behold, Recession-Bred Flexitarians—"semi-vegetarians who dabble in carnivorous cuisine from time to time."

Meat being as expensive as it is, it makes sense that choosing legumes, soy products, nuts or other vegetarian options over, say steak, can save you money, even if you only do it a few times a week.

If you don't want to take the jump to full vegetarianism (especially if you, like me, don't believe in restrictive diets), this can be really easy to stick with. Besides that, a lot of research supports the notion that the American diet is too heavy on meat in general, so why not take advantage of the recession and use it as an excuse to do something good for your health?

Personally, when it comes to saving money, I think a lovely bowl of homemade lentil soup or spinach pie beats a Big Mac any day.