Basics of Flexitarian Diet

630

The flexitarian diet is a kind of eating that promotes plant-based foods. This style of eating encourages taking vegetables rather than meat and other animal products. It allows animal product consumption in moderation. It is a more flexible way of diet than a fully vegetarian or vegan diet. Here we would like to provide an overview of the flexitarian diet. You will get a basic idea including the benefits and downside of this type of diet plan.

Credit: Vitalii Pavlyshynets

If you want to add more plant-based foods to your diet and don’t like to cut out meat completely, the flexitarian diet is a good choice for you. This diet plan is created to help people reap the benefits of the vegan diet while still enjoying animal products in moderation. That’s why the name of this diet plan is a combination of words flexible and vegetarian. Vegans restrict meat, fish, eggs, dairy, and other animal-based foods while vegetarians eliminate the consumption of meat and other animal foods. But flexitarians minimize the consumption of animal products and don’t consider as vegetarians or vegans.

Credit: Natasha Spencer

The flexitarian diet is a lifestyle. It is more than just a diet. It has no fixed rules regarding calorie intake. But it has a certain procedure that leads you to a healthy lifestyle. This diet plan allows you to eat fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. When you maintain a flexitarian diet, you need to focus on protein from plants instead of animals. You can eat the least processed and most natural form of food. You also need to limit the consumption of extra sweets and sugars. This style of diet is flexible. It is focused on what to include rather than restrict.

Credit: Monika Grabkowska

The flexitarian diet is a popular diet plan for people who want to eat healthier. This diet plan allows you to consume a certain amount of meat per week. But this diet plan has no strict rule to follow. Some people may eat more animal products than others. But the overall goal is to eat more nutritious plant-based food instead of animal-based foods.

Credit: Nick Agus Arya

Flexitarian diet has several health benefits. As it promotes to consume more vegetables and fruits so you can enjoy more vitamins and minerals from your daily diet. It discourages less processed food and provides more nutrients for your health. This diet plan is good for weight loss and can reduce the risk of heart diseases, diabetes and, cancer. But excessive cut back on meat and other animal products may cause nutrient deficiencies. That’s why while preparing your meal plan to consult with your health care provider.