What is Eat To Live or Nutritarian?

Eat to Live is a book written by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.  And, in case you haven’t noticed, it’s our favorite whole-food, plant-based program around.  Dr. Fuhrman refers to this lifestyle as NUTRITARIAN.  It differentiates from the term “Vegan” because it’s not just about eliminating animal products from the diet.  This program is centered on the principle of nutrient-density.  There’s no junk food on the Eat to Live program.  No salt, no oil, no processed foods, no preservatives, and no animal products.  While eliminating these foods, you will instead eat 2 pounds of vegetables, whole grains, beans and legumes, whole food fats from plants, and as much fresh fruit as you’d like.

Here’s the foundation of Eat to Live: When you eliminate toxic foods and flood the body with nutrients, the body will begin to heal itself and unwanted fat will disappear.

Eat to Live Resources

A Few Benefits of the Eat to Live Lifestyle

  • The end of food addiction – Within the first few weeks, toxic food cravings that keep us wanting more processed, sugary, salty, and processed junk food diminish, and eventually, they disappear.

  • Weight Loss – Dr. Fuhrman explains that weight loss is just a side effect – which is kind of funny since the majority of people that start this diet DO IT to lose weight.  But it’s true!  Losing weight is really just a side effect.  This lifestyle is the catalyst to a number of biological changes which occur simply as a result of eating a high-nutrient diet.  Every system of the body benefits from living this way.  And yes, weight loss is one fantastic side effect.

  • Health Benefits – Many experience a relief in symptoms from autoimmune disease and other chronic health conditions and some members of our Eat to Live support group have even reported an end to medications under doctor’s orders.  Although we do not claim to treat any disease or illness (really, if you have a serious illness, you should see your doctor first), we do see the profound implications of living this way as members of the group report profound health improvements.  Blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, skin issues, and too many other ailments to name are resolving as a result of this lifestyle.  Again, we’re not doctors.  I’m just giving you member reports.  It’s astounding.

  • Breaking free of food addiction – Dr. Fuhrman explains that most of the “hunger” that we experience is actually not hunger at all.  In most cases, it’s a component of food addiction and a result of eating a low-nutrient diet.  Symptoms of this “toxic hunger,” as he describes it, are headaches, fatigue, nausea, weakness, mental confusion, and stomach cramping.  After several weeks on a high-nutrient diet, this toxic hunger disappears.

  • No giving up carbs – Surprise, surprise. You don’t have to cut out carbs to lose weight.  In fact, unrefined carbs ENCOURAGE weight loss.  #AWESOME

  • Acne Treatment – Dr. Fuhrman explains that a Nutritarian diet can be the primary strategy to resolve acne and keep it from coming back.  Along with every other system in the body, the skin benefits from a high nutrient, no-junk diet.

  • Longevity – A nutrient-dense diet has not only been proven to extend life-span, it also greatly increases the quality of life.

How Do I Start Eat to Live?

Start by reading the book, Eat to Live, by Dr. Fuhrman or his other books, The End of Dieting, Eat for Health, or Super Immunity.

Here are a few of the highlights:

  • Eliminate processed foods, salt, oils, and junk food from your diet.  Start by cleaning out your cupboards! This process will be 100 times easier if your kitchen is prepped with the foods you need.

  • Your food should be colorful.  Use a large variety of colorful fruits and vegetables at each meal.

  • Make salad your main dish.

  • Start by prepping  great recipes.  Prepare one or two of your favorite soups and keep at least 2 of them in your fridge at all times.  Then, you’ll always have at least one meal prepped and ready to go.

  • Understand food addiction and realize that cravings and toxic food withdrawal is part of the process.  The first 2 weeks may be quite uncomfortable but eventually these cravings will subside.

What can you eat on Eat to Live?

Meal Plan
  • Raw veggies

  • Steamed or cooked green vegetables, eggplant, mushrooms, peppers, onions, tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower, and more
  • Beans and other legumes, bean sprouts, and tofu. (1 cup daily)

  • At least four fresh fruits per day, but no juice. You can have frozen fruit, but not canned. You can use dried fruit sparingly, as a sweet accent.
  • 1 cup per day of cooked starchy vegetables or whole grains

  • 2 ounces per day of avocado (1/5 of a medium avocado is 1 ounce)

  • 2 tablespoons per day of dried fruit

  • 1 tablespoon per day of ground flaxseed

  • Raw nuts and seeds (1 ounce max per day)

  • Dairy products

  • Animal products

  • Snacks between meals

  • Fruit juice

  • Oils

  • Processed foods

Helpful Resources

Facebook Group

Cheat Sheet

Free Recipe