Is a flexitarian diet too much work?

By Tammy G.

Too much effort to become a vegetarian? I totally agree. Every now and then, or I admit, very commonly, I crave juicy bacon on a Sunday breakfast. However there are ways to enjoy your dose of meat while still feeling guilt-free. A simple flexitarian “diet” is the way to go. I personally hate anything with the term “diet” since the term is commonly associated with things like restricting yourself, feeling guilt for wanting to eat more, and overall toxic thoughts. But a flexitarian “diet” is more a lifestyle that many decide to embark on in hopes to save the environment and become healthier. I think that this is definitely an easy and convenient way to reduce your carbon footprint. 

To understand a flexitarian lifestyle better, I decided to try it out for myself, starting with five days straight of eating at least one meal, meat-free per day. What really pushed me to try this out were the environmental and fitness goals that I made for myself. For the past five months, I have been trying to stay fit and eat clean to feel stronger and more productive. This included getting active an hour a day in any form--running, lifting, or pilates-- and also incorporating different food colors on my plate. I thought that this step to becoming a flexitarian, would be my next big goal. 

Vegetarian meals provide a lot of vitamin A and C, potassium and fiber compared to non-vegetarian dishes. However, many refuse to take on the  challenge of eating a plant-based diet since they think that meat is the only source of protein available. I myself even used to believe this misconception. Foods like seeds, quinoa, chickpeas, nuts, and tofu are great substitutes for meats while being equally or even healthier for your body than meat protein. In addition to the many health benefits, there are lots of environmental benefits. 

The process of raising cows, pigs and chickens produces a lot of greenhouse admissions--as much greenhouse gas as all forms of automobile pollution combined. Additionally, around 3.5-7 million trees or 30% of that sum are being cut down to make way for raising livestock. Therefore, cutting meat consumption down to just one meal a day makes a huge impact. 

As for my personal experience trying a flexitarian lifestyle out for the past five days, I noticed that I spent less time prepping for meals and I also found many new recipes that are delicious, and  easy to make. I also became more aware of what I was putting into my body and learned about the different components of food that I should have eaten and how to balance them out better in the future. All of these little things add up, saving me lots of time and making me feel more well rounded. I also had no trouble trying to find meals to replace my usual ones (check photos above for vegetarian meal ideas). For instance usually, I would eat a plain scrambled egg for breakfast but instead I tried making chocolate overnight oats which saved me so much time in the mornings. Additionally, if I wanted to make my lunch green too, I found many good places to order from that included nourish bowls, and also a fun acai dessert bowl. However, my main difference that I noticed was how my mental health improved during this experience. I felt more excited to wake up and cook in the mornings, and it increased my appetite a lot. 

Because of the environmental impacts and the health impacts that I noticed, I would confidently urge others to try this easy yet effective lifestyle. Now, leaving you with one last question, knowing that you could still make a positive impact while loving the food you love, would you still think it’s too much effort? Or would you do the responsible thing and join me to save the environment.