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What is the meaning of a flexitarian diet?
What is a flexitarian? By definition, a flexitarian is someone who predominantly eats plant-based foods and limits the amount of animal-derived products they consume. Flexitarians, unlike vegans and vegetarians, do tend to eat foods such as milk, eggs, meat and fish, however they make a conscious effort to reduce their consumption where possible. Renowned for its flexibility, there are no strict rules when it comes to a flexitarian diet - some flexitarians may choose to just eat just one meat-based meal per week, while others may go months without eating animal produce.
What does a flexitarian meal plan consist of?
A flexitarian meal plan looks different to everyone, depending on the amount of meatless meals you’d prefer to opt for each week. Typically, most flexitarians consume around two to four meatless meals per week, however one of the major benefits of a flexitarian diet is that you can adapt it to suit you. If you’re starting a flexitarian diet to change your lifestyle but you’re used to eating meat regularly, you may want to start by swapping just one dinner per week for a vegetarian recipe. However if you’re already a huge fan of veggie meals, you may prefer to opt for only one meat dish a week.Some popular veggie and vegan meals that flexitarians love incorporating into their diet include veggie burgers, meat-free pasta dishes like this creamy rigatoni, and lentil shepherd’s pie. Meals like this aren’t dissimilar to the traditional meat versions, making them super easy to swap into your weekly food plan.
The benefits of being a flexitarian
Reducing the amount of meat we eat can have huge environmental benefits, from reducing greenhouse gases to protecting ecosystems. According to a US study, if every American reduced their meat consumption by a quarter, an estimated 82 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions could be saved. Similarly, a UK study suggested that if every family in the UK switched one red meat meal per week to a plant-based dish, the environmental impact would be equivalent to taking 16 million cars off the road.Adopting a flexitarian diet plan is one of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint, because you don’t need to fully cut out meat from your diet to make a difference. What’s more, flexitarianism is also a great way to incorporate a variety of foods into your diet. According to Hannah Duxbury, Head of Culinary at HelloFresh Ireland, incorporating more plant-based meals into your diet is a great way to expand your palate: “Swapping out meat dishes for plant-based dishes can encourage yourself to try more foods, as we often end up finding out new ways to enjoy veggies, or we end up trying foods we don’t often eat as meat-eaters, such as tofu, tempeh, as well as more beans and pulses.
Flexitarian Recipes
Flexitarian meal plans involve a whole host of exciting recipes, predominantly vegetarian and vegan meals, but also occasional meat and fish recipes. If you want to eat vegetarian recipes that still feel familiar, try classic recipes like pasta, risotto and curries. This Spinach & Mushroom Risotto is so filling and indulgent that meat or meat substitutes aren’t needed, while this Spicy Thai Cauliflower Curry is so rich, flavourful and fully plant-based. If one of the reasons you’re drawn to a flexitarian diet is to experiment with new meals, then perfecting tofu is a must. This Tofu Pad Thai is so simple to make - the tofu is just pan fried with salt and pepper until crispy. Another dish that many meat eaters miss out on is a delicious Aubergine Parmigiana - it tastes so indulgent and makes a great showstopper if you’re entertaining. Flexitarian recipes don’t have to be complicated, just simple and delicious.
Master the Veggie Burger for Your Flexitarian Diet
Veggie burgers are a delicious meal whether meat is an integral part of your diet or not. So of course they’re a staple in a flexitarian meal plan. Whipping up a tasty veggie patty from scratch is easy, whether you’re using vegetables like sweet potato and beans, or you’re choosing something whole like Halloumi or a portobello mushroom. For ease, we recommend using grilling cheese like in this Smoky Spiced Veggie Burger. It takes just 20 minutes to make and can be topped with any salad or sauces you prefer.However, thanks to the flexibility of a flexitarian meal plan you can also enjoy a meaty burger every once in a while if that is what you’re craving! If you’re going to opt for a meaty burger recipe in your flexitarian meal plan, we recommend going all out with this delicious and juicy Beef and Bacon Burger in Truffle Sauce. Packed full of flavour and smothered in sauce, it will be worth swapping out a vegetarian meal for one day.
