What Does a Flexitarian Eat?

Not quite vegan, not so vegetarian. According to Forbes, 1 in 3 Americans identify themselves as “Flexitarian”. This  trending lifestyle has been on the rise in recent history, as more people discover the many health and environmental benefits of reducing consumption of animal products.

Flexitarians often follow a vegetarian or vegan diet for the most part, but not quite 100% in either case. While they do incorporate minimal amounts of meat, dairy, and eggs into their diets, they seek to reduce (and in some cases, even eliminate) their demand for animal-derived foods. There are many tools available to those looking to begin their plant-based journeys such as Meatless Mondays and TryVeg Tuesdays.

Here at VegReady, we realize that not many people decide to go vegan overnight. Attempting an “all-or-nothing” approach with any lifestyle change usually poses as a roadblock and often results in backsliding. Although some people can transition in one day, most people can’t. Know yourself, embrace your differences, and don’t be afraid to try something new. 

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” -Chinese Proverb

We find that a majority of our customers are on a quest to reduce their animal product intake after learning of the health, environmental, and ethical implications surrounding modern-day factory farming.

While VegReady meals are 100% vegan, we recognize that many of our customers identify as flexitarian and eat a number of plant-based meals each week.

So, if you’re ready to become a bit more conscious about your food choices, you’ve come to the right place! Here, we will explain in layman’s terms what you can do to adopt a flexitarian diet.

Because it’s not as strict as a vegan, vegetarian, or pescatarian diet, flexitarians are still considered to be on an omnivorous diet. This means flexitarians can still consume animal products such as:

• Meat and fish cuts
• Dairy (milk, cheese, etc)  
• Eggs
• Honey
• Gelatin and other animal-derived ingredients (click the full list on PETA’s website)

Of course, even vegans understand that everyone loves pizza and other traditional fast foods, so don’t feel as though you have to abandon your favorite foods forever. Take flexitarianism as an opportunity to explore vegan and vegetarian alternatives such as dairy free cheese and and to get in touch with delicious, plant-based cooking! 

Get to know, for example, the 9 best plant milks that are widely available and inexpensive. You may be surprised to learn that many ethnic cuisines are suitable for plant-based dishes. The great thing about becoming more food-conscious is that we understand where our food comes from and know how to live compassionately toward out fellows in fur and feathers. 

We encourage you to consider flexitarianism as a tangible step towards an easy transition if you or your friends are looking to live a happy, healthy, and cruelty-free life! 

VegReady meals are another tool for those just beginning to explore plant-based eating. Because all of our meals are pre-cooked -- with no cooking, heating, or refrigeration needed -- just open, eat, complete! Make sure to sign up for our Vegan Angel Project to receive two meal boxes for free and #GET2GIVE1 to a loved one!