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Flexitarianism

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**Definitions and Varieties of Flexitarianism:**
Flexitarianism defined by various sources, including Natuur & Milieu, I&O Research, and Voedingscentrum.
– Definitions range from abstaining from meat one or more days a week to not eating meat but consuming fish regularly.
– Other related dietary patterns include demitarianism, pescetarianism, pollotarianism, macrobiotic diet, and the planetary health diet.
– Semi-vegetarians and flexitarians primarily consume plant-based foods but may include meat or fish occasionally.
Flexitarianism gained popularity in the 2010s and is listed in dictionaries like Merriam-Webster.

**Statistics and Trends in Flexitarianism:**
– In the Netherlands, the proportion of self-proclaimed flexitarians increased from 14% in 2011 to 43% in 2019.
– In 2015, 55% of Dutch people were identified as flexitarians by Voedingscentrum, and 67% were flexitarian in 2016 according to Natuur & Milieu.
– The proportion of Dutch individuals consuming meat daily decreased from 26.7% to 18.4% between 2010 and 2012.
– Globally, about 14% of the population is estimated to follow a flexitarian diet.
– In the UK, there was an increased demand for vegan products in 2018, with 12% of consumers following a meat-free diet.

**Motivations for Choosing Flexitarianism:**
– Reasons for adopting a flexitarian diet include religious restrictions, health concerns, animal welfare, and environmental considerations.
– Flexitarians are motivated by health benefits, humanitarianism, and animal welfare concerns.
– Choosing flexitarianism can be a conscious decision driven by ethical, health, and environmental factors.
– Motivations for flexitarianism include concerns about animal welfare, environmental sustainability, weight management goals, and health consciousness.
– Social trends and media influence have also played a role in the growing popularity of flexitarianism.

**Health Benefits and Environmental Impact of Flexitarianism:**
– Health benefits of flexitarianism include reduced risk of chronic diseases, lower body weight and BMI, improved heart health, better blood sugar control, and enhanced overall well-being.
– Environmental impact of flexitarianism includes decreased greenhouse gas emissions, reduced water and land usage, mitigation of deforestation, preservation of biodiversity, and contribution to sustainable food systems.
Flexitarianism offers health and environmental benefits, making it an attractive dietary choice for many individuals.

**Society and Cultural Aspects of Flexitarianism:**
– In the UK, there was a significant following for flexitarianism, with an increased demand for vegan products in 2018.
– In Canada, 10% of adults identified as vegetarians or vegans in 2018.
Flexitarianism has been criticized by some vegetarians and vegans for consuming animal flesh.
– The flexitarian diet has the potential to save lives and feed 10 billion people sustainably, addressing global food challenges.
Flexitarianism advocates argue for its ability to support sustainable and healthy eating habits on a global scale.

Flexitarianism (Wikipedia)

A flexitarian diet, also called a semi-vegetarian diet, is one that is centered on plant foods with limited or occasional inclusion of meat. For example, a flexitarian might eat meat only some days each week. Flexitarian is a portmanteau of the words flexible and vegetarian, signifying its followers' less strict diet pattern when compared to vegetarian pattern diets.

The amount of globally needed agricultural land would be reduced by almost half if no beef or mutton were eaten.
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