Many people now follow plant-based diets, either because they don’t want to consume animals or because of health reasons.
In the area of dietary constraints, Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarianism and gluten-free have gained widespread recognition.
Rather than fad diets, all of these are proper lifestyle changes for the majority of individuals.
The term “flexitarian” refers to one of these more recent trendy diets that are centered on eating only plants.
A flexitarian lifestyle is one that emphasizes largely plant-based meals while allowing some moderate consumption of meat and different animal products.
Flexitarianism has been a regular dietary strategy for at least 5 years for Sheri Berger, a dietitian and author of The Plant Strong Dietitian.
The flexitarian diet, according to the author, focuses on consuming entire plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, legumes and nuts.
The creator of Your Health Life Made Easy, wellness coach Melanie Jordan, has been following this lifestyle for over two decades, long before the term flexitarian was even coined!
She shared that “When I first started, I was mainly vegetarian and mixed in some fish one or two times weekly. Today, I eat some poultry at times, but still eat just a good amount of meals that are vegetarian only or pescatarian. Some flexitarians will also occasionally eat red meat, but I’m not a fan.”
As per a Plant-Based News article, 47 percent of all young Americans between the ages of 20 and 39 identify as flexitarians.
The finding is based on a poll of 2,000 Americans that Sprouts Farmers Market had commissioned.
The survey also revealed that 43 percent of respondents thought it was more than just a diet and instead was a long-term change in lifestyle.
Jack Sinclair, the Sprouts Chief Executive Officer stated about the survey that “The interest in plant based foods and a flexitarian diet is clear— shoppers are much more engaged with their food than ever before. They’re seeking innovative and alternative products to mix them up the meals they make for themselves and for their families. We think that consumers will remain focused on incorporating healthy foods into their lifestyles as to support immunity and overall well-being in the future. This includes introducing consumers to things that they never considered before, like plant based foods and meat alternatives.”
Although the flexitarian lifestyle isn’t for everyone, in reality, it’s very simple to adhere to because there are no rigid restrictions.
There are some factors to take into account, however, in order to decide if that is the best course of action.
Berger advises people who are thinking of making this change to “Always remember balance when adapting to a flexitarian diet or any diet. Since you’ll be eating less meat, you just want to make sure you’re swapping in plant protein sources such as beans, tofu, lentils or tempeh.”
Jordan also advises seeking the advice of dietitians and fitness professionals to choose the optimal lifestyle modification.
She recommends the USDA’s most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025 as a free and valuable resource for advice on how to engage in a nutrient-dense diet while maintaining a healthy weight.
According to the expert, those who seriously consider the switch should “Practice patience with yourself and also some experimentation to see where along the flexitarian scale the right balance for you is that matches your lifestyle, preference and objectives while skewing towards the plant based, whole grains, nuts, and seeds side.”
She also notes that “A flexitarian diet has helped me lower my cholesterol levels because I have increased fiber and reduced saturated fat. I also find that being flexitarian makes it much easier to maintain a healthy weight as fruits and vegetables comprise a large portion of the diet, and they’re the lowest calorie foods out there!”
As per Jordan, becoming a flexitarian felt not only like adopting a satisfying lifestyle but a satisfying one as well.
Changing to a plant-based diet is one method many people improve their health via nutrition since good eating and lifestyle decisions change continuously.
Being a flexitarian can sustain those health advantages for people who aren’t ready to live a life entirely free of animal products.
