NYTimes Blog: Be a Part-Time Vegetarian
Daniella Cheslow | | 12 Comments | Email this
You heard about being a vegawarian here, which in case you forgot, means “you are ‘aware’ that eating animals contributes more towards global warming than eating plants. So, maybe, sometimes, you will choose the vegetarian option instead of the meat option.”
The New York Times’ Freakonomics blog has just published another scheme for cutting down meat without cutting it out, “vegetarianism as a sometimes thing.” Writer Ian Ayres posted a reader letter suggesting that a group of friends get together and agree to always have one vegetarian eater among them. In other words, collective vegetarians:
“Say a group of 7 people signed a contract saying that each of them would go meatless on an assigned day each week. Thus, within the group each member could eat meat 6 days a week, but there would be one vegetarian at all times…. And of course 7 is an arbitrary number – more ambitious folks could form a team of 2 or 3.”
Ayres and his wife committed to meatless Wednesdays, and he went so far as to put money on the table in the event he is caught breaking his promise – he offered to donate $150 to charity and $100 more to the person who catches him.
Like vegawarianism, collective vegetarianism offers a compromise solution between cutting out meat entirely and continuing business as usual. While die-hard vegetarians may be disappointed, it offers an accessible way for greater numbers of people to eat a more carbon-friendly diet.
(Image from netfoodie.com)
12 Responses to “NYTimes Blog: Be a Part-Time Vegetarian”
Human_Being • September 17th, 2009 • 8:01 am
I recently discovered the label “Part Time Vegetarian” and find it useful and empowering as a sort of half step to a healthier diet. Eating healthier is a process that is easy to start and and with just a little effort every week can be very rewarding. Find out more at:
http://www.squidoo.com/Parttimevegetarian
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[...] of the most energy intensive and carbon emitting industries in the world, and so vegetarianism (or vegawarianism) is a more eco-friendly option. Even if it is for only one day of the week, as in the case of [...]
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[...] you been sufficiently grossed out? Keep reading to learn more about vegetarianism: NYTimes Blog: Be a Part-Time Vegetarian Green Prophet Visits Amirim, a Vegetarian Paradise in the Galilee Israel’s Finest Restaurants [...]
Shriya • September 11th, 2010 • 7:36 pm
I used to be a part time vegeterian but now I’m a full time vegeterian (and that includes no fish and no eggs) if you are aware your contributing to killing innocent animals then becoming vegeterian (or even part time) is a good idea.
To Meat or Not To Meat – The Question of Vegetarianism or Cheatatarian | Green Prophet • September 19th, 2010 • 4:50 pm
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Jade Bell • January 14th, 2011 • 7:44 pm
Why does no-one ever have the balls to admit they’re wrong? Taking aside the moral issue, the facts about health benefits and longevity, you have admitted you cannot lecture people on green living if you eat meat. When you question the challenge of a diet where nothing had to die for your taste answer this: have you ever loved someone and they’ve died? Did it matter how old they were, or how happy they were when they died, or if they were in pain?
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[...] Vegeware means you might not be committed to vegetarianism, but are committed to doing your part by being vege “aware”. Here’s our weekly vegetarian recipe to help you cut some meat out of your diet: What I particularly like about this soup is that the usual potato for making it “hearty” is absent. Instead, ground almonds thicken it slightly, leaving room for the chokes to shine through with lightly spicy flavors. And if you love soup, also see our spinach and mushroom soup recipe here. [...]
Repair Your Eating Habits in Time for Yom Kippur | Green Prophet • March 18th, 2012 • 7:26 am
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Veggie Lover • May 14th, 2012 • 5:24 pm
Becoming vegetarian is the best thing I have ever done in my life and I am going to stick to it till the day I die, because it’s such a good choice to make in life. The world is better for it, the animals are better for it and so am I!.. I wish people who eat meat would cut down on the amount of meat they eat and who knows you may become a converted vegetarian woohoo!