Flexitarian, or as most vegans and vegetarians scornfully put it, "wanna-be vegetarian who just can't quite commit" is a semi-vegetarian lifestyle that is plant-based but allows the occasional consumption of meat products. And by meat products, this includes actual meat as well as animal byproducts such as milk, eggs, cheese, etc.
"Then how on earth do you get away with calling yourself vegetarian at all?"
Good question. It's one that I've definitely had to ponder. The best answer I can come up with is this: I am a vegetarian. Mostly. I will try my absolute hardest to choose beans, nuts, seeds, buckwheat, quinoa, and anything else that is protein rich and non-meat over actual meat. But I will occasionally have fish. And chicken. Maybe even a steak, if the mood calls for it. I will allow those in spaced-out moderation because 1) they are chock-full of proteins and nutrients for an energy boost if I need it, and 2) c'mon. Meat's delicious. I just can't cut it out without having an anxiety attack. Steak used to be my favorite food. I believe in commitment, but I don't believe in insanity. I'm also not that picky with animal byproducts, because you don't have to kill the animal to get the milk. And whether or not that milk was intended for our consumption, it's delicious. It's even in the Bible that God intended for us to drink animal's milk. Just sayin'.
So, what does a typical flexitarian eat? That's a great question, and I'll answer it by providing a general idea of what I eat during the day. In fact, I'll provide TWO options for each moment of eating during the day.
Breakfast
1) Green smoothie with spinach (or kale), almond milk, banana, raw cacao powder, chia (or flax) seeds, and unsweetened coconut
2) Whole-grain waffle topped with almond butter and fruit
Mid-morning snack
1) Grapes or strawberries sweetened with coconut palm sugar
2) Raw Revolution bar or Larabar
Lunch
1) Avocados stuffed with a warm salad of quinoa and edamame (or sweet n' spicy tuna for a meat option)
2) Salad in a jar - (looove Mason jars!) An avocado dressing base, then layered with radishes, raw zucchini, avocado, walnuts, spinach and kale
Afternoon snack
1) Banana with almond butter
2) Handful of sunflower seeds, pistachios or almonds
Dinner
1) Basmati rice, sauteed with mushrooms, green onion, carrots, and garlic in Tamari
2) Cabbage "steaks", which are made by slicing a cabbage into 1 in. thick slices, rubbing them with garlic and seasonings, and baking them for a short while. Served with 1/2 cup of garlic basmati rice
3) **meat included** Kale salad with mushrooms, avocado, and grilled chicken
Dessert
1) Chocolate chia seed pudding
2) Chocolate nice cream (made with frozen bananas and raw cacao powder)
See? There you go. The food is delicious, it's so good for the body, and leaves one feeling energized. The vitamins permeate through the body, reaching every organ that they're meant to support, and they just burrow on in, doing their thing. AND....I still get chocolate. And don't knock chocolate chia seed pudding until you try it. :)
Now, I choose this diet for several reasons. One, because I tried the vegan thing for a month and decided it was not meant for me. Two, because I am at a ridiculously unhealthy weight and I am bettering myself before I become one of those bed-ridden diabetics who die too early of a heart attack or stroke. I'm taking action, after ten years of eating junk. It's quite simple, really. I'm eating right and while I'm eating more often, I'm eating less. I'm not sharing my weight yet, because I want to wait for a truly incredible milestone in this journey. Then, as a privilege, and as a reward, I will share my transformation.
Anywho. Back to my kale chips.
