Want to find out more about the most popular diets? Then you've come to the right place! Our society's food culture is extremely diverse. The countless nutrition and food trends that have emerged for ethical, health or ecological reasons, for example, are correspondingly varied. But what forms and variations are there in our meals and in culinary cuisine in general?
In this article, I would like to give you an overview of the jungle of diets and introduce you to the most important types and trends. Let's go!
You can find a brief overview here in advance:
- Mixed delicacies
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Flexitarian
- Pescetarian
- Frutarian
- Climatic
- Carnivor
- Lactose free
- Raw food
- Clean Eating
- Slow Food
- Kosher
- Halal
- Milk protein free
- Low carb
- Paleo
- Beegan
- Pudding vegetarian
What motivates people to eat in a certain way?
Before we move on to the individual diets, I would like to briefly explain why there are so many different types and trends in our eating culture. After all, in theory we could all just eat whatever we feel like.
It is mainly the following motives that drive people to adjust their eating habits:
- Health: Many people consciously eat in such a way that they prevent potential or existing diseases, nutrition-related diseases can prevent.
- Beauty: Some people change their diet, for example, to achieve a more beautiful complexion or stronger hair.
- Taste: Of course, there are also people who no longer consume certain foods or eat them again because they no longer like the taste or like the taste again.
- Religion: For countless people around the world, their own beliefs also determine whether certain foods are allowed or forbidden.
- Ethics: For many of us, eating in line with our own moral values is the main reason for changing our diet. For example, because we love animals and don't want them to be exploited or killed - or because we want to do something about World hunger would like to undertake. Securing the future of our own children and grandchildren on earth is also an ethical motive.
- Environment: Certain diets are very resource-intensive and contribute significantly to the biggest environmental problems of our time to. For example, because rainforests are cut down to grow animal feed for later meat production.
1. mixed diet
Those who eat an omnivorous (i.e. mixed) diet, Eats everything and does not restrict himself. Whether fruit, vegetables, milk, dairy products such as cheese and yoghurt, wholegrain products, beef, fish, fat or sweets - everything can be eaten. Accordingly, the casual description of the "omnivore" is quite appropriate.
2. vegan diet
Vegan*s consume only plant-based foods and consciously avoid animal-based foods such as meat, eggs, milk, cheese, cream or honey - as well as animal ingredients such as gelatine or carmine. If omnivores are referred to as "omnivores", the term "herbivores" definitely applies to vegans.
The vegan diet is one of the most consistent forms of nutrition - This is mainly because it is driven by ecological and health motives, but above all by ethical ones. Ultimately, the aim is to avoid the use of animals or animal products in all areas of life.
3. vegetarian diet
Vegetariansconsume mainly plant-based but also animal-based foods. They pay attention to this, no "products" from killed animals, only from live animals to eat. This is why they eat foods such as milk, dairy products like cheese and yoghurt, eggs and honey - but refrain from eating meat.
However, there are different types of vegetarian diets:
- Lacto-vegetarians: They eat a largely plant-based diet, avoiding meat, fish and eggs, but consume milk and dairy products.
- Ovo-Vegetarians*: They consume plant-based foods and eggs, but avoid other animal products such as meat, fish, milk and dairy products such as cheese and yogurt.
- Ovo-lacto vegetarians: They mainly eat plant-based foods - but eggs, milk and dairy products are also fine for them.
- Ovo-lacto-pisce vegetarians*: In addition to a plant-based diet, they also eat animal eggs, dairy products and fish. By definition, then, they are actually omnivores.
- Partial vegetarians: Strictly speaking, they are also omnivores, as they eat a predominantly meat-free diet, but occasionally eat meat and fish.
Tip: The purely plant-based, vegan diet is basically a very strict form of vegetarianism. Did you know, however, that there is a significant Difference between a purely plant-based diet and veganism is there? I explain it to you in the linked article.
4. flexitarian diet
Flexitarians eat a predominantly vegetarian diet and consciously limit their consumption of animal meatbut eat meat from time to time. They (usually) pay more attention to high quality.
Notice: Flexitarians can usually be recognized by the fact that they are only very little and then only "good" meat consume. In my opinion, it is one of the most unspecific and, as the name suggests, most flexible forms of nutrition.
5. pescetarian diet
Those who subscribe to pescetarianism, Although the meat of animals of the same temperature is not used in their own mealssuch as cows, pigs or chickens - but like to eat fish. Eggs, milk, dairy products and other seafood, such as crabs or mussels, are also permitted for many pescetarians. Put simply, pescetarians are vegetarians who eat fish and other seafood.
6. frutarian diet
Frutarians feed exclusively on plant parts that are naturally dead or have been given up by a plantwithout having to destroy it. The frutarian or fructarian form of nutrition is based on a species-appropriate life for both animals and plants and is therefore, in theory, even more consistent than the vegan diet. The motivation behind this extra step is mostly ecological and not ethical.
Good to know: According to current scientific knowledge plants have no feelingsas they do not have a central nervous system like animals.
