Trendy diets can be overwhelming – there are often too many rules, restrictions, and complicated recipes. But some people swear by them, so you’re willing to try. You end up spending hours in the kitchen, buying expensive ingredients, and feeling guilty when you can’t stick to it.
Traditional diets often focus on what you can’t eat rather than what you should eat. This creates a negative mindset around food and can lead to feelings of deprivation. In addition, these diets are not sustainable in the long term as they require strict adherence to complicated meal plans.
The minimalist diet takes a different approach. Rather than focusing on restrictions, this approach emphasizes simplicity and balance. It encourages you to simplify your meals and choose whole, nourishing foods that are easy to prepare.
Here’s what you need to know about the minimalist diet and how it can benefit your health.
As its name suggests, the minimalist diet is a simple approach to eating. It involves reducing the number of ingredients in your meals and choosing whole, minimally processed foods.
This doesn’t mean you need to eat bland or boring meals. Instead, it’s about using basic ingredients and preparing them in a way that brings out their natural flavors. This also means avoiding highly processed foods such as packaged snacks, frozen dinners, and fast foods.
The goal of this diet isn’t weight loss, although it may be a side effect for some people. Rather, its main focus is on nourishing your body with quality nutrients and simplifying your relationship with food.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the average American spends over 3 hours on food-related activities such as grocery shopping, meal planning, and cooking every day (5). The minimalist diet aims to reduce this time and stress by simplifying the process of preparing meals.
It’s not a “diet” in the conventional sense, as it’s not a short-term plan that’s meant for specific weight loss goals. Instead, it’s a lifestyle approach that can be followed in the long term.
Any diet can be minimalist if it adheres to the following core principles:
If you tend to let yourself off the hook, raise the white flag when things get tougher than you expected, send yourself on an unconscious binge-eating trip – BetterMe app is here to help you leave all of these sabotaging habits in the past!
In a world where diets come and go faster than any of us can keep up, the minimalist diet is an obvious choice for those who want a simpler, more sustainable way of eating. Here are a few detailed benefits of this approach:
By focusing on whole, minimally processed foods, the minimalist diet provides your body with essential nutrients while avoiding harmful additives that are found in many ultra-processed foods. This type of diet may:
While weight loss isn’t the primary goal of the minimalist diet, simplifying your meals and choosing nutrient-dense foods can naturally lead to weight management (1). Specifically:
Preparing meals with fewer ingredients means less time is spent in the kitchen and less money is spent on groceries. With a few staple meals in your repertoire, you can easily plan and prepare meals without the need for complicated recipes or expensive ingredients. This approach can:
By planning meals around simple, whole foods, you can also reduce food waste. This helps save money and is also better for the environment (2). Benefits include:
The minimalist diet encourages mindfulness by focusing on fewer, higher-quality ingredients (4). This can help you:
With fewer ingredients and simpler recipes, meal planning becomes much easier, reducing stress and freeing up mental space. Benefits include:
Read more: 7-Day Weight Loss Low-Carb Diet: Choose High-Protein, High-Fiber, or Ultra-Low-Carb
By choosing whole, minimally processed foods and reducing food waste, the minimalist diet aligns with sustainable living principles. This helps:
Making the switch to a minimalist diet may seem daunting initially, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips to help you ease into this way of eating:
Rather than trying to overhaul your entire diet at once, start by incorporating one minimalist meal into your day. This could be a simple breakfast of overnight oats or a lunchtime salad with fresh ingredients.
Rather than focusing on buying specific foods for certain recipes, think about versatile ingredients that can be used in multiple ways. For example, instead of choosing a specific type of cheese for a recipe, opt for a block of Cheddar that can be shredded or sliced for various meals.
When planning meals, focus on the basics: protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. This can include foods such as lean meats, nuts and seeds, avocados, and whole grains. Sticking to the basics allows for more flexibility in meal planning and simplifies the process.
Transitioning to a minimalist diet means choosing whole, nutritious foods over packaged and ultra-processed options. Make an effort to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats into your meals (6).
While you may use fewer ingredients in your meals, this doesn’t mean that they have to be bland or boring. Experiment with different herbs, spices, and sauces to add flavor to your dishes without adding extra ingredients.
If a recipe calls for a long list of ingredients, don’t be afraid to make substitutions or omit certain items altogether. Use what you have on hand and don’t feel any need to follow recipes strictly.
As you start incorporating more minimalist meals into your diet, identify which of them become your go-to staple meals. These can be simple yet satisfying options that you can turn to regularly without much planning or effort.
To save time and reduce stress, try meal planning and prepping ahead for the week. This will help you stick to your minimalist diet by having healthy, simple meals that are ready to go when you need them.
The transition to a minimalist diet may take some time, so be patient with yourself. Don’t be discouraged if you slip up or find it challenging initially. Remember that small changes can lead to big results over time.
BetterMe app is a foolproof way to go from zero to a weight loss hero in a safe and sustainable way! What are you waiting for? Start transforming your body now!
While there are many benefits to adopting a minimalist diet, it can also come with some challenges, including:
Here are some tips to help you overcome the potential challenges of minimalist eating:
Read more: 24 Weight Loss Smoothies, 2 Diet Plans, and 5 Belly Fat Smoothie Secrets
A minimalist diet consists of whole, minimally processed foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. Avoiding ultra-processed and packaged foods is the key.
No, a plant-based diet focuses on consuming mostly or entirely plant-derived foods, while a minimalist diet is more centered around choosing simple meals made from whole, minimally processed foods, regardless of their source.
Weight loss isn’t the primary goal of a minimalist diet, but it can be a potential side effect due to consuming fewer calories from high-calorie, ultra-processed foods. However, in order to lose weight on this diet, it’s important to still practice portion control and make sure you eat enough nutrient-dense foods.
Yes, indulging in treats and snacks is still possible on a minimalist diet. However, it’s important to choose minimally processed options that are in alignment with the principles of a minimalist diet.
A minimalist diet can be suitable for most people, but it’s important to always listen to your body and make adjustments as needed. Consult a healthcare professional if you have any concerns or underlying health conditions.
In summary, the minimalist diet offers numerous potential benefits for both physical health and overall lifestyle. By simplifying meals and focusing on whole, minimally processed foods, you can improve your health, save time and money, reduce food waste, foster mindfulness, simplify meal planning, and contribute to a more sustainable way of living. Start by making small changes and see how this approach can have a positive impact on your life.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not serve to address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on for making any kind of decision-making. Any action taken as a direct or indirect result of the information in this article is entirely at your own risk and is your sole responsibility.
BetterMe, its content staff, and its medical advisors accept no responsibility for inaccuracies, errors, misstatements, inconsistencies, or omissions and specifically disclaim any liability, loss or risk, personal, professional or otherwise, which may be incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and/or application of any content.
You should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or your specific situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of BetterMe content. If you suspect or think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor.