As a flexitarian, I focus on buying quality, locally-sourced food

Health-conscious Ruth Carter follows a largely plant-based diet, but still enjoys tucking into a good-quality beef burger – that’s because she identifies as a flexitarian.

Ireland-born Ruth, 37, says when it comes to eating red meat she chooses qualityassured, sustainably-sourced Scotch Beef. It’s all about consuming quality over quantity for the Glasgowbased television production coordinator.

She said: “If I was to put a label on it, I would be flexitarian as I only eat good quality stuff. I have never been a vegetarian but I do not eat a lot of meat, and steer away from processed meat altogether.

“I still eat meat when I am out in decent restaurants to ensure it is properly sourced from quality places. Every now and again, I crave spaghetti Bolognese but I’d always buy free-range, locally-sourced quality red meat. The key is not eating grisly or greasy meat, so if I do eat meat, I will always go for a good-quality steak or burger. I worry about welfare standards with the cheaper products, and if they flooded the Scottish market I wouldn’t eat meat anymore. But with the Scotch Beef label you can trust that you are eating a quality product.

“Animal welfare is very important. As a flexitarian, I am focusing on buying quality. I think the way forward for people is to treat meat like the luxury it should be.”