A special diet is a type of eating plan that is specifically designed to meet the nutritional needs or health goals of an individual. This can include diets for medical reasons, such as those prescribed by doctors for patients with certain conditions like food allergies, celiac disease, or heart disease; diets for weight loss or gain; and diets that are followed for personal preference or beliefs, such as vegetarianism or veganism. Special diets can involve restrictions on specific types of foods or nutrients, and may require careful planning and monitoring to ensure adequate nutrition is maintained while following the plan.