Ninety-nine percent Vegetarian One percent Meat Eater.

On many occasions @Lucymfel and I find articles mentioning vegetarianism and the author calls himself a vegetarian but clearly does not understand the definition.  Having people write about a subject when they clearly can’t understand the basic components of that topic is something that worries me a lot. What shocks me about these articles is that some individuals are able to state that they are vegetarian most of the time.

I am glad people want to eat less meat. But I am tired of people wanting to call themselves vegetarians and living up to the responsibility that goes alon with it. I don’t have a problem if you eat a lot of veggies and eat meat every once in a while. My problem is when you call yourself a vegetarian and you are not.

The Definition of Vegetarian by the Vegetarian Society is the following:

• A vegetarian is someone who lives on a diet of grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and fruits with, or without, the use of dairy products and eggs.
• A vegetarian does not eat meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, or by-products of slaughter.

A clear definition which in no part states that every once in a while at a restaurant, special events, family meetings, for cultural reasons, tradition, and gives you an excuse to eat meat.

If you want to eat less meat I applaud you. If you want to eat animals or any type of meat and call yourself vegetarian I have to inform you that not only are you confused, you are confusing the rest of the people around you.

This only makes it harder for the real vegetarians to go to a restaurant. Other people that don’t understand vegetarianism think you can eat meat every once in a while when there is no other option. So when I go to a restaurant, the waiters try to convince me other vegetarians do the same.

You are only vegetarian if you are 100% meatless; if you eat meat once a year what I would not call you a vegetarian. The same way you lose a basketball game by one point, a 1% of the time meat eater disqualifies you from using the title.

So for you flexitarians or the 99% vegetarians, I have to say you are just like everyone else so stop trying to use a name to separate yourself from the rest.

What is your definition of vegetarian?

Why does it mean something else for those that are not willing to commit to the definition?

Can someone really be vegetarian most of the time?

photo credit  by randomidea