Flexitarian diet

Written by the VitaWhat editorial team · Medically reviewed by Steve Davis · Last reviewed 19 July 2026 · Editorial policy

Mostly plant-based but allows occasional meat and fish.

Pros

  • Flexible and sustainable
  • Most benefits of vegetarian eating
  • Easy to adopt

Cons

  • Less structured
  • Benefits depend on overall choices

Suitable foods

  • Vegetables, fruit and legumes
  • Wholegrains
  • Occasional lean meat and fish
  • Dairy or alternatives

Foods to limit or avoid

  • Frequent processed and red meat
  • Ultra-processed foods
  • Added sugar

Sources & references

  1. British Nutrition Foundation
  2. Harvard T.H. Chan Nutrition Source

Related entries

DASH dietGluten-free dietIntermittent fastingKetogenic (keto) dietLow-carbohydrate dietMediterranean diet
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