From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flexitarianism is a semi-vegetarian diet focusing on vegetarian food with occasional meat consumption. A self-described flexitarian seeks to decrease meat consumption without eliminating it entirely from his or her diet. There are no guidelines for how much or how little meat one must eat before being classified a flexitarian. Flexitarian is distinguished from polpescetarian, i.e., one who eats only chicken and fish, but does so exclusively. [1]
In 2003, the American Dialect Society voted flexitarian as the year's most useful word and defined it as "a vegetarian who occasionally eats meat".[2]
[edit] Origin of term
The earliest known use of the term "flexitarian" occurred in the October 17, 1992, issue of the Austin American-Statesman. In this issue, reporter Linda Anthony wrote an article titled, "Acorn serves up 'flexitarian fare'". The article discussed the recent opening of the new Acorn Café and stated that owner Helga Morath calls her fare "flexitarian".
[edit] Criticism
Flexitarianism is often criticised by vegetarians or vegans who assert that one cannot be vegetarian only occasionally. According to such criticisms, a vegetarian is someone who consistently keeps to a diet that excludes all animal products or is, at the least, lacto-ovo. Flexitarianism and the related term "semi-vegetarianism" have been dubbed "problematic" and "diametrically opposed to vegetarianism".[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, LDN, 2009, The Flexitarian Diet: The Mostly Vegetarian Way to Lose Weight, Be Healthier, Prevent Disease, and Add Years to Your Life, McGraw-Hill Professional. ISBN 0-07-154957-9
[edit] External links
|
Vegetarianism |
|
| Diets |
|
|
| Basic topics |
|
|
| Food and drink |
|
|
Organizations
and events |
|
|
