The name flexitarian diet is a combination of the two terms- vegetarian and flexible. The term has been introduced for more than a decade and is used to refer to the diet which is helpful for leading a healthy lifestyle by maintaining the balance of the essential nutrients in the body.

It is specifically designed with less organic animal products and more plant products for consumption. Therefore, it is helpful in maintaining a steady weight and also improves the overall health condition.

Does this diet help a person in losing weight?
Research reveals that the vegetarians tend to consume low calories in their diet which helps them to control their Body Mass Index and the weight. But, it has been also observed that the people who are pure vegetarians are often lacking in various essential nutrients in the body. These deficiencies can be the cause of the emergence of a number of disorders and diseases in them.

But, as the flexitarian diet has whole grains, vegetables and fruits, and animal products occasionally as its components, it is able to maintain the balance of the essential nutrients in the body. These diets are proven to contain a low amount of calories and are thus helpful in reducing weight and BMI respectively.

How much time should be devoted to exercising while undergoing this diet?
Basically, it is dependant upon the type of exercise you prefer and do on a daily basis. You have to work out for 30 minutes for 5 days a week if you prefer normal exercise. For the intense exercise, you have to devote 20 minutes 3 days a week. The strength training must be done two days a week. This is just a general idea of how much exercise you will need while on this diet. The actual chart will depend wholly on your body’s constitution and abilities.

How does it work?
In general, the flexitarian diet includes 5 types of foods from its list. This includes spice, sugar, dairy, whole grains, veggies, and fruits. The functioning processes of this diet are explained below:

At first, you have to plan or create a chart of a meal plan for five weeks. This list includes all the meals starting from breakfast to lunch and snacks to dinner. You have to alternate the recipes after three to four days on a daily basis.

The regimen has to be decided. Breakfast should be of 300 calories, dinner is of 500 calories, snacks are of 150 calories, and in lunch, you need to consume 400 calories.

You have to check your weight at a regular interval and plan the intake of calories accordingly and include it in your flexitarian diet.

The cost of the flexitarian diet
Vegetables are comparatively expensive to an extent but the groceries required are generally on the lower side. As the flexitarian diet needs fewer spices and other materials for its preparation it is considered the most affordable diet plan.

You can buy the fresh produce at a reasonable price too because you need not buy all types and cuts of meat for this diet. There are many restaurants from where you can order the diet for your lunch or dinner meal at the same time.