The flexitarian diet: One of the best in the world

Along with the Mediterranean and DASH diets, the flexitarian diet is considered one of the best in the world, and its main principle is based on less meat intake. In a world of extreme or restrictive diets, the flexitarian approach is, therefore, a much more sustainable and better-balanced way of eating.

The term was coined more than a decade ago and refers to people who eat vegetarian most of the time, but occasionally resort to meat - for social and cultural reasons, or to meet their nutritional needs. Since flexibility is the core of flexitarianism, it is not strictly defined how many times a week it is allowed to consume meat - it is only important that the diet is predominantly based on plant-based foods.

The flexitarian approach to nutrition is easy to follow because there are no major restrictions. It is not a rigorous diet, but a healthier and more sustainable way of eating, experts explain.

If instead of meat you consume more fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and vegetable proteins, it will be easier for you to maintain the desired weight or lose a few extra pounds. In order to successfully implement this, see the basic rules of the flexitarian diet that you should follow.

What is the flexitarian diet based on?

Since meat intake is limited, you can adequately replace it with tofu, soy, mushrooms, legumes, eggs, and seeds. In addition, experts advise that instead of red, you eat lean white meat such as chicken and turkey (especially lean breast), but also fish such as tuna, salmon, and sardines. The rest of the diet should mainly include:

• fruits and vegetables
• whole grains
• dairy products (preferably those with a lower percentage of fat)
• spices
• sweeteners (instead of white sugar).

As we mentioned, the flexitarian diet can also serve as a quality diet for weight loss, so it is an excellent choice for overweight people. With this diet, the recommended daily intake of calories is around 1500, which enables gradual and healthy weight loss in the long run. This type of diet includes 3 main meals and two snacks. What is important is to respect the basic rule, which is that meat should be only a small part of the meal, and the menu should be based on plant-based foods.

Post by: Rinna James