As a nutritionist, I\u2019m all about championing diet<\/a> diversity. Eating a wide variety of foods, particularly plants, equals a broader mix of nutrients. It\u2019s obvious, really. It\u2019s the same message renowned food scientist Tim Spector has become well known for with his \u201830 plants a week\u2019 approach to supporting gut health. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n On top of that, 2026 analysis across the UK, US and Chinese cohorts found that healthier plant-based diets<\/a> were associated with lower mortality rates. Research from the American Gut Project has also linked greater plant diversity with a flourishing microbiome, adding to the growing evidence that what we eat, and the variety of our diet, plays an important role in supporting long-term health and longevity. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n That said, deciding what to eat can feel more complicated than ever. With conflicting advice on social media, a constant stream of new foods and \u2018must-try\u2019 influencer-led ingredients vying for our attention, it\u2019s easy to see why taking some of the choice out of eating is appealing. I understand the merits of a somewhat repetitive diet pattern – a trend that\u2019s been dubbed the \u2018mono-style diet\u2019, which focuses on rotating stock meals rather than cramming in as much variety as possible. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Eating the same foods on repeat is hardly a new concept. Victoria Beckham, for example, has spoken about sticking to a small repertoire of familiar foods (in her case: grilled fish, steamed vegetables and avocados). So, in an age when we\u2019re bombarded with advice about the latest superfood, miracle ingredient and must-try diet, could having less choice actually make healthy eating easier? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt reduces what psychologists sometimes call \u2018decision fatigue\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Jordan Haworth, a gastrointestinal physiologist at the Functional Gut Clinic, agrees that a mono-style diet can have its perks. \u201cOne advantage is that it reduces what psychologists sometimes call \u2018decision fatigue\u2019. This is where the quality of your choices gets progressively worse the more decisions you have to make. So, if for example your first two meals are consistently predetermined, you\u2019re less likely to reach for the convenient, energy-dense option at night.\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A \u2018boring\u2019 diet could work particularly well for people who benefit from having a set choice of repeat meals and foods that they know work for them. \u201cFor example, someone with acid reflux may benefit from having a small repertoire of meals if they know they don\u2019t trigger symptoms. Similarly, for sufferers of IBS following a low-FODMAP<\/a> diet, short-term predictability can make symptoms easier to understand and manage,\u201d continues Haworth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBenefits of the \u2018mono-diet\u2019<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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