Part-Time Vegetarians

You all need to have a little more respect for people who will cut back on meat. Any little bit will help save animals and the environment. For so many it is just never going to happen that they would become a vegetarian or even care how much meat they eat. SO you vegetarians, big deal on being called a vegetarian. Good for you and all, I do commend it, it is hard, but don't be all snooty toooty and upset with people who are trying to better themselves, the animals and the environment by cutting back on meat.

I see nothing wrong with abstaining from meat for a while and eating it on occasion. Its healthier that overindulging in meat products..........That being said....................

If you eat meat DON'T CALL YOURSELF VEGETARIAN!
I have been vegetarian almost 5 years, its a hard diet to follow, so unless you truly follow the diet, YOU ARE NOT A VEGETARIAN! You would be considered someone who is health conscious, and there is nothing wrong with that.

You wouldn't consider yourself faithful if you cheated on your spouse on occasion,
or consider yourself pregnant at times.
So all I ask is please don't say you are vegetarian unless you are

I became vegetarian for health reasons. There are too many hormones, antibotics, pus, and blood in meat and milk. i also wanted clear skin once i detoxified with the master cleanse and ate all veggies, fruits, green tea, and water my skin cleared up. once a week (friday), i indulge by either going to a mexican restaurant then ordering cheese enchiladas w/ black beans and guacamole or having a movie night in which i eat buttered popcorn and chocolate raisinets. Flexitarian is a cop out. you're either a vegetarian/vegan or you're not. Just because you cut back on meat doesn't mean your a part time vegetarian. The body is meant to be nourished with veggies and fruits.

I agree. I became vegetarian for health reasons. Too many hormones, antibotics, pus, and blood in meat and milk. i also wanted clear skin once i detoxified and ate all veggies, fruits, and water my skin cleared up. once a week (friday), i indulge by either going to a mexican restaurant then ordering cheese enchiladas w/ black beans and guacamole or having a movie night in which i eat buttered popcorn and chocolate raisinets.

Some people are vegetarians strictly for health purposes. I went a long time without eating meat because I had a hard time digesting it and most of the meat was full of hormones, antibiotics, none of which was pastured based. I began slowly introducing chicken and turkey into my diet when I came across a pasture-based farm. The idea is that animals being fed grain is what causes cancers and the like, it's just not their natural diet.

What I came to realize is that gluttonous consumption of meat is what harms our digestive system - an overload of protein and saturated fat. Occasional meat consumption was natural for our hunter gatherer predecessors. If people consumed little meat, then there would not be a strain on the environment like there is. There would be less accumulation of excess nutrients.

I believe that extremism is America's pride and joy, You're either extreme on your views of not eating meat or you strongly oppose vegetarianism and you're an outright carnivore. Why not find a balance between the two? Meat production and both grain/corn./soy production is degrading our soil. The two parties are both at fault.

I think this is ridiculous. It's not hard at all to abstain from meat....especially when you consider not only the health benefits of a vegetarian diet, but also the terrible quality of life these animals have to endure. I think this is just another excuse people want to use to keep from committing to something important. I know many, many vegetarians who have had no problem quitting meat, myself included. Try it...you'll see that there are plenty of meat substitutes if you find yourself really craving that rotting flesh.

I've been a "flexitarian" since 1975. I usually don't opt for meat, fish, poultry or diary. I excercise 2-4 times per week. Never smoked, and have an occaisonal glass of either wine, beer or cocktail. The health and anti aging benefits have been significant. At 54 years old, I don't have any of the health issues that typically affect men in my age bracket. I also don't have any baldness or grey hair. I seldom catch a cold or a virus. Not too bad for an average guy..

BTW, I don't see anywhere in the article that said that these people are calling themselves vegetarian,the article is about being a "flexitarian",which is fine,at least they are trying to change their diets and impact on the environment. . I do agree that these types of people calling themselves vegetarian can confuse people who aren't really aware of what it is. I have been around people who say they are a vegetarian and then eat fish and even chicken!

