A person who eats only fruit and sometimes nuts or seeds; someone who follows a diet restricted to fruits.
From 'fruit' + '-arian' (a suffix for people following a particular diet or philosophy, as in vegetarian). Emerged in the 19th century alongside the vegetarian movement.
Fruitarians take vegetarianism to an extreme—they avoid even harvesting vegetables because it kills the plant, though ironically, eating fruit doesn't harm plants since fruits are meant to be eaten for seed dispersal.
Fruitarian terminology conventionally defaults to '-ian' suffix without gender marking, but historical discourse on dietary ethics disproportionately centered male philosophers and nutritionists while erasing women's contributions to food practice and nutrition science.
Use 'fruitarian' for the diet; acknowledge women fruit scientists and nutritionists when discussing dietary history or innovation.
["fruit-based practitioner","fruit eater"]
Women researchers including botanists and nutritionists shaped modern fruit science and dietary medicine but remain underrepresented in fruitarian movement histories.
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