Flexitarianism?

[brightrosefox]

For the past two weeks, I've been eating mostly vegetarian meals when I've been out. If I'm craving a burger, I'll go to Fuddrucker's and order a buffalo burger, and if I want chicken I'll get a grilled chicken wrap with grilled veggies. Before Adam left for Massachusetts, he made a dish that incorporated broiled salmon, curried eggplant, and wild rice. I've been eating it since Tuesday night and so far I haven't gotten tired of it. It just continues to be delicious, especially with shredded mozzarella cheese melted on top.
Lunch has been Italian caprese sandwiches, vegetarian foccacia sandwiches (garden veggie cream cheese, cucumbers, alfalfa sprouts, tomato, lettuce, red onion, avocado, Swiss cheese), salads, pastas, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. And I've been noticing some very small changes in my body. Almost no body odor, for one.
The term "flexitarianism" has been floating into my line of thinking. I can't give up meat entirely, because my body demands it at least once a week, and my muscles will let me know if I lack it. This semi-vegetarianism would not be for moral or ethical reasons, but because I find that my tastes are changing. I only like to eat a very limited range of animal meats anyway (I don't really like pork, veal, venison, lamb, duck, or goat, out of the meats I've tried). It's the taste and texture. I like bacon, but only if it is so crispy and crunchy that it's practically burned, because that masks the pork taste. I'll eat duck only if it's smothered in sauce. The smell of lamb makes me nauseated and gives me a headache, and the taste makes me gag. Veal tastes much too stringy and weird. Venison is too tough, gamey, and smoky.
So, basically, it comes down to cow, buffalo, chicken, and emu, and of course fish and shellfish (and dairy and eggs and honey). I love the tastes of all those mentioned meats just fine. But I know when I feel like eating red meat and when I don't. When Adam cooks up a good steak, or a roast beef, or brisket, or fabulous pot roast, I'm perfectly happy. But on my own, I usually won't eat red meat unless it's a very good steak and cheese sandwich, like from the Pizza Palace place near Charlotte's house.
I think I could do this right, if I informed myself well enough. This would only be for myself, personal and private.

Comments

[blood-4-deniro.livejournal.com]

i'm the same way. i never heard of flexitarianism tho. huh. i may have to look more into it as well, since i'm basically the same way. i wont eat red meat, or pork, or anything else like that on my own, mainly i prefer vegetables/fruits (especially broccoli and potatoes). i do have to admit tho, that i really like elk, rabbit (in stew form), and (gulp) kangaroo (i didnt know what it was at the time, and when i found out, i almost started crying...i was a like 6 yrs old @ the time when some relatives from Australia had us taste it, saying it was a "roo burger" i thought it was just a fancy name for a hamburger, lol). the smell of meat makes me nauseous, and for awhile, anytime i ate red meat, i seemed almost allergic to it 0__o but i also wont eat seafood, tho (thank you, marine bio class, haha) because the smell of cooking fish makes me extremely sick to my stomach. i do eat chicken, tho. but if i dont eat meat at least once a week, i can definitely feel it as well. but once i've eaten a hamburger, or some chicken, i'm good for another week.

sorry...didnt mean to write a book, here, but i think it's interesting to find out i'm not the only person in the world like that, haha. my fiance likes to pick on me about it :b

from wikipedia : Flexitarianism is a term used in the US to describe the practice of eating mainly vegetarian food, but making occasional exceptions for social, pragmatic, cultural, or nutritional reasons. They may eat meat and/or other animal products sometimes. For example, a flexitarian might make only vegetarian dishes at home, but eat dishes including meat or fish at the home of family or friends. There is a wide range in the circumstances and outer boundaries of their dietary practices, which resist easy classification. The term semi-vegetarianism is sometimes also used to convey roughly the same meaning as flexitarianism.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

I think I like the term semi-vegetarianism a little better, because that implies a little more. I'm not a vegetarian who eats some meat, I'm an omnivore who eats more vegetarian meals than meat meals.
It's a fascinating concept, though, and it is easy to work with.
I'd love to hear more from you, so please keep going. ;)

By the way... how does elk and rabbit taste? I've always wanted to try rabbit.

[blood-4-deniro.livejournal.com]

rabbit tastes kinda like chicken...only slightly sweeter (if it's cooked right), if it isnt cooked right, it's extremely tough and stringy and not good at all (tho i heard it isnt good for you either). elk....i'm not sure how to describe it. it sort of tastes like beef mixed with venison, only better. just never...eat...squirrel. i never knew anyone ate squirrels outside of the Oregon Trail computer game, but when i moved to Indiana, i tried it...kinda like eating a box full of sawdust, lol.

[brightrosefox.livejournal.com]

Interesting... Very interesting.

Box full of sawdust -- hah! My friend James might appreciate that, as he hates squirrels and believes they're conspiring to overthrow humanity. ;)

[queen-lily-rose.livejournal.com]

That Sounds Very, Very Much Like The Way I Eat Too.