Build the trolley around ordinary foods
EASL gives examples such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, fish, poultry, low-fat dairy and olive oil within a minimally processed dietary pattern [1]. These are categories, not mandatory brands or a rigid menu.
A global shopping Guide can therefore suggest local equivalents and seasonal choices rather than assuming one supermarket or one country’s package sizes.
Sources for this section: [1] EASL–EASD–EASO Clinical Practice Guidelines on MASLD
Use labels for the variables that matter
When buying packaged foods, added sugars, saturated fat and the degree to which the product displaces less-processed foods are more relevant than a front-of-pack 'detox' or 'liver' marketing phrase [3].
Exact label formats vary by country, so the Guide should teach the reader what to compare rather than reproduce one jurisdiction’s label as if it were universal.
Sources for this section: [1] EASL–EASD–EASO Clinical Practice Guidelines on MASLD · [2] AASLD Practice Guidance on the clinical assessment and management of NAFLD/MASLD
Drinks are a high-value comparison point
Sugar-sweetened beverages are specifically discouraged in current MASLD guidance [1] [2]. Choosing water or unsweetened beverages as routine options is therefore a practical shopping step with a clear evidence basis.
That does not require banning every sweet taste or treating whole fruit like a soft drink.
Sources for this section: [1] EASL–EASD–EASO Clinical Practice Guidelines on MASLD · [3] Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for NAFLD & NASH
Supplements are not a shortcut
Current EASL guidance does not recommend nutraceuticals because evidence and safety are insufficient. A shopping list should not quietly turn into a supplement sales page.
If a clinician has recommended a specific supplement for another reason, that is an individual care decision and not a generic MASLD recipe rule.
Sources for this section: [1] EASL–EASD–EASO Clinical Practice Guidelines on MASLD
Convenience foods can still fit
Minimally processed does not mean every ingredient must be made from scratch. Frozen vegetables, canned legumes, plain whole grains and other convenient staples can reduce workload while still supporting the overall pattern when their formulation suits the meal.
That is particularly useful for this project because accessibility and fatigue matter. A health-supportive shopping guide should not create extra chopping and washing-up simply to satisfy an aesthetic idea of 'clean eating'.
Sources for this section: [1] EASL–EASD–EASO Clinical Practice Guidelines on MASLD
Sources
- EASL–EASD–EASO Clinical Practice Guidelines on MASLD
European Association for the Study of the Liver, European Association for the Study of Diabetes, European Association for the Study of Obesity. Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease. 2024. Verified 1 Sept 2026. - AASLD Practice Guidance on the clinical assessment and management of NAFLD/MASLD
Rinella ME, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Siddiqui MS, et al. AASLD Practice Guidance on the clinical assessment and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology. 2023;77(5):1797-1835. Verified 1 Sept 2026. - Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for NAFLD & NASH
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for NAFLD & NASH (also referred to as MASLD/MASH). Verified 1 Sept 2026.
