Part-Time Vegetarians

Vegetarianism is not a religion, it???s a choice. Anyone, ANYONE who consciously chooses to eat less meat is helping themselves, helping the planet, reducing the sum total of suffering in the world and generating additional compassion. I???ve been a vegetarian for 20 years now and I find the concept of ???flexitarianism??? very heartening.

I'm a vegetarian for ethical reasons, although I do not judge other people who choose to eat meat. I'm not vegan, I eat goat cheese and free range eggs. I do take fish oil capsules, have leather shoes and belts, so perhaps I'm a hypocrite or not a true vegetarian. It's hard to be "100% compliant", but I know there are people out there who are, hats off to them. The carnivores think I'm a tree hugging flake, the vegans think I'm a phony ... oh well, such is life.

Posted By: ced1106 @ 09/30/2008 9:24:14 AM
"Ugh. Feelgood eating. Just eat healthy. You need *some* meat in your diet"

No, you don't. Dozens of reports and studies have shown that, not to mention the obvious evidence of long-living vegans and vegetarians. I agree with your sentiments that eating _healthy_ is most important, but assuming without evidence that we "need" meat is ignorant and disrespectful of those who have worked so hard to counter the meat industries' countless attempts to claim that meat is somehow an essential part of a human diet.

I am heartily sick of people labeling themselves as a vegetarian and yet still eat meat and/or fish. ???Vegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes meat (including game and slaughter by-products), fish (including shellfish and other sea animals) and poultry.??? ???A vegan diet is a form of vegetarianism which excludes all animal products from the diet, such as meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, eggs and honey.??? I was a vegetarian for several years before I chose to become a vegan. My choices are moral, not for health or trendiness. Basically, how a person chooses to eat it obviously personal choice, whether it is for moral and/or health reasons. I agree with shengirl - "Eat less meat for your health, sure, but don't try to bill yourself as something you're not. That's just faux trendiness." As far as choices when you are eating out, most restaurants will happily prepare a meatless entree for you, you are not relegated to eating just salads. Vegetarians and Vegans have unlimited choices when preparing meals and searching the internet will yield you so many choices you will have a hard time choosing.

They should be called "lessmeatarians."
Just as ridiculous as the flexa.....
People...you are just eating less meat. wakey wakey!

They should be called "lessmeatarians."

If you're eating less meat, then that's what you're doing, cutting back on meat. But you can't be a part-time vegetarian any more than you can be a part-time non-smoker or non-drinker. Either you do it, or you don't. I have been a vegetarian for over 30 years, BTW, and not for health reasons, for moral ones. Eat less meat for your health, sure, but don't try to bill yourself as something you're not. That's just faux trendiness.

Eating a less-meat diet is such an obvious wise choice in so many different ways. There's no reason why it shouldn't be every bit as satisfying, it costs less, better for you, and better for the environment and other people. Any time you speak of self control of one's appetites for anything (food, sex, money, power etc) you will find some people lash out about it, the hostile member comments are of that type. May God give them peace and good health.