What Is the Wild Diet?

What Is the Wild Diet?

The Wild Diet eating plan is similar to the Paleo diet, but allows for a greater range of foods and more flexibility in your eating style. Creator Abel James says that rather than eating like your Paleolithic ancestors, you should eat like your grandparents, focusing on real, whole foods instead of processed ones.

The Wild Diet emphasizes locally farmed, organic, whole foods, with the exception of whole grains. People following this diet will eat a lot of meat, seafood, and vegetables.

The 7-Day Diet Plan

The Wild Diet emphasizes meat, seafood, and non-starchy vegetables, allows for fruit and dairy on occasion and eliminates grains entirely. This can make meal planning tricky, since grains are a common dietary staple for many.

The following 7-day meal plan offers suggestions for what to eat on the Wild Diet. Note that this meal plan is not all-inclusive, but if you do choose to follow this diet, there may be other meals that are more appropriate for your tastes, preferences, and budget.

What You Can Eat

James has a book that includes explanations for how to choose foods to eat and foods to avoid. Some promotions for the diet suggest that you can eat fatty, indulgent foods like bacon, sausage, or heavy cream. But most of those foods are “supplementary foods,” according to the plan. James recommends that you eat no more than two total servings of supplementary foods per week until you reach your goal weight.

Fruits and Vegetables

Produce allowed on the Wild Diet includes mostly non-starchy vegetables, especially colorful ones (preferably organic). Starchy vegetables, such as potatoes and sweet potatoes, should be kept to a minimum, and fruits limited to no more than two servings per day.

• Leafy greens (mustard greens, beet greens, spinach, chard, kale)
• Carrots
• Pumpkin
• Jicama
• Artichokes
• Peppers
• Eggplant
• Berries

Protein

The Wild Diet is heavy on meat: Grass-fed, pastured, organic, wild, or locally raised meats.

• Bison
• Elk
• Buffalo
• Boar
• Veal
• Venison
• Pork
• Chicken
• Beef
• Wild-caught fish and shellfish (shrimp, cod, salmon, clams, crab, tuna)
• Eggs (chicken, duck, quail)

Fats

Fats should come from specific sources.

• Nuts and seeds
• Virgin, cold-pressed plant-based oils (avocado, coconut, olive, walnut)
• Organic pasture-raised animal fats (butter, ghee)

Dairy Products and Substitutes

Dairy products are allowed in moderation (about two servings per day), with an emphasis on whole milk and products made from grass-fed animal milk.

• Whole milk
• Cream
• Fermented dairy (yogurt, kefir)
• Almond milk
• Coconut milk
• Cashew milk

What You Cannot Eat

Like many weight-loss diets, the Wild Diet suggests cutting out refined sugar and carbohydrates. But it also eliminates a large group of carbohydrates: all grains and legumes.

Grains and Legumes

On the Wild Diet, your carbohydrates will come from fruits and vegetables only. Grains, even whole grains, and legumes are not permitted.

• Bread
• Pasta
• Cereal
• Oats
• Rice
• Lentils
• Chickpeas
• Kidney beans

Refined Sugar and Carbohydrates

Foods that are processed and/or have added sugar are off-limits on the Wild Diet.

• Potato chips
• Baked goods
• Sugar-sweetened drinks
  

How to Prepare the Wild Diet & Tips

Even though James provides guidance about how to structure each meal and how to time your daily food intake, he says your eating plan should be organized to reach weekly goals, not daily ones. He says this allows for greater flexibility and makes the program easier to follow.

For example, if you can’t eat enough vegetables on Monday, eat more veggies on Tuesday or Wednesday so that at the end of the week, about 65% of your food intake has been nutrient-rich, low-starch vegetables.

Dining out is allowed on the plan and eating with friends is encouraged. Alcohol (preferably red wine) is OK in moderation (two drinks or fewer per day). James also recommends that you carry high-quality dark chocolate for "chocolate emergencies."

The Wild Diet plan is accompanied by an exercise program. The workout plan simply includes one 7-minute, high-intensity workout session per week. But note that not everyone is fit or healthy enough to complete high-intensity intervals. Current exercise guidelines suggest an activity program that includes 150 minutes or more of moderate activity for weight management and overall health.

Sample Shopping List

Though the Wild Diet stresses that all foods consumed on the plan should be locally sourced and organic, this may not always be possible depending on where you live and your budget.

The following shopping list offers suggestions for getting started on the Wild Diet, and it's up to you to decide whether or not to choose organic. Note that this is not a definitive shopping list and you may find other foods that work better for you.

• Dark leafy greens (kale, spinach, arugula, Swiss chard, collard greens)
• Non-starchy vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, Brussels sprouts, green beans, mushrooms)
• Low-carb fruits (berries, pineapple, cantaloupe, avocado)
• Healthy fat sources (avocados, walnuts, almonds, chia seeds, flaxseeds, olive oil)
• Meat and poultry (beef, chicken breast, turkey breast, bacon, sausage)
• Fresh or frozen fish (halibut, salmon, cod, snapper, shrimp)
• Whole milk and/or heavy cream
• Eggs
• Dark chocolate

Pros of the Wild Diet

Despite the weight-loss benefits associated with the Wild Diet, not everyone will be successful on this plan. Review the pros and cons to inform your decision about trying this eating style.

