Flexitarian, a term that comes from flexible and vegetarian, refers to those who base their diet on vegetables, but consume eggs and dairy on a regular basis and, occasionally, meat and fish.

You may be a flexitarian and don’t know it yet. And it is that this term comes from the words ‘flexible’ and ‘vegetarian’, and gives a name to a diet that is based on the consumption of vegetables, fruits and cereals, but that also allows the intake of foods of animal origin, such as chicken, fish, or shellfish, occasionally (hence the flexibility).

Flexitarians are actually omnivores (they eat everything), but they limit both the amount of some foods and how often they eat them. Vegetables play a leading role in their diet, but also whole grains, eggs and dairy, while meats – both poultry, such as red meat or pork – and fish, usually include one or two times on the weekly menu, and in moderate portions (between 50 and 80 grams).

Thanks to the habitual consumption of eggs and milk, and occasional meat, the necessary proteins are obtained for the correct functioning of the organism, something much more difficult when following a vegetarian or vegan diet or raw food (raw food), so the Flexitarianism is considered a more comfortable and safe option to get a healthy and quality diet, and also without giving up a culinary treat from time to time

Benefits of the Flexitarian Diet
Flexibility and the fact that there are no forbidden foods are great advantages of the flexitarian diet, which make it attractive and easy to follow (each person sets their own limits and adapts the diet to their life, and not their life to the diet ) but, in addition, it has other benefits such as:

• You eat fewer calories, less total fat and saturated fat, less animal protein, less cholesterol, and less refined sugar.
• The intake of protein of animal origin, especially if it is lean meats or oily fish, prevents the appearance of vitamin or protein deficiencies.
• It provides more fiber, and by eating less saturated fat, better levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are achieved, thus reducing the risk of suffering from diseases such as obesity, diabetes or high blood pressure.
• It protects the environment, since growing vegetables is less polluting than livestock production, so a diet that minimizes the consumption of meat is more ecological.
• It allows a more varied diet than vegetarian and vegan diets, and is easier to follow when eating out or during an event.
• As long as it is done in moderation and on time, you can continue to enjoy Iberian ham or a good hake.