When it comes to diets, people often gravitate toward those that feature a strict set of rules about what you can eat, how much, and at what time. A whole-foods diet is not like that. That’s because it’s not a traditional diet. Instead, it’s an overall approach to eating that can be used to guide your food choices over the long term.
What Is a Whole-Foods Diet?
A whole-foods diet is not a formal or commercial diet, says Lisa Young, PhD, RDN, author of Finally Full, Finally Slim and adjunct professor at New York University. Rather, a whole foods–based approach to eating is designed to be a long-term, sustainable plan. It’s about as self-explanatory as possible: You fill your plate with whole foods and, as much as you can, avoid those that are processed. Whole foods, Dr. Young explains, are as close to their natural, unprocessed form as possible. They include foods like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean meats like chicken and fish, milk, yogurt, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
“The whole-foods diet is not closely defined — there’s a big gray area,” says Caroline Susie, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in Dallas. “The idea is to consume minimally processed foods as close to their natural state as possible.”
Whole vs. Processed Foods
“I think we need education around the term ‘processed foods,’” says Susie. “They can be very convenient, especially since we’re all so busy. I don’t want someone thinking they cannot have 90-second microwaveable brown rice, when it’s a nutritional powerhouse.”
