What is a Flexitarian diet and how does it work ?
Diet is necessary for everyone who wants to live a healthy life. However, one should choose a balanced diet to enhance the quality of life. On the other hand, diet plans involve different types and one should evaluate them in detail. This will help a lot to choose the right plan that works well for a person. Those who want to know more about a diet plan should consider working with a dietician to get more ideas.
What is a Flexitarian diet?
The Flexitarian diet is ideal for the modern lifestyle because it provides various advantages to a person. It is a combination of more vegetarian foods and less meat that gives ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, the diet didn’t specify any amount of macronutrients and calories thereby giving ways to focus more on the goals. Developed by Dawn Jackson, the diet works well for those who want to eliminate health complications with high success rates.
How does the Flexitarian diet work?
The diet is flexible enabling a person to obtain optimal results. At the same time, one should choose his/her level before following this diet. It involves a beginning, intermediate, and advanced level which aims at fulfilling the expectations of users. The diet has a total of 21 meals a week and beginners should start by having 7 meatless meals. Similarly, those who are in intermediate level should aim for up to 14 meatless meals a week and an advanced level involves eating more than 15 meatless meals a week.
The diet is a five-week plan that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals including snacks that will help get the desired results. One can follow the plan by knowing the details from different sources including online. People can even tweak their plans depending on their activity, height, weight, gender, and other things. The primary objective of the diet is to take abundant plant foods without any restriction and removal. It is necessary to follow the diet at one’s own pace by trying most of the recipes.
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The Flexitarian diet emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dairy products, and plant-based protein products. However, it is wise not to include some foods in the diet enabling a person to witness major changes. Some of them include excess meat, excess refined carbs, and excess added sugar.
Simple steps to get started on the Flexitarian diet
1. Downsizing
The main step to follow in the Flexitarian diet is downsizing meat on a plate. It is essential to have 50% of vegetables and fruits, 25% of whole grains, and 25% of meat Adding bulky vegetables is one way to increase veggies in the diet.
2. Reinventing old favors
Those who want to get started on the Flexitarian diet should consider reinventing their old favors to replace meat. Health experts often recommend including mushrooms, potatoes, tomato sauce, and other products that will help accomplish goals to a large extent.
3. Trying new recipes
The Flexitarian diet encourages a person to try new recipes that will help improve health. One can gather more details about them from friends and other reliable sources.
4. Knowing plant-based breakfast options
Making breakfast involves various challenges and one should consider plan-based options that are easy to prepare which will save more time. Chia pudding or overnight meals are some examples for this purpose that gives ways to stay healthy.
5. Making lunches at home
Anyone who wants to get started with the Flexitarian diet should consider making lunches at their home. Moreover, it provides ways to stick with the diet regularly that will help keep health in a perfect state. When a person faces difficulties in making a meal then, he/she should know the takeaway options in detail for making the right decision.
6. Storing vegetables
Since the Flexitarian diet involves vegetables and plant-based foods, it is important to store them in a refrigerator and pantry. Having a well-stock of grains, vegetables, and fruits will help prepare recipes with ease.
7. Thinking seasonlly
While following the Flexitarian diet, one should think about seasonal fruits and vegetables. This will help a lot to get the required nutrients significantly.
8. Preparing a diet plan
A diet plan is necessary for those who want to meet all the essential nutrients required by the body that will help experience the desired outcomes. The Flexitarian diet requires proper planning for leading a healthy lifestyle.
Is it easy to follow the Flexitarian diet?
The Flexitarian diet is very simple to follow because it primarily focuses on progress but not perfection.Furthermore, it provides methods to prepare various recipes allowing a person not to stick to any rules all day. The primary advantage of this diet is that it paves ways to prepare a wide range of healthy foods which contain an average of five main ingredients. By following this diet, it is possible to reduce hungry levels effectively to avoid excess foods. AFlexitarian diet along with a combination of exercises will bring major wonders to a person’s life.
What are the advantages of the Flexitarian diet?
Weight loss
A majority of people suffer from obesity due to various problems and they like to follow a diet plan which satisfies their lifestyle. The Flexitarian diet is the right choice for those who want to reduce their excess weight successfully.
Reduces heart diseases
Heart disorders may lead to high risks and the Flexitarian diet contributes more to reduce them. The diet plays an important role in eliminating the symptoms of heart disorders that will help live a trouble-free life.
Lowers diabetes risks
Diabetes can lead to severe problems in life and having a good diet plan enables a person to prevent the risks significantly. The Flexitarian diet is suitable for those who want to maintain their insulin levels in a perfect state.
Improves overall health
Following the Flexitarian diet enables people to improve their overall health by increasing energy levels and other things. On the other hand, one should know what to eat and what to exclude in this diet that will help ensure optimal results.
One Week Flexitarian Diet Plan
Those who are new to the Flexitarian diet should know about one-week meal plan in detail that will help gain more advantages.
Monday
Breakfast:Oat meals with topped fruits, flaxseed, cinnamon, and flaxseeds.
Lunch: Green with avocado, corn, black beans, and cucumber
Dinner: Butternut squash, lentil soup, whole-bread, and black bean frittata
Tuesday
Breakfast: Apple slices, poached eggs, and whole-grain toast with a combination of peanut butter or avocado
Lunch: Bell pepper, beans, Burrito bowl with brown rice, roasted chickpeas, etc.
Dinner: Mixed vegetables, Zucchini noodles, chicken stir fry
Wednesday
Breakfast: Sprouts, chickpeas, bananas, walnuts, and coconut yoghurt
Lunch: Roasted tofu, quinoa, hummus, whole-grain wrap, etc.
Dinner: Green beans, grilled salmon, low-fat cheese, and balsamic vinegar.
Thursday
Breakfast: Spinach, frozen berries, buckwheat cereal, and peanut butter
Lunch: Kale Caesar salad with a combination of lentils and roasted tomato soup
Dinner: Cabbage, roasted cauliflower, and backed chicken
Friday
Breakfast:Fruit smoothies, baked Kate chips, and Greek yoghurt with a combination of pumpkin seeds and blueberries.
Lunch: Sweet potato and wild rice harvest bowl, Chard wraps, mixed veggies, and peanut dipping sauce.
Dinner: Lentil shaw, and veggie pasta salad prepared with balsamic vinegar and lime
Saturday
Breakfast: Fruit salad, peppers, and over-easy eggs prepared with veggies
Lunch: Sandwich made from peanut butter, chickpeas or avocado
Dinner: Vegetarian chilli and black bean burgers prepared with sweet potato fries and avocado
Sunday
Breakfast: Cinnamon, tofu scramble, and whole-grain bagel
Lunch: Peanut butter salad and quinoa salad added with cinnamon and milled flaxseed
Dinner: Curried coconut, stuffed bell peppers, side salad, etc.
