If you’re here because you have made a commitment to change the way you eat in the new year, congratulations! And if you’re here because you are considering making that change, you’re in the right place. Millions of Blood Type Diet® followers around the world have discovered the benefits of an individualized prescription for staying healthy, including increased energy and achieving their ideal weight. You’re in great company.
You might be wondering, though, “What will my diet really look like?” Following The Blood Type Diet with a list of categorized foods can be very straightforward - but we can also help you to go from looking at lists of Beneficial, Neutral and Avoid foods to cooking meals you enjoy and that keep you on the path to wellness. That’s where these tips can help and offer guidance.
Before you start The Blood Type Diet
If you’re new to The Blood Type Diet, the best place to start is to understand the historical context that has contributed to the role your blood type plays in your diet. In his bestselling book Eat Right 4 Your Type, Dr. Peter D’Adamo breaks it all down and answers essential questions such as: How have humans acclimated to different environmental challenges? How is that reflected in your specific blood type? Why should you eat certain foods and avoid others?
Take some time to learn what The Blood Type Diet is all about. Read the book. The more you understand, the easier it will be to go the distance. Sure, it’s normal to want to skip ahead to the section with exactly what you should and shouldn’t eat for your own blood type. But in the long run, it’s easier to follow a method that lives in your head and your heart.
If you don’t already know your blood type, a quick and easy way to find out is with our Home Blood-Typing Kit.
Getting started
Eat Right 4 Your Type includes a 10-Day Blood Type Diet Challenge (read more about it here), which Dr. D’Adamo developed for the most immediate results. Or you can begin more gradually.
The easiest way to start is by adding foods to your diet from your Beneficial list. Begin to incorporate foods that you’re not already eating. Next, gradually eliminate foods from your Avoid list. Some swaps will be straightforward. For example, a Blood Type A who is accustomed to eating meat can start replacing meat with Beneficial types of fish or Neutral chicken. Your goal should be to gradually replace the Avoid foods with mostly Beneficial foods and some Neutral foods.
Here are some more tips for beginners:
- When shopping, select the freshest foods you can find in their most natural states. Avoid heavily fatted meats. Free-range poultry and meats raised without excessive use of antibiotics and other chemicals are recommended for The Blood Type Diet.
- Choose organic fruits and vegetables when possible. But if you can’t find reasonably priced organic produce, fresh, high-quality non-organic produce will be fine. The important thing is to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid the canned food aisles. High heat and pressure can cause canned food to lose vitamin content, and canned foods are usually low in fiber and high in salt. When you don’t have fresh, frozen foods are your best bet.
- Drink beverages half an hour before or after a meal, rather than with the meal.
- Keep your pantry stocked with blood-type-friendly snacks so you aren’t tempted to reach for an Avoid food when hunger strikes.
Meal plans for every blood type
When you’re ready to go from adding in some Beneficial foods to a new way of eating, a meal plan is a valuable tool. It might seem like a lot of work to plan out a week (or more) of meals in advance. And to do the shopping ahead of time. But waiting until you are hungry or tired to figure out what to eat next is a "recipe" for making a poor choice.
Eat Right 4 Your Type includes 5 days worth of breakfasts, lunches, snacks and dinners personalized for each blood type. Once you grow accustomed to eating Right 4 Your Type, you will eventually develop a routine of your own.
If you want more structure and support while you’re getting started, Cook Right 4 Your Type is the practical kitchen companion to Eat Right 4 Your Type, where Dr. D'Adamo provides a 30-day meal plan for each blood type. From breakfast and snacks to a healthy lunch and filling dinner, the plan is simple, complete and personalized for your unique genetic makeup. It ensures you are eating a variety of different foods, saves you from decision fatigue and streamlines your grocery shopping, making it easy to get started and to stick with it. And in addition to the 30-day plan, Cook Right 4 Your Type includes more than 200 great-tasting recipes, food lists and shopping guides.
The goal in 30 days is to reach the stage where it becomes natural for you to eat the foods that will do you the most good. If you don’t own Eat Right or Cook Right yet, here are some great recipes from our blog to get you started:
For even more recipes, try our official Personalized Cookbooks, full of delicious, blood-type-specific dishes developed by Dr. D’Adamo and celebrity chef Kristin O'Connor.
Planning for success
So, what happens after the 30-day plan? It’s one thing to follow a detailed plan on what to eat for every meal for a month, it’s another to continue eating Right 4 Your Type on your own. That’s why we offer many free tools to help set you up for long-term success. For instance, check out our guides for stocking your pantry, fridge and freezer so that you always have the right ingredients at hand. We are confident that after 30 days on The Blood Type Diet®, you will be feeling great and excited to continue on the journey to health and wellness. Here are some useful resources to support you along the way:
- Pantry Guides for each blood type. Stocking your pantry with Beneficial and Neutral foods that are Right for Your Type will make daily food prep easier and will help you succeed in integrating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
- Stocking your Fridge and Freezer Guides. Have you ever opened your refrigerator door and stood in front of it dumbstruck asking yourself, “What should I eat?” These handy guides (one for every blood type) will help you solve that problem.
- Downloadable Shopping Lists. As you think through what you will cook in the coming week, these shopping lists will help you stay organized. If you have multiple blood types within your family, download The Official Blood Type Diet App, which allows you to combine lists and check recipes that work for everyone.
Whether you’re motivated by weight loss, disease management or a desire to boost your immune system, The Blood Type Diet is a great way to start the new year.
