With the rise of food conscious eating amongst millennials and the increase of healthy eating habits globally, certain diets have gained popularity in the last ten years. A Flexitarian diet is one of them. It’s been under the spotlight lately due to all the meatless burgers buzz and popularity.
Those of us who are flexitarians, (including myself), do like the new high-tech patties because we do crave the meaty flavor from time to time and patties like the Beyond Burger or Impossible Burger, amongst others, can certainly give us that experience.
People adopt a flexitarian diet for a variety of reasons, ethical, religious, health, etc. Some dietitians refer to a flexitarian diet as a Semi-Vegetarian diet, meaning, it is a Plant-based diet with minimal animal-based food consumption. Although no clear definition has been established yet on what amount of meat consumed in a predominantly plant-based diet would make someone a flexitarian or a semi-vegetarian but usually that amount could be anywhere from once a week to a couple of times a month. Some flexitarians, like myself, will consume meat occasionally and usually have a very strict preference when it comes to meat sourcing and preparation. For more information on flexitarian diet, take a look at the Harvard Health Publishing article.
Plant-based patties are a great option for those who are transitioning wither from a meat-based diet to a flexitarian or vegetarian diet. Those who do not like the taste of meat-flavored patties can always opt for veggie patties or even mushroom patties. Both options got perfected in the past ten years and are often super tasty. Like with any changes in diet, consultation with a registered dietitian or a medical professional is recommended. You can read some more info here.
Many chose flexitarian or plant-based diets for religious reasons. When they would avoid eating certain meats like red meat or pork but would consume certain seafood or poultry. Meatless patties could be a good option for such a dietary plan.
If you are already consuming plenty of greens, fruits, veggies, and nuts in your diet and occasionally eat clean-sourced meats, you might be a flexitarian without even realizing it. While this diet is gaining popularity and seems not to be just a fad, faux meat manufacturers are finding faithful followers amongst this group of consumers.
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