© Olyina | Dreamstime.com - Vegetarian burger
By: Rachel
If you’ve read The Smart Girl’s Guide to Going Vegetarian, you know that we do not promote an “all or nothing” approach to plant-based eating. In fact, one of my main goals in writing the book was to help readers figure out the plant-centric diet that works for them, anywhere from flexitarian or part-time vegetarian (someone who eats a limited amount of meat) to vegan (a person who eats no animal products whatsoever).
That’s why I was so excited a few years back when I learned of a new term that fit right into the plant-based eating spectrum: Reducetarian. The word was coined by activists Brian Kateman and Tyler Altermann, and means “a person who aspires to eat less meat.”
Recently, Kateman edited a book of essays on how the simple act of cutting back on meat can improve the health of individuals and the planet. This book, The Reducetarian Solution: How The Surprisingly Simple Act of Reducing the Amount of Meat in Your Diet Can Transform Your Health and the Planet includes essays from thought leaders like Seth Godin and Joel Fuhrman, has more than 40 recipes, and features easy-to-employ tips for reducing the amount of meat in your diet.
Decreasing the amount of meat in your diet need not be a black or white decision. And even if being vegan is right for you, it may not work for everyone. Embracing the grey area between the black and white can help us take steps in the right direction. That’s why The Reducetarian Solution belongs on your summer reading list. Check it out, and let us know what you think in the space below!