WE HAVE had the Atkins, the Cambridge and even the dreaded Cabbage Soup diets, but now there is the Fife Diet - and it is aimed at saving the environment, rather than the waistline.
Devotees will be encouraged to eat nothing but produce sourced from Fife for a year in a bid to eliminate the carbon emissions created by "food miles".
Based on a Canadian idea, it sees a return to traditional practices of buying food from nearby
suppliers to boost the local economy.
Although it means that certain favourite products, such as coffee and Rioja, will be outlawed, it allows for a huge range of meals using fresh meat, fish, fruit and vegetables.
It is being organised by Mike Small, of Burntisland, who says he believes politicians are not taking a lead on environmental action and grassroots change is required. His aim is to reduce the carbon footprint of meals.
But the freelance writer admits there was some opposition when he first aired his idea.
He says: "A lot of people start by saying, 'What could you possibly eat, it's impossible', but it's only in the last 20 to 30 years that people have stopped eating from around their local area.
"We are looking for people to be a bit more proactive in looking after the environment, as there seems to be no political leadership of any effect on the environment.
"We are hoping to raise public awareness and to publicise the cost of flying food all over the world.
"It seems crazy for us to be eating food that comes from South America, for example, when we can grow the same food here in Fife."
So far, 19 "dieters" have signed up to the scheme, which starts on Friday and is inspired by the Canadian 100-Mile Diet scheme.
Among them will be Mr Small and his wife Karen, 32, and son Sorley, three - although their four-month-old baby boy, Alex, may not manage to fully take part.
"There are so many outdoor markets in Fife that, with a bit of effort, all foods such as fruit, vegetables, meat and fish should be easy to come by," he says.
The Fife project is still in its infancy, but Mr Small is hoping to encourage schools to join the scheme in some capacity and wants green eaters from outside the region to roll out the campaign in their areas of the country.
The official launch of the project is at the Falkland Estate on 2 November and will include a lunch made entirely of produce from Fife.
The menu will include a beef stew with roast vegetables, or "sustainable stovies" for vegetarians. There will also be an apple and bramble crumble.
Volunteer Sam Rogers, who runs ethical shopping website ethicsgirls.co.uk, first got involved during the summer.
"As soon as I read what was going on, I signed up for the Fife Diet there and then," she says.
"It might be difficult to source all my food from Fife, but I'm going to give it a real good go. There might be problems with stuff like salt, spices and coffee, but if I can't buy locally, then I'll make sure it'll be fair trade.
"I run an ethical business, so it would be hypocritical of me not to do something like this."
Ms Rogers hopes the scheme will help to promote local, smaller shops and retailers in Fife, because she feels that most people are completely dependent upon supermarkets.
She says it should also help to promote "good old-fashioned cooking".
"A lot of supermarket meals are just designed to be shoved in the oven or microwave, and all that packaging is so wasteful," adds Ms Rogers.
"I think a lot of people are getting fed-up of being dominated by the large supermarket chains.
"The Fife Diet is a more holistic approach to eating, and the added bonus is that it's also helping local food producers and the local environment," said Ms Rogers.
The dieters will be encouraged to contribute to the scheme's website, which also contains links to local restaurants and suppliers who are getting involved.
Mr Small plans to post an article on his personal struggle to adapt to a lifestyle without caffeine, as he has so far been unable to source coffee locally.
