Making A Meal Of It

Every Day Another Food Philosophy Makes Headlines. Here's How To Navigate The New Dietary Subcultures.

- Laura Craik

DO YOU KNOW YOUR PALEO FROM YOUR KETO?

Is half your office dabbling in Whole30 and experimenting with DASH? Know someone who was doing high-protein, but it made them a tad windy so they changed to gluten-free? You’re not alone. Call it fear of sugar/fear of love handles/fear of early-onset diabetes/fear of your lunch looking basic on Insta – whatever the reason, most of us are becoming far more picky about what we eat – or at least know people who are.

It’s good to take an interest in your health and wellbeing, of course. We are what we eat, et cetera – and when the pace of life is fast, and choice is infinite, it’s efficient to pick foods that fit your needs and preferences. And if it increases your energy and wellbeing? Even better. These days, however, barely a week passes without another rule-laden, uber-restrictive diet hitting the news. Just as it seems the world and its great aunt have sworn allegiance to team gluten-free, stockpiled bloody beetroot burgers from Woolworths, or even been tempted to try “kangatarianism” (watch Love Island re-runs if you’d like to know more), along comes another group with its mad-ass rules.

There will always be some people who can’t help taking things to extremes. And those people can be difficult to be with – never mind go out to dinner with. The only way to get through it? Ignore the noise – you’re great just the way you are – and enjoy spotting the new foodie breeds as they appear around you. From the vague vegans (hello, vaguans) to the sexy-flex is, here are the ones to look out for.

THE

SUPER-SEXY FLEXI