7. climatic diet
As a climatarian you eat in such a way that as few greenhouse gases as possible are emitted for your own food, which the Environmental problem of climate change drive this forward. For this reason, preference is given to sorted, regional and seasonal foods that are predominantly plant-based, as the lower the proportion of meat, the lower the CO2 equivalents emitted for meals.₁
8. carnivorous diet
Carnivores feed exclusively on animal tissueas well as water. In addition to (often raw) meat, animal products such as eggs, butter, cheese and dairy products may also be eaten. This form of nutrition for pure meat eaters is still largely unexplored and often motivated by the desire to act as a provocative counter-trend to the vegan diet.
9. lactose-free diet
Lactose is a sugar and a natural component of animal milk, such as cow's milk, sheep's milk and goat's milk. With a lactose-free diet people refrain from consuming animal milk and all animal dairy products. The main health reason for this is usually a pronounced lactose intolerance in those affected.
Good to know: A food is considered lactose-free if it contains less than 0.1 g of lactose per 100 g.
10. raw food diet
Raw food is food that has not been cooked, baked, fried, pasteurized or otherwise heated before consumption. With a raw food diet, the following are therefore allowed ate only uncooked food be. Raw foodists mainly eat vegetables, fruit, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, mushrooms and herbs - but also raw fish and raw meat, depending on personal preference.
11. clean eating
The clean eating diet only allows largely natural, plant-based and animal-based foods - In other words, no artificial additives, no industrial sugar, no sweets, no fast food and no ready meals. The food is cooked fresh, i.e. as naturally as possible. All "fresh" foods are therefore permitted - such as fruit and vegetables, organic meat, pulses, yogurt, milk or wholegrain cereals.
12. slow food
In the Slow Food movement you eat and enjoy your food slowly, consciously and regionally. Mainly plant-based products are consumed - but animal-based foods are also possible. This healthy and relatively sustainable form of nutrition is a counter-movement to the rather unhealthy, environmentally harmful and globalized fast food. The motivation behind it is, among other things Be more aware of hunger and the feeling of fullness and to increase their own well-being.
13. kosher diet
The kosher diet is based on Jewish dietary commandments in the Torah, part of the Hebrew Bible. In kosher cuisine, for example, no shellfish, crustaceans, insects or pigs may be eaten. Only mammals that have four feet and cloven hooves - and chew the cud - are permitted. According to Jewish belief, animals must be completely drained of blood before being eaten, which is why they are slaughtered. This means that they are killed without anaesthetic and then bled to death.
14. halāl
According to the Muslim faith only foods that are "halāl" (translated: permitted) according to the Islamic dietary laws are eaten and drunk. These include, for example, eggs, fruit and vegetables, cow's milk and meat from slaughtered chickens, cattle or sheep. However, the consumption of alcohol and pork is forbidden ("harām").
15. milk protein-free diet
Anyone who eats a dairy protein-free diet, avoids cow's milk and dairy products, such as cheese or yogurt, in its own meals. Ready-made products containing cow's milk are also deliberately avoided. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on the dairy protein-free diet. The diet is primarily for health reasons - and is usually the result of a cow's milk protein allergy.
16. low carb
The low carb diet trend is all about this, consume significantly less carbohydrates than usual. People often eat this way in order to lose weight in a healthy way - Accordingly, a low carb diet involves consuming less pasta, muesli, bread, potatoes, sugar, rice and juices, for example. Basically, however, the food trend is more of a long-term dietary decision to stay fit, healthy and slim in general.
17. paleo diet
The Paleo diet trend is based on all the foods that were already available in the Stone Age. Accordingly, cereal products, pulses, sugary foods, milk and all dairy products are avoided. However, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables, nuts and seafood are allowed. The aim is generally to lead a healthier life by switching to a Paleo diet and combining it with a more active lifestyle.
18. beegan
Vegans eat a plant-based diet as far as possible - However, insects and insect products, especially honey, are allowed. Simply explained, beegan products are vegan foods that may also contain honey or insects.
Tip: About the Insect consumption I have also written a detailed article for you. Feel free to take a look!
19. pudding vegetarian
As a pudding vegetarian people eat a meatless diet, but increasingly unhealthy foodslike fast food, convenience products or sweets. So it is ecological and ethical rather than health-related motives that drive pudding vegetarians.
Of course there are also pudding vegans! Because also the A vegan diet is not automatically healthy. After all, you could also eat a vegan diet of potato chips and cola, for example.
Different diets pursue different goals - but many can be combined!
Comparisons or hostilities between the individual "followers" of the diets are superfluous. On the one hand, because everyone should decide for themselves which foods in harmony with your own values and wishes are. And secondly, because most of the types and trends presented here can be combined well with each other. For example, you can be a lactose-free, kosher vegan who prefers the concepts of Slow Food and Clean Eating.
I hope that this article has provided you with valuable information about the most common forms of nutrition in our society. Do you have any questions, tips or suggestions? Or can you think of any other types and trends relating to our meals? Then I look forward to your comments!
Stay clean,
PS.: You want something Eat less meat or vegan life? You'll find lots of tips in the linked articles. Good luck!
References:
₁ Peter Scarborough, Paul N. Appleby, Anja Mizdrak; et al. (2014): Dietary greenhouse gas emissions of meat-eaters, fish-eaters, vegetarians and vegans in the UK, available at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25834298. [29.04.2022].
