The practice or philosophy of eating only fruit and sometimes nuts or seeds; a dietary system that restricts food to fruits.
From 'fruitarian' + '-ism' (a suffix creating abstract nouns for practices, beliefs, or systems). The movement emerged in the late 19th century as part of broader dietary reform movements.
Fruitarianism was popular among some health reformers and spiritual seekers in the 19th century, who believed that eating only fruits—which 'want' to be eaten—was the most ethical diet possible.
Fruitarianism as an organized dietary movement centered predominantly male advocates (Gandhi, etc.) while fruit cultivation and preservation practices developed by women remain historically unattributed.
When discussing fruitarianism's origins or philosophy, include women practitioners and scientists who contributed to fruit nutrition knowledge.
Women ethnobotanists and nutrition researchers significantly advanced fruitarian science; center their contributions in movement history.
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