I grew up as a meat and potatoes girl.  Dad expected both at dinner with the occasional veggie…he thought potatoes were a veggie.  Bad college eating habits required hotdogs added to my Velveeta Mac & Cheese.  When I changed my diet I still had chicken with my broccoli and rice.

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Then the food experimenting began.  We ate less meat as I was figuring out my health issues.  But the problem was what to call my new diet.  It was healthy and I knew the technical term was omnivore…yet that didn’t seem to fit when I only at meat 2-3 times a week.  Did that make me a “flexitarian”? Such a strange word and one with strong feelings both for and against.

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Then Mother Earth New – a new favorite magazine from a friend – explored the topic with an amazing article.

Those with a primarily vegetarian diet are to be applauded.  I made the full switch for health reasons about 1 year ago but wish this message was around then.

All kind of flexible eaters, who are making  wise choices for themselves and the environment as they find new ways to define complete healthy meals.
~Tabitha Alterman, Mother Earth News

There are many ways to stretch when, and if, you chose to eat meat:

• Slow cookers
• Meat Stocks
• Sautéing in drippings
• Buying whole and home butchering
• Purchasing high quality and eating smaller portions

If you are looking for more ideas there are fantastic cookbooks recommended by Mother Earth News and my bookshelf.

Flexitarian Table – Peter Berley Almost Meatless – Joy Manning & Tara Mataraza Desmond New Complete Vegetarian – Rose Ellis Peas and thank you: Simple Meatless Meals the Whole Family Will Love – Sarah Matheny Green Lite Bites – Roni Noone Moose Wood CookbooksHow to Cook Everything Vegetarian – Mark BittmanAppetite for Reduction: 125 Fast & Filling Low-Fat Vegan Recipes – Isa Chandra Moskowitz

No matter how much meat or animal products you eat…you’re making choices for a healthier environment and healthy you.

So I say…

God Bless the Flexitarian!