Day 11 Or... Flexitarians

I crave meat.

Since today was my first day back at the office after Christmas break, I had several people come by and ask, "How's the vegetarian thing going?" I really appreciated the question each time because I tend to be the type of person that often feels like I'm not really that interesting. So, if nothing else, this experiment does make for a nice conversation starter. But, my answer to that question today always included some variation of "I'm really craving meat today." It's true. But what is a vegetarian to do?

My friend (and faithful reader) Beth Ann sent me a link to a really interesting article last night. The Newsweek article called "No More Sacred Cows" discusses a current trend in which longtime vegetarians are actually including meat as a part of their diet. Not "meat" like the "buffalo wings" or "burgers" I've had over the past week or so. Actual meat. Quotation mark free. Real beef, for example.

I've got to admit, regardless of the explanation that would follow, I was jealous as soon as I started reading the article. I thought, "Well, that's not fair! I want to eat meat sometimes, but I can't because that's what a vegetarian is expected to do... or not do."

The Newsweek article went on to explain that some life-long "vegetarians" are occasionally eating meat, but not just any meat. They're proudly choosing grass-fed, sustainably raised meat from animals that have enjoyed life on nice family farms.

One of the leaders of this new movement is, surprisingly, influential vegetarian author Mollie Katzen. Katzen is actually one of the bestselling cookbook authors of all time. Her "Moosewood Cookbook" is often cited as the most influential vegetarian cookbook ever... kind of a "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" for vegetarians.

Katzen and other similarly-minded "vegetarians" argue that because the animals that they are eating are raised "lovingly" and away from cruel factory farms, it is ethically okay to eat them. But I wonder, can these people still call themselves vegetarians while they eat meat? I thought that was rule #1 of being a vegetarian. I'm not so sure that the term can apply to them. Granted, their viewpoint sounds nice, but I'll have to process my opinion over the next few days and revisit this topic.

In good news, the Newsweek article introduced me to the term "flexitarian." A flexitarian is someone who mostly follows a vegetarian diet but occasionally enjoys a helping of meat thrown in. Mostly veggie burgers, but every so often the real thing.

I think after this project is over, I could end up being a flexitarian. I would be a little healthier by eating so many veggies, but a lot less stressed because I could enjoy a pork chop or a hamburger steak from time to time. I had thought about maybe pursuing that option in 29 days anyway, so I'm glad to know there's a term for it.


- What did I eat on Day 11?

Breakfast. Strawberry yogurt.

Lunch. Raisin Bran. Cereal never fails to satisfy my appetite for something tasty.

Dinner. My neighbor Ryan offered to make his famous grilled PB&J. The sandwich was worth the hype. I ate two and probably could have had a few more. Thanks pal! In fact, it was such good eats that I forgot to take a picture of it.

For now, 11 days down. 29 days to go.

And, I leave you with the conclusion of this Newsweek article by Jennie Yabroff. As I process my thoughts and form my opinion about this vegetarian-related piece of news, let me leave you with her very opinionated thoughts.

"While it's true that sustainably raised, grass-fed beef may be better for the consumer, it's hard to argue that it's ultimately better for the cow. What these steak apologists seem to be missing is that no matter how "lovingly" the cow was raised, no matter how much grazing or rooting he did in his life, he gave up that life to become their dinner. Carnivores who only ate the flesh of animals that had died of natural causes at the end of long, satisfying lives might have a claim to moral superiority, but what to call them? Corpsevores? And if these organic farm animals have such great lives, isn't the more humane thing to eat a cage-raised, industrially processed chicken? At least we'd be putting it out of its misery."