Flexitarian, murgitarian, or inflexitarian: Viral reel maps India's quirky eating habits
In a country where food is an extension of culture, community, and even caste, the question of 'What do you eat?' is far more layered than a simple vegetarian vs non-vegetarian divide.
Now, thanks to a viral Instagram reel by Krish Ashok (@masalalab), a new set of playful yet insightful food identities has entered the public conversation. These terms are not just humorous labels; they point to the nuanced, sometimes inconsistent, but deeply personal choices Indians make when it comes to food. 'India has a million kinds of diets. And we take them seriously. What type are you?' he captioned the post.
The reel humorously highlights India's quirky food identities:
Inflexitarians: Eat veg but occasionally indulge in non-veg while traveling or socializing.
Flexitarians: Stick to veg at home but go non-veg outside.
Kuskatarians: Love biryani rice but skip the meat.
Murgitarians: Are non-vegetarians who eat only chicken.
Festitarians: Avoid non-veg during festivals.
Egalitarians: Happily eat both veg and non-veg without bias.
Ashok's reel has sparked both laughter and reflection online, offering a mirror to our modern eating habits. One user joked: 'I snack a lot. Guess that makes me a munchitarian.' Another wrote, 'This is probably your most factually incorrect (by intent) yet most amusing reel.'
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But, how do such evolving food labels reflect the growing tension between tradition and modern lifestyle choices in India?
Kanikka Malhotra, consultant dietician and certified diabetes educator, explains, 'These are the words of a transition from strict dietary dualisms to situational choices, with people weighing heritage (e.g., home-based vegetarianism) against globalised lives (e.g., experimenting with non-vegetarian food socially), and much more variations of following diets.'
They represent changing habits — maintaining ritual purity at home, being flexible outside, or simply changing personal preferences based on mood, festivities or situations.
Food choices in India are often tied to identity, family, and faith. How do such flexible food identities impact our relationship with food?
Flexible labels minimise guilt/pride dichotomies by redefining decisions as personal, not moral, notes Malhotra. She adds, 'For example, festitarians (avoiding non-veg during festivals) preserve cultural connections without permanent constraint, allowing guilt-free flexibility. Identity conflicts can occur, though, if families view deviations as cultural loss, requiring open discussions regarding changing food norms.'
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