Before we get into our 21-day meal plan and DASH diet guide, let’s look at what the Dash Diet stands for. “Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension” is what it means, so as the name suggest it’s meant to control hypertension through the way you eat. It’s a common misconception that this means you’ll be on a vegetarian diet, but it’s a well-balanced diet that mainly focuses on low fat dairy, fruits, whole grains and vegetables. You minimize fat and sodium, but that doesn’t mean you have to cut meat out completely.