of the diet being raw vegan foods other than fruits. Most
fruitarians consume raw, fresh fruit over canned, frozen,
or processed fruit. A few fruitarians also consume green
leafy vegetables, root vegetables, or both in their diet.
Fruitarians can choose from seven basic fruit
groups:
Acid fruits: Citrus, pineapples, strawberries, pome-
granates, kiwi, cranberries, and sour apples.
Subacid fruits: Sweet apples, sweet cherries, raspber-
ries, blackberries, blueberries, peaches, pears, cheri-
moyas, papayas, figs, apricots, and mangos.
Sweet fruits: Bananas, grapes, melons, and persimmons.
Nuts: Pecans, almonds, Brazil, cashews, walnuts,
macadamias, pistachios, pine nuts, hazelnuts, beech-
nuts, and hickory.
Seeds: Sunflower, sesame, squash, and pumpkin.
Dried fruits: Dates, figs, apricots, apples, raisins,
cherries, prunes, bananas, and cranberries.
Oily fruits: Avocados, coconuts, and olives.
Many fruitarians believe the quality of fruit avail-
able in most commercial supermarkets is poor. This is
due to hybridization, chemical fertilization, chemical
pesticides, and harvesting before the fruit is at the peak
of ripeness. They suggest buying certified organic
fruit, preferably heirloom, often found at farmers’
markets and health food stores.
Fruitarian and author David Wolfe says it is best
to eat one type of fruit at a time and wait 45 minutes
before another type of fruit is eaten. The Fruitarian
Foundation recommends waiting at least 90 minutes
between fruit types. If a person still is hungry after
eating one type of fruit, they should eat more of the
same type of fruit until their hunger is satisfied. People
on the diet should eat only when hungry and then eat
as much as they want until their hunger is satisfied.
Those on a diet where only one type of fruit is eaten at
a time will know when they have eaten enough,
according to Wolfe. Their appetite will turn off and
they will suddenly feel like they have eaten too much.
Once satiated they will not gain the same satisfaction
from the fruit. This is a signal from the body to stop
eating, Wolfe states. The signal to stop eating is not as
strong in people who eat more than one type of fruit at
the same time. For a person who eats only fruit, there
is no need to drinkwater. All the water the body needs
is contained in the fruits. People whose diet is less than
100% fruit should supplement it with water. Some
fruitarians fast one day a week. People fasting must
drink a normal amount of water, usually eight to 10
glasses a day.
One-day meal plan
The following is a typical one-day meal plan from
the Fruitarian Foundation for a fruitarian diet:
Early morning (6–9 a.m.): The juice of three to five
lemons immediately upon waking, raisins, and an
unlimited amount of melon or melon juice.
Midmorning (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.): An unlimited
amount of apples, pineapple, figs, pears, grapes, yel-
low plums, lima beans, kiwi, and cucumber.
Noon (12–3 p.m.): Oranges or tangerines, peaches,
apricots, and papayas in any amount desired.
Midafternoon (3–6 p.m.): Mango, cherries, strawber-
ries, red plums, persimmons, pomegranates, water-
melon, and tomatoes.
Evening 6–9 p.m.): Grapes, blackberries, and
raspberries.
Late evening (9 p.m. to 12 a.m.): Mango, cherries,
strawberries, red plums, persimmons, pomegranates,
watermelon, and tomatoes.
Items that can be eaten at anytime are bananas,
coconut, organic olives, ripe avocados, any type of
raw nuts, and lemon juice. The only items that should
be consumed from midnight to 3 a.m., if desired, areKEY TERMS
Anorexia—The abbreviated term for anorexia nerv-
osa, an eating disorder.
Carbohydrates—An organic compound that is an
important source of food and energy.
Cholesterol—A solid compound found in blood
and a number of foods, including eggs and fats.
Diabetes—A disease in which the blood glucose
(sugar) levels are too high and the body does not
make insulin (which helps regulate blood sugar) or
does not make or use insulin well.
HDL—High-density lipoprotein, the so-called
good cholesterol, found in the blood.
Hybridization—Relating to a plant produced from
a cross between two genetically different plants.
Insulin resistance syndrome—A medical condition
in which insulin fails to function normally in regu-
lating blood glucose (sugar) levels.
LDL—Low-density lipoprotein, the so-called bad
cholesterol, found in the blood.
Triglyceride—A natural fat found in body tissue.Fruitarian diet