Try Focusing on Fully Plant-Based Recipes
Flexitarians eat a full range of foods, including meat-based, pescetarian, vegetarian and vegan dishes. Incorporating fully plant-based dishes into your diet can have the most environmental benefits, so try to swap your meat meals for vegan, rather than solely vegetarian. This Chipotle Black Bean Burrito is packed with plant-based protein and is mouthwateringly tasty. Similarly this Mushroom Curry Ramen always feels like a treat. It’s a delicious way to off-set your carbon footprint throughout the week!
Make Flexitarianism even easier with a HelloFresh Food Box
By ordering a HelloFresh food box, you can make delicious flexitarian-friendly meals every week. Simply choose your favourite vegan, vegetarian or meat-based recipes and get the fresh ingredients you need delivered to your doorstep. You can customise your meal plan to suit your taste and preferences, so you can stick to your flexitarian goals with ease. If you want 3 meat meals one week and only veggie recipes the next, it’s super easy thanks to our selection of flexible and customisable plans. No matter whether you’re feeding a family, catering for two, or you live alone and would like to save some for lunch, you’ll find tasty, nutritious meals to suit all taste buds.
Flexitarian Diet Plan
If you’re wondering how to follow a flexitarian diet plan throughout the week and need some recipe inspiration, we have created a dinner menu using HelloFresh recipes below to give you some inspiration.
- Monday: Start the week off to a flying start with this simple and delicious Speedy Mushroom Rigatoni
- Tuesday: Did someone say taco Tuesday? These Mushroom and Cheese Baked Tacos are always a hit with the whole family.
- Wednesday: Beat the mid-week blues with this tasty and warming Linguine Melanzane.
- Thursday: Fish is a great way to get some omega-3 fatty acids into your diet and this Coconut Fish Curry is the perfect way to do it.
- Friday: Start the weekend off right with this fragrant and flavourful Tofu Thai Stir Fry.
- Saturday: Enjoy a wholesome Saturday, accompanied by this even more wholesome Spinach and Mushroom Risotto.
- Sunday: If you fancy finishing off the week with a cheeky meat meal, this Mexican Inspired Beef Rigatoni is perfect.
How to Choose a Flexitarian Meal Plan With HelloFresh
Decide how many flexitarian meals you’d like per week
Think about how many veggie meals you’d like to eat per week, as well as how often you’d like to eat meat. With HelloFresh, you can choose between three and five meals per week, plus you’ll be able to pick and choose which of these are meat-free. It’s fine if you’d prefer to make one week more veggie than the other!
Choose your recipes
The good thing about a flexitarian diet is that the recipe choice is endless! You’re bound to have fun choosing from a variety of cuisines, including Mexican, Mediterranean, Italian and Irish. Browse our recipe hub to see what’s on offer.
Enjoy cooking and eating!
Flexitarian diet plans bring so many benefits, from experimenting with different recipes to doing your bit for the environment. It opens you up to a range of nutritious foods - so be sure to enjoy it!
Decide how many flexitarian meals you’d like per week
Think about how many veggie meals you’d like to eat per week, as well as how often you’d like to eat meat. With HelloFresh, you can choose between three and five meals per week, plus you’ll be able to pick and choose which of these are meat-free. It’s fine if you’d prefer to make one week more veggie than the other!
Choose your recipes
The good thing about a flexitarian diet is that the recipe choice is endless! You’re bound to have fun choosing from a variety of cuisines, including Mexican, Mediterranean, Italian and Irish. Browse our recipe hub to see what’s on offer.
Enjoy cooking and eating!
Flexitarian diet plans bring so many benefits, from experimenting with different recipes to doing your bit for the environment. It opens you up to a range of nutritious foods - so be sure to enjoy it!
Learn More About Our Flexitarian Meal Delivery
Does HelloFresh cater to flexitarians?
How many vegetarian meals do I need to order per week with HelloFresh?
Can I cancel or change my meal plan?
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