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Types of Plant-Based Diets There is more than one way to eat a plant-based diet, and also some debate about whether a person must eat only plants to be on a plant-based diet. Many traditional cuisines around the world, such those from Greece, Norway, West Africa, and Japan, have their own version based on the plants that grow well in these regions. Some people eat plant-based diets for economic and cultural reasons, while others are plant-based by choice. Even though health is a common benefit, not all plant-based diets are healthy, especially if a person doesn’t eat a variety of foods. For the purposes of this book, “plant-based” can apply to the many different groups of people who identify as eating a plant-based diet, while acknowledging that there is no single way to eat plant-based. The book will discuss many options for consuming a plant-based diet. A person who is eating plant based may or may not also identify with one of these subgroups of plant-based eating patterns: 1. Vegetarian diet: A type of plant-based diet that comprises mostly plants but may also include eggs, dairy, and sometimes fish or shrimp, but not meat (e.g., pork, beef, chicken). The vegetarian diet also has subgroups that can include those who eat eggs but not dairy, for example. 2. Flexitarian diet: A type of plant-based diet that is vegetarian most of the time but occasionally allows meat for convenience, health, or enjoyment. One might only eat it weekly, on holidays, or at family gatherings. 3. Nutritarian diet: A type of plant-based diet promoted by New York Times bestselling author Joel Fuhrman, MD. It puts the primary focus on eating very nutrient-rich,

Chapter 1: The Many Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet

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