John Myers
Flexitarians eat a lot of plant-based foods, supplemented by small amounts of meat and fish. As a result, the fundamentally vegetarian diet is less strict in everyday life and easier to stick with for many people.
Part-time vegetarians: flexitarians
It has been scientifically proven that a high consumption of meat can have health disadvantages. Accordingly, the German Society for Nutrition (DGE) recommends eating no more than 300 to 600 grams of meat per week. Flexitarianism is a diet that fits this guideline well. Flexitarians basically eat everything, but meat and fish only rarely and in high quality, such as organic. This gives them more flexibility than people who strictly follow the rules of a vegan or vegetarian diet. The motivation is often their own health, but animal welfare is also important to many part-time vegetarians. And: Less meat consumption also protects the climate and the environment.
This is what flexitarians eat
Quality instead of mass is the basic rule of flexitarians when it comes to the consumption of meat and fish. In contrast to pescetarians – vegetarians who eat fish – flexitarians eat food from both animal sources, but in selected forms. They pay particular attention to the origin of the products and choose, for example, types of fish that are not threatened by overfishing, or beef, pork, and poultry from animals that have been raised appropriately. People who are strictly vegan for ethical reasons sometimes criticize the flexibility of the term “flexitarian” and see it as just another name for a normal mixed diet. Others see the reduction in meat and the conscious selection of animal products as a significant step towards greater sustainability.
How healthy is flexitarianism?
According to nutrition experts, a flexitarian diet provides the body with all the nutrients it needs. A lack of certain minerals and vitamins, such as B12 in vegans, is not to be feared. On the other hand, flexitarianism minimizes the disadvantages of a meat-heavy mixed diet, which is often consumed in Germany. Red meat and highly processed meat products in particular are considered to be problematic from a health perspective. These foods are therefore also at the top of the food pyramid, which means they should be eaten in moderation. Many recipes from our database take this principle into account and are therefore well suited for flexitarians.
