ALTERNATIVE

Vegetarian, vegan, paleo, keto, Atkins… there are loads of specialised diets out there for us to follow. Whether it’s for personal or medical reasons, here’s what you need to know

Most specialised diets involve cutting something out. Whether it’s carbs, meat or dairy, these diets are safe so long as the diet you are

Vegetarian

following delivers the right ratio of carbs, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. There are lots of substitutions available to ensure that you get what you need.

This is probably the most common specialist diet – most people know someone who is a vegetarian. Vegetarians choose not to eat meat (and in many cases fish, too) for either dietary or personal reasons. Due to the fact that the protein derived from meat and fish is missing, vegetarians need to consider alternative sources, such as beans, lentils, dairy, tofu and eggs.

Vegan

Anything that’s derived from animal products –meat, fish or dairy products – are off the menu. Healthy vegans eat a good variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds to ensure a diet rich in essential vitamins. Vegans need to ensure that they’re eating enough protein – try beans, lentils and tofu to get your fix.

Paleo

In a nutshell, if the caveman didn’t eat it, then neither do the paleos. This diet consists of meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, eggs, nuts and seeds. Paleo followers can suffer from lack of energy due to the removal of of processed carbs. Replace these with sweet potatoes and bananas between meals to keep those energy levels up.