What is a plant-forward diet?
A plant-forward diet refers to a dietary pattern with a large emphasis on foods derived from plants, such as: fruits, vegetables, pulses, wholegrains, and nuts. Unlike the well-known vegan diet, a plant-forward diet does not eliminate all animal products, however, encourages flexibility towards incorporating foods derived from a plant source.
The term plant-forward was first introduced to the world of Nutrition in the early 1980s by Nutritional Biochemist T. Colin Campbell and defined a diet which focused on health, was low in fat, high in fibre and largely vegetable based. Campbell aimed to promote a diet which encouraged a focus on whole-foods, which are foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.
Unlike veganism, a plant-forward diet can still incorporate animal products, such as meat and dairy. It has been argued that a plant-forward approach to eating can be healthier than following a vegan diet, with a greater emphasis on whole-foods than the typical vegan diet. Many Vegan substitutes such as vegan cheese, bacon, faux chicken nuggets and dairy free sauces are heavily processed, with unhealthy oils, saturated fats and added salts. These are frequently added to overcome the bland taste many food manufacturers are faced with when trying to create innovative vegan substitutes. Therefore, following a plant-forward approach to eating may benefit health more than a strict vegan diet. Allowing more flexibility around the consumption of animal-based products is more achievable for most people, encouraging a sustainable healthy diet which can easily be maintained.