Welcoming The Flexitarian

Nowadays , so many people subscribe to some kind of diet.It's either vegetarianism, low fat, no red meat , no fruits, the raw food movement or whatever else is cropping up on the horizon, Some foodies say they're of one belief while incorporating aspects of another diet into their life styles. To be honest the best way is to be flexible. Try to make each meal suited to your nutritional needs  but each meal has to be good tasting.

That's more or less the premise in a new column in today's New York Times Dining section. The great Mark Bittman has introduced  something called The Flexitarian. He states  that people can create a better diet for themselves, without any drastic shopping and eating choices. Build up to a better diet one step at a time. Add more veggies if you're strictly a meat eater or vice versa if you eat more greens (although this doesn't apply to vegans and vegetarians -protein can be found in other products such as  tofu).The key is to make your dishes tasty. You want ot eat healthy because it's a treat for your palate.

Mr. Bittman offers some very good advice as well as recipes. He has a recipe for a decadent pasta and clams however makes it with smaller amounts of ingredients. That way his guests(and himself) won't feel so bloated.. He suggests serving it with a vegetable and a salad. It's a way of enjoying one of the best known pasta dishes along with getting a dose of necessary greens. You could pair it with his simple chopped salad. Here he elevates a simple diet plate to new heights simply by salting the veggies and then rinsing them. Brining simply pickles the  cukes, carrots, cabbage and beets. After they';re rinsed , then serve with a simple dressing. He also adds a flavorful spin on those health must haves  fruit smoothies. These had the added zing of fresh ginger for punch but also for antioxidants and vitamins.

Maybe the best way to eat  - and to live is by being flexible. Don't give up tasty food. Just make it healthy. On the same principle, eat what's good for you but get out of the boring diet rut Add some zing and zest to it . You can actually have it all , from flavor to nutrients the best way of eating for anyone- not just foodies.