Top 3 Plant-Focused Diets of 2022
The results are in and three diets made the cut as the BEST for better health and weight loss according to Forbes Health and US News And World Report. All three are centered around eating more plants.
1. Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean Diet emphasizes eating whole grains, fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, olive oil, and some lean meat and fish. It also sticks to sodium guidelines in an effort to reduce hypertension (high blood pressure).
A large-scale review published in February 2019 called the evidence for the Mediterranean diet's ability to decrease risk of heart disease and stroke “large, strong, and consistent.”
The Mediterranean diet recommends 4 or more servings of vegetables per day, 3 servings of fruit, and 4 servings of grains. By just eating one Whole Harvest meal a day, you get half of your daily recommended amount of vegetables!
The best part? This meal plan doesn't have a set calorie range or portion guidelines which makes it easy for anyone to follow.
Meal idea: Pair Whole Harvest's Hearty Beet grain bowl with a cup of greens and a small portion of fish. (total servings: 2 vegetables, 1 fruit, 3 beans, 1 grain, 2 protein)
2. Flexitarian Diet
The flexitarian diet is a combination of the words flexible and vegetarian. It is shown to help with weight loss, improve blood pressure, and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online in 2017.
The flexitarian diet is an easy way for anyone to cut back on the amount of calories and saturated fat in their diet without having to do a complete diet overhaul. This flexibility makes this diet more easily maintainable in the long term.
The flexitarian diet is completed in levels. The beginner level suggests eating 6 to 8 meatless meals each week. A Whole Harvest meal subscription box includes 5 entrees, two breakfast items, plus snacks and fulfills the first level!
3. Weight Watchers Diet
The WW diet, formerly known as "Weight Watchers," has consistently been considered one of the best diet plans around.
“It promotes the inclusion of a wide variety of foods; therefore it supports balance — all foods are considered ‘legal,’ to avoid feeling deprived,” says Susan Kraus, RD, of the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.
Working from a point system, WW does not exclude any type of food and focuses instead on portion size, making sure each meal is well balanced, and letting the participant choose what they eat. The best part? Vegetables are assigned ZERO points. They can be enjoyed to your heart's content.
Tip: Our Hearty Beet grain bowl only comes in around 9 points, making it a perfect lunch or dinner option!
Whether you start one of the diets mentioned or go in a different direction in 2022, remember sustainability. For any diet to be successful, it has to be sustainable. So find what works best for you and don't be afraid to experiment. Start by simply adding more vegetables and you'll be on the right track!