Washington - From black-bean burgers on restaurant menus to eight varieties of hummus at the supermarket, the meatless movement shows no signs of slowing down.
Sales are soaring for once-fringe items such as veggie burgers and almond milk. The number of new vegetarian product launches has doubled over the past five years.
The trend towards avoiding meat occurs at a time when the toll that meat production takes on the planet is becoming clearer. As people become aware that meat production requires unsustainable levels of water, land and energy use, more are choosing to leave meat off their plates.
But lets face it. If you love perfectly seared steaks or covet your flame-grilled chicken, the idea of eating tofu hot dogs may not be all that appealing. What if you are concerned about the environment but still want to eat a burger once in a while?
Meat-free eating has expanded into something more flexible and inclusive, giving everyone a chance to choose healthy and sustainable meals without giving up meat entirely. It’s called the Flexitarian diet.
This means followers of the diet primarily eat a vegetarian diet, but enjoy meat occasionally. This part-time vegetarian diet has broader appeal because it helps us balance food cravings with health and global sustainability.
There are no rules for flexitarianism, which is part of the appeal.
The basic idea is to eat more vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, while reducing intake of animal-based foods such as meat, poultry and dairy.
And it’s easier to choose meatless meals when food tastes so good! Tasty dishes such as chickpea fritters and lentil soup add mass appeal to the semi-vegetarian lifestyle.
The Washington Post