The flexitarian diet is currently enjoying great popularity here in Germany. This is actually not a new diet trend, but rather a philosophy of life. People deliberately reduce the consumption of animal products or do without them altogether. For example, flexitarians rarely consume animal foods such as meat, fish and dairy products. With this diet, the focus is on eating plant-based foods. This provides the body with proteins, vitamins, minerals and at the same time gradually reduces weight. Many overweight people prefer this diet plan to shed some pounds. The good thing about the flexitarian diet is that there are no strict rules and no prohibitions. You just have to be picky about every meal and only eat what comes from plant sources. Meat, fish and other animal products can be on the table once or twice a week. It doesn’t look hard to follow this diet, does it?
The flexitarian diet can be equated with a healthy, balanced diet.
Consume as much fresh fruit and vegetables as possible!
What should you know about the flexitarian diet?
The flexitarian diet became popular around 10 years ago. It was devised by American nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner. The new meal plan is for anyone who would like to give up meat and become a vegetarian, but is finding it difficult! So this is a compromise between strict diets and vegetarian nutrition. Dawn Jackson Blatner has found the golden mean and wants to help everyone who wants to lose weight in a healthy way and not drastically fast, but over a long period of time. According to the latest statistics, 12% of the population in Germany are flexitarians. The term is no longer a foreign concept in our society. Flexitarian is a combination of the two words flexible and vegetarian. All followers of this diet are therefore called flexitarians. These are often referred to as part-time vegetarians. Her healthy diet has developed into a new philosophy of life. The flexitarians are committed to environmental protection and show increased health awareness!
Weight control or slow weight loss is the common motive of flexitarians.
For lunch you prefer fresh cherries, peaches and the like instead of steak and chips.
What are the characteristics of the flexitarian diet?
For flexitarians, plant-based foods form the basis of their diet. They like to consume a lot of fruit and vegetables, but also whole grain products and legumes. In short, plant-based protein suppliers are the focus and preference of flexitarians. Plant-based foods are generally not processed or only slightly processed. In most cases, they are consumed in their natural state. You can only conjure up tasty dishes (without meat!) from plant-based foods. So the flexitarians don’t miss the animal component!
A vegetable salad with dandelion leaves and cheese chips is healthy and filling!
It is not for nothing that flexitarians are also called part-time vegetarians, because they consume animal products, but only rarely. According to the frequency of animal-based food consumption, adherents of flexitarianism can be divided into three categories:
- A beginner can only go 2 days a week without eating meat;
- An advanced person does not eat meat 3 to 4 days a week.
- A pro flexitarian can go 5 days a week without meat, fish, or other animal products.
Are you already giving up the consumption of animal products?
Fish is healthier than meat!
What are the health benefits of the flexitarian diet?
As we have already shown, flexitarianism is a plant-based diet that deliberately avoids the consumption of animal products. However, there are no strictly defined rules. This is exactly what gives you a lot of freedom when choosing the products for your daily menu. You can decide for yourself on which day you consume meat or other animal-based foods and in what quantity. This brings with it certain pluses that are good for your health. We briefly list the advantages of the flexitarian diet for you:
Spinach with Green Beans, Avocado, and Boiled Egg – the perfect flexitarian meal!
It’s easier to lose weight without meat!
Those who opt for a plant-based diet can more easily shed excess pounds. If there is only a small proportion of animal foods in your menu, you are bound to succeed in the weight loss you desire. How does this work? Very easily! If you eat oatmeal with fruit and nuts for breakfast in the morning, then you are getting enough fiber to fill you up. So you feel a feeling of satiety in your stomach, so you don’t think about a high-calorie meal all day. This makes weight loss so much easier!
You can easily lose weight without sweets, snacks and alcohol!
Fewer calories guarantee successful weight loss!
A flexitarian diet helps prevent heart disease
Medical studies show that non-meat eaters have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol and better heart health than meat eaters. The dietary fibers and unsaturated fatty acids contained in plant-based foods protect against coronary heart disease. Because of this, flexitarians are less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke. Our advice in a nutshell: look for plant-based alternatives to replace red meat and other animal products in your menu!
Try replacing the meat in your menu with plant-based alternatives!
The risk of cancer is low with a plant-based diet
The herbal ingredients in the fruits and in the different types of vegetables protect us from various types of cancer, especially colon cancer. Instead of ham and bacon, consume more broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, etc. These provide the body with satiating fiber and reduce the general risk of developing cancer. The healthier and more balanced your diet, the better, more energetic and active you will feel. That’s the biggest advantage of a flexitarian diet!
Now you are definitely better informed about the flexitarian diet! Do you want to try this one soon or is it already on your to-do list?
Lots of fruit and vegetables, legumes and whole grain products form the basis of the flexitarian diet.
Tofu dumplings taste good and are healthy!
Add some nuts and a handful of seeds to any fruit and veggie salad!
A balanced diet guarantees you a long and healthy life!
Stay healthy!
