What Is The Pagan Diet?

What is a pagan diet?

The pagan diet is a combination of two popular dietary lifestyle choices – paleo and vegan – and pulling the key principles of both to eat nutrient-dense and plant-based whole foods in order to support optimal health. This is thought to be achieved by balancing blood-sugars and reducing inflammation. 

Pagan diet ‘rules’

Unlike many short-term, or fad diets, the pagan diet has been designed to be followed indefinitely and is therefore sustainable to follow in the long term.

Do eat – plenty of plants, lots of fruits and vegetables (75% of the diet) and some legumes, seeds and nuts (moderate amounts of meat and some fish are allowed, no not strictly vegan) 

Don’t eat (very many) – heavily processed oils and grains or starchy vegetables

Don’t eat any – Dairy, conventionally farmed animal products, food additives or gluten

Benefits and drawbacks

As the diet is plant-focused you’ll have a diverse intake of vitamins, minerals dietary fibre and health-boosting plant-compounds. It’s also full of healthy unsaturated fats good for heart health, and free of processed foods.

The pagan diet restricts a few food groups unnecessarily that can often be part of a balanced and healthy diet. These include gluten and high-starch foods which, unless you’re allergic to them, may lead to nutrient deficiencies. It’s also likely to be time-consuming and potentially expensive. 

Pagan diet recipes

Check out our favourite pagan recipes here!

What next? 

If this has piqued your interest and you’d like to learn more about combining vegan and paleo diets, read this in-depth guide from our Nutritionist, Aly.