I have been a vegetarian since 1991,back before it was "cool". It was very difficult,especially in WV. The fact that vegetarianism has come as far as it has and is now quite mainstream,I'm thrilled and not just because it means it's easier and cheaper,now,to eat healthy. If people can only be part time vegetarian,or "flexitarian" because it means that people are waking up to the damage of meat on the body.They are also helping the environment, at least a little.

Hey, if people are eating less meat regardless fo the reason, good for them. Some of you are really mean when it comes to the diet of others--I could be just as mean to you given my history wth anorexia. Regarding expertise in diet, we're tops.

It's far too convinenient to condemn such actions when you yourself have done nothing to make an effort to stop the horrible problems involved in meat production - be it the universally accepted fact that cattle and farm animals live in some of the most horrible conditions, and the process of killing them is both horrific and cruel (often times animals not being fully killed when they are processed or dissected). What's worse is that whenever anyone brings up these issues, those who are uncomfortable with thinking about the idea - like to throw around terms like PETA Supporter or other immature slurs.

Moreso then any other atrocity in the existence of humans, animal cruelty is amongst the most important - as for far too many years have animals been oppressed and treated horribly. It's extremely sad that a vast amount of the alleged 'smartest' beings on this planet, can not comprehend the amount of pain and suffering we are imposing on the non-human living beings on this planet. Humans, myself included, are the most conceited and arrogant creatures on this planet - spreading quickly and to the detriment of everything else on this planet.

A man of great wisdom:
http://www.atlah.org/broadcast/manningreport.html

Few people would dispute the idea that vegetarian/vegan diets are much healthier than the "average" American diet high in fat, processed sugar, fast foods, processed foods, and low in fiber and micronutrients. But is there any measurable scientific difference between vegetarian/vegan diets and low-fat high-fiber diets like the Mediterranean or Okinawan diets that use small amounts of meat? Even the USDA Food Guide Pyramid seems to be a balanced approach akin to the Mediterranean/Okinawan approach. It might be reasonable to say that limited meat consumption, say 4 oz per day maximum, might provide most if not all of the benefits of vegetarianism, especially if combined with suitable amounts of whole grains, nuts, legumes, vegetables, and fruits. Perhaps moderation is a way to achieve healthy living with a great deal less sacrifice and deprivation. After all, what is life without a few rewards now and then? Like bbq pork ribs or a t-bone steak once a month.

It's true, it is much easier to be a part time or 3/4 times vegetarian than a 100% vegetarian.
It is true especially if you have been raised as a meat eater eating meat or meat products
3 times a day. However seeing my parents suffering the results of eating meat for such
a long time convinced me to become a vegetarian. At first it was difficult to adjust but
as time goes by it gets much easier. I have to admit that as time passes I do feel
much better physically.

Happy veggie day! Oct 1st is World Vegetarian Day.
Inspirational video here:
http://www.nonviolenceunited.org/veganvideo.html

Happy veggie day! October 1st is World Vegetarian Day.
Inspirational video here:
http://www.nonviolenceunited.org/veganvideo.html

The premise of this article is stupid. Like being pregnant? Obviously vegetarians can stop being vegetarians any time. Arguing that vegetarianism should be all-or-nothing misses the basic logical point of that analogy.

Also, many people are vegetarians to reduce their ecological footprint. Clearly, that is not an all-or-nothing prospect. Just eating less meat does reduce your footprint.

Grass fed meat and pasturized chicken is extremely healthly and excellent for the environment.
It is factory/corn/soy-fed meat that is the problem for health and bad for the environment the way it is practiced.
Read "REAL FOOD, what to eat and why" by Nina Planck for a good, clear and even inspring explanation of the health benefits of grass-fed animal products. The DVD King Corn exposes the problems with our corn-based industrial food chain.