About the Aware Flexitarian

Hello! And welcome. I'm KB, otherwise known as the Aware Flexitarian. Most people laugh at the term "flexitarian", unless they've heard it before. But it's an actual thing! Google it! Or just keep reading this blog post.

Different folks have different definitions of flexitarianism. Some say it's eating vegan during the week and enjoying animal products on the weekends. Others say it's eating meat less than once a day. The loosest definition, which is also my favorite, is "mostly vegetarian." I really like this short explanation by Comedy Kitchen.

What about the "aware" part of my name? Well, how often do you pick up an apple at your grocery store and wonder, "Where did this come from?" or, "Who grew this?"

We live in a culture that dictates we must produce, produce, produce and consume, consume, consume. But the items we are producing rarely correspond to those we are consuming. Instead of a circle, we have a line. In at one end, out the other.

In eating and buying foods that have been grown thousands of miles away, by people we will never meet, in places we will never visit, we are eating ourselves into chronic illness and buying ourselves into a largely invisible debt that will eventually have to be paid by our children and grandchildren.

We are extremely privileged to be able to go to the grocery store each week (in our carbon-belching cars), pick out the standardized, sterilized, plastic-shrouded foods we want, take them home, and eat them without once having to worry if they will be there next week.

Because one week, they won't.

One day, our dwindling resources are going to give out.

As bottomless as our natural resources seem, they are not.

Before you laugh, remember COVID 19.

But we are not powerless. We have a choice, and we make that choice with our money.

It's not always all about money, though. Every moment, you have the option to close your eyes and your ears–or be aware. So here are a few easy things you can do:

1. Eat less meat. Notice, I didn't say, "Become a vegan for the rest of your life"! I said, "Eat less meat." If you eat meat three times a day, try cutting back to twice a day. If you eat it once a day, try every other day. Or you could try reducing the size of your meat portions, instead of the frequency of your consumption.

2. Try to eat "rebel meats." I'm not talking about head cheese or sweetbreads, although you could definitely give those a shot if you feel so inclined. I mean meat that is not raised in concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Local, small farmers generally raise their animals well, even if their farm doesn't carry the organic certification. Go to your farmers' market or do a Google search to find meat farmers in your area. You might also consider subscribing to a service such as Butcher Box or Moink, which send customized boxes of sustainably produced meat to their customers on a set schedule. My mom uses Moink, and even my dad can taste the difference between the conventional meat she gets from the store and the free range meat from Moink.

3. Find your local co-op. These usually have lots of local, more-sustainable options. A great vibe, too!

4. Shop at the farmers' market. If you're skeptical, check out this article by Rachel Quednau.

Here is what flexitarianism is NOT:

• Hard.
• A diet.

And here is what it IS:

• Good for you.
• Good for the environment.
• Good.

I realize that flexitarianism may not be for everyone. But I do think that it's much more adaptable to different lifestyles than many other systems of eating out there.

If you're interested, try it! I'm here to help.

–KB