Popular Diets to Follow to Get Ready for the Wedding

There are SO MANY diets out there – different ones come in and out of style. Let’s look at some currently popular ones, and their pros and cons.

Popular Diets to Follow to Get Ready for the Wedding

1. What are Popular Diets?

Paleo

What’s Allowed:

Lean cuts of beef, pork, and poultry
Game animals
Eggs, but no more than six a week
Fish, including shellfish
Fruit
Non-starchy vegetables
Nuts and seeds
Oils in moderation

What’s NOT Allowed:

All dairy products incl. butter
Grains
Legumes / beans
Starchy vegetables
Sweets, juices & sodas
Processed and cured meats
Highly processed foods

Whole30

What’s Allowed:

Meat
Poultry
Fish
Veggies – starchy and non-starchy
Fruits
Fats – e.g. avocado

What’s NOT Allowed:

Any type of added sugar
Alcohol
Grains
Beans
Nuts
Soy
Dairy
Processed additives e.g. MSG
No fake treats with Whole30-approved ingredients. E.g. cauliflower crust pizza

Gluten-Free

What’s NOT Allowed:

Gluten – found in Wheat, Rye, Barley, Malted milk or milkshakes, Brewer’s Yeast, some oats

Low-Carb Varieties: Low-Sugar/ Atkins/ South Beach/ Keto

What’s Allowed:

Meats
Vegetables
Dairy
Eggs
Fish

What’s NOT Allowed:

Fruit
Starchy vegetables
Grains
Beans
Added sugar

Plant-Based Varieties: Vegetarian, Vegan

What’s Allowed:

Vegetables – starchy & non-starchy
Grains
Fruits
Nuts & seeds
Beans & legumes
Oils

What’s NOT Allowed:

Animal proteins (can include eggs, fish, also chicken/ meat, etc.)
Dairy products (depends)

2. Pros & Cons

You can (95% of the time) find a study to support whatever benefit for whatever diet you want to follow. So I’m not going to go into those types of “benefits” here. Instead, let’s look at overall pros and cons of following any diet or way of eating.

Money

Pros: eliminating nutrients/ food groups can help save money
Cons: Some diets e.g. Paleo, focuses on organic foods —> can be more expensive

Social Events

Pros: Easily navigate open bar, appetizer bar, etc.
Cons: Can feel deprived/ feel like you’re not part of the group

Food Cravings

Pros: If you’ve already made the decision to not eat something, it takes the stress out. You don’t have to think: Should I just have a bite? Does today ‘count’?
Cons: Feeling of deprivation

Health

Pros: eliminating certain foods can help with portion control; weight loss/ management; vitals; feeling of fullness – particularly with lower carb diets
Cons: You may not be getting all of the nutrients that you need, e.g. Anemia (lack of iron) – non-heme iron vs. heme iron; Omega-3s biologically much more available through fish; “Food Synergy”; nutrition is the newest science

3. So What Should I Do?

You have to do what works for YOU, personally. I do caution though, that typically eliminating any food group in its entirety is limiting essential nutrients from your diet

If you are looking for the EASIEST and most realistic weight loss program – that works for the LONG term (it incorporates weekly meal plans, how to stop stress & boredom eating, AND an accountability group) – check out my program HERE!