We suppose there’s no such thing as an “easy” diet to follow. Each one has rules in black and white about what you can and can’t eat. However, the latest trendy diet, the “pegan diet,” is honestly completely nuts — which are, perhaps ironically, one of the few things that are allowed in a pegan meal plan.
Firstly, pegan is not a weird spelling of pagan like we first believed. Sorry, kids, there’s no magic nor connecting to ancient gods involved. It’s actually a mashup of “paleo” and “vegan,” which sounds fairly straightforward. But it’s really not.
For those of you versed in popular diet trends, you may be confused. Paleo and vegan diets are almost polar opposites. Those following a paleo meal plan rely heavily on meat-based meals like those our ancestors were eating back in the Paleolithic era two million years ago. Vegans, on the other hand, do not eat any animal products at all. So, how can there be a middle ground?
Dr. Mark Hyman, the mastermind behind the pegan diet, explained to Redbook in 2015 that his mashup diet consists of “real whole, fresh food in its natural state free of processed ingredients, refined carbohydrates, and additives,” which are the “foundational principles” of both the paleo and vegan diets.
Basically, Dr. Hyman’s pegan diet consists of fresh, healthy, sustainable foods, low in sugar, packed with omega-3 fats, and as pure and organic as they come. Again, this all sounds straightforward. But Hyman notes that keeping one’s glycemic index low is vital for weight loss and cardiovascular health.
This complicates things a bit because there are only so many foods with a low glycemic index (between 55 and 69). Delish notes that bamboo shoots, greens (collard, mustard, turnip, etc.), Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, leeks, and mushrooms are the only veggies that make the cut.
Fruits with low glycemic indexes include apples, cherries, dark berries, citrus fruits, pears, mangoes, and pineapple.
Thankfully, avocados, olive oil, and nuts are also cool for pegans to eat.
Every once in a while, pegans can treat themselves to a sustainably-sourced, grass-fed protein like beef, chicken, turkey, salmon, shrimp, or eggs. And sometimes, adding a bit of natural sugar like maple syrup, honey, or coconut sugar will fly.
However, if you’re planning to go pegan, forget about all things dairy, all things gluten, anything soy-based, starchy veggies like sweet potatoes, and most vegetable oils.
If you can survive on a pegan diet, then you are a superhero. Having to give up our bread and cheese — sorry but, thank u, next.