• High-quality foods: Many people who follow the program will benefit from an increased intake of nutrient-rich vegetables and high-quality protein sources, along with reduced consumption of processed foods that may be high in sugar and salt.
• No counting required: If you prefer not to count calories or carbohydrates, you might prefer the Wild Diet to other low-carb weight-loss plans. You will still need to keep an eye on your portions and consume certain foods in moderation using intuitive eating, however.
• May be effective for weight loss: If you follow the Wild Diet perfectly, you are likely to lose weight, especially at the beginning of the program. If you currently eat a typical American diet (one that relies heavily on meat, processed foods, starchy carbohydrates, and sugary drinks), the shift to a low-carb eating style is likely to result in a quick loss of water weight. There is plenty of evidence to show that high-protein diets can be an effective strategy for weight loss.
• Encourages a healthy lifestyle: The Wild Diet promotes healthy habits like choosing whole foods and getting lots of exercise. You will probably notice a change in your body size, and you may even benefit from an increase in energy when you cut out processed carbs.
• Decreased sugar intake: Since processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and simple carbohydrates (like baked goods and candy) are not allowed, some may improve their health on this plan as a result of the decrease in sugar intake.
• Encourages intuitive eating: Despite the dietary restrictions, the premise of the Wild Diet encourages followers to eat mindfully and follow their body's natural hunger cues. Eating when you're hungry, savoring each bite, and stopping before you become overly full can help promote weight loss. Intuitive eating can also help people to cultivate a healthy relationship with food.

Cons of the Wild Diet

Unnecessary restrictions and missing food groups are a significant downside to the Wild Diet.

• Missing food groups: Some dietitians have expressed concern over the lack of whole grains and dairy on this eating plan. It can be hard to get all the nutrients you need when you cut out all or most of these foods. That could make this diet hard to sustain and (since legumes and beans are also restricted) difficult for vegetarians to use.
• High in saturated fat: This may also not be a healthy eating plan for people who have been instructed to cut back on their saturated fat intake. While foods like butter and cream are limited on the plan, they might still be too high for people trying to follow an eating plan to support heart health.
• Difficult to sustain: James stresses the importance of choosing foods as close to "wild" as possible, including organic produce, grass-fed beef, free-range eggs, wild-caught seafood, and so on. Those ingredients can be challenging to find and expensive, too.
• May include too much protein: High-protein diets that emphasize animal protein are often high in saturated fats. And research shows that high-protein diets that exceed the recommended daily intake of protein may cause high cholesterol, heart disease, and even some forms of cancer.
• May lead to nutrient deficiencies: Choosing whole foods over processed ones is a healthy choice, but eliminating whole grains and restricting carbohydrates can lead to nutrient deficiencies. People following a low-carb diet may experience deficiencies in valuable micronutrients, such as vitamin B1 (thiamin), folate, vitamin C, magnesium, iron, vitamin D, vitamin E, and calcium.
• May not include enough fiber: Consuming only non-starchy vegetables and restricting legumes could make it difficult for some people to meet their recommended daily intake of fiber.

Is the Wild Diet a Healthy Choice for You?

Current dietary guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommend consuming a variety of foods from all food groups, including lean animal protein (or plant-based protein sources), dairy products and fortified soy products, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Since the Wild Diet eliminates grains entirely and restricts other healthy foods, it does not align with federal guidelines.

There is no calorie counting on the Wild Diet, but nutrition experts recommend counting calories to stay within the recommended range for weight loss. The USDA advises a reduction of 500 calories per day for a steady rate of weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week. On a 2,000 calorie diet, that's about 1,500 calories a day—but this can vary based on an individual's age, sex, weight, height, and level of physical activity. Use this calculator to determine the right number of calories to meet your goals.

A Word From Verywell

The Wild Diet is an example of how different diets work for different people. The eating style has clearly worked for Abel James, but he had an incentive (he participated in a reality TV show featuring his diet), time, and substantial personal motivation to build his diet around a unique array of foods. Many people who read his book or download the Wild Diet PDF may not have that same level of interest or investment.

If you try the Wild Diet and find that you can’t maintain it, there's no need to beat yourself up over it. Use the program as a guide and make adjustments to fit your personal health needs, your schedule, and your budget. Better yet, talk to your healthcare provider or invest in a session with a registered dietitian to make sure that the eating plan you choose supports a comprehensive plan for wellness and longevity.

Remember, following a long-term or short-term diet may not be necessary for you and many diets out there simply don’t work, especially long-term. While we do not endorse fad diet trends or unsustainable weight loss methods, we present the facts so you can make an informed decision that works best for your nutritional needs, genetic blueprint, budget, and goals.

If your goal is weight loss, remember that losing weight isn’t necessarily the same as being your healthiest self, and there are many other ways to pursue health. Exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors also play a major role in your overall health. The best diet is always the one that is balanced and fits your lifestyle.