2022 has been a year full of food trends, from baked oats to cloud bread. But it’s also where potentially unhealthy foods can go viral.
“Food trends are often driven by people without a medical background or medical credentials,” he says. Lauren Manaker, RD, FitOn Registered Dietitian. “While these trends may sound promising, they are not necessarily the best for health.”
“Today anyone can be an influencer or have a large following on social media, so a lot of misinformation can be spread,” he adds. Roxana Ehsani, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, Registered Dietitian Dietitian, and Board Certified Specialist in Sports Nutrition. “Misinformation and misinformation about food, nutrition and health can have serious health consequences and can be very dangerous.”
While they may not be entirely unhealthy, some food trends for 2022 were deceptively harmful.
“Other food trends I’ve seen oversimplify health and nutrition, or overly focus on specific foods and drinks for health,” he says. Jen Scheinman, RD, Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Manager at Timeline Nutrition. “They may not be unhealthy themselves, but they tend to participate in unhealthy eating habits and make false promises of being healthy. There are so many messages jumbled together, and many of these trends contribute to that confusion.”
Here are 14 of the most unhealthy food trends for 2022. Ranked 14th as “least healthy” and 1st as “most unhealthy”. We understand that there are differing opinions on what is considered the most unhealthy, but our nutritionists have carefully selected the items on this list based on their knowledge and expertise.
The trend started on TikTok as a way to keep an avocado green after being cut.
“People on social media claim that soaking cut avocados in refrigerator water helps prevent them from browning,” explains Manaker. , can lead to food poisoning like listeria.”
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Vegan egg substitutes are fully ubiquitous in 2022. His vegan egg videos currently have over 24.3 billion views on TikTok.
“The good news for vegans and those with egg allergies is that there are plenty of egg-free alternatives, but unfortunately many of these vegan egg options are high in sodium, which regular eggs don’t have.” It contains a lot of unhealthy carbs.No,” says Ehsani. “If you’re vegan or have an egg allergy, stick to classic flax and water egg substitutes because they contain healthy anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats. .
The reason this trend keeps coming back to our list is because yes, some vegan egg varieties are on the unhealthy side, but some aren’t all that bad. .
Squeezing lemon into black coffee is another food trend for 2022 that has exploded due to promises of weight loss.
“Mixing lemon and coffee probably poses little health risk per se, but as a weight loss tool, it may have some issues. Evidence that combining these two things promotes weight loss.” In addition, Americans already rely too much on caffeine as a source of energy and need no reason to consume more. is not.
Instead, Scheinman suggests that focusing on a healthy diet and exercise is the way to go for weight loss.
A pink sauce made with sunflower seed oil, honey, chilies, garlic and dragon fruit has taken TikTok by storm.
“However, this source is associated with inaccurate food labeling and improper storage practices,” says Manaker. “This sauce and mistake can lead to serious illness for certain people.”
Intended to be a “healthier” version of Coca-Cola, this soda trend involves infusing sparkling water with balsamic vinegar.
“Honestly, sodas (even diet sodas) aren’t healthy drinks, but that doesn’t mean you should replace them with balsamic vinegar and sparkling water,” says Scheinman. “Plus, balsamic vinegar is meant to be used as a small amount of seasoning. Drinking large amounts can irritate the throat and stomach. Drink without the guilt of finding out.If you drink soda regularly, try replacing it with flavored sparkling water.”
These videos are hugely popular on social media, with influencers and celebrities sharing their daily meals. However, they can also have negative effects.
“Most of these videos are well-meaning, but they also have a darker side. We believe that if you eat like your favorite influencer, you’ll get similar results, whether it’s weight loss, strength gains, or whatever your goals are.” We are working on it,” explains Scheinman. “Everyone has their own nutritional needs, and following someone else’s nutrition plan can’t address those needs. If not, it can lead to feelings of frustration or, worse, to disorganized relationships…with food and body image.”
Made with grenadine, maraschino cherries, vodka, and lemon-lime soda, this drink was a hit on TikTok this summer.
“Talk about a waiting hangover, chock-full of sugar, alcohol and food coloring, this drink is packed with ingredients not often offered in the nutrition department,” says Manaker.
Spam got a seasonal makeover with the Figgy Pudding variety.
“Canned fruits and vegetables pack a nutritious punch, but this canned ham with pork product doesn’t. It’s high in total fat and high in sodium,” says Esani. “600 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of total fat, and 6 grams of saturated fat come from saturated fat per 2-ounce serving. No. Overall heart health.”
With over 70 million views on TikTok, this soda and milk combo had many people trying it.
“Pilk is a mixture of whole milk and Pepsi, which means it is high in both fat and sugar. This drink contains whole milk and contains about 4.5 grams of saturated fat per cup. We are doing it,” Ehsani explains. “A diet high in saturated fat can increase LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol), which can increase your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease.” “
In 2022, the nacho table will also take over on TikTok, making it the ultimate party food to showcase.
“Covering a huge table with nachos isn’t the most nutritious thing you can do. Sure, it looks fun, but this trend has led to chips and cheese (both high in fat and salt) and ground meat.” “If you do decide to eat nachos, stick to small portions and eat avocados,” says Ehsani. It’s best to consider topping it with heart-healthy options like , veggies, and beans.”
In 2022, TikTok also replaced the charcuterie board with the butter board.
“Butterboards are typically made with porous trays and are often wooden. Butter can seep into the wood and stay in the material, potentially causing food poisoning,” says Manaker. “The way people eat their butterboards can also increase the chances of contamination. Finally, if the boards aren’t properly refrigerated, they can end up in the temperature ‘danger zone’ and cause foodborne illness.” There is also “
Not only does this increase the risk of illness, but eating butter off the board in this way can lead to overeating and making it more difficult to control the amount of butter.
With over 290 million videos on TikTok, this is another hearty food trend going viral in 2022.
“It doesn’t hurt to eat it once in a while, but this isn’t a meal that everyone should eat on a regular basis. The combination of pasta and bread provides a lot of carbohydrates at once, leaving little room for vegetables or protein.” says Scheinman. “Your diet needs to be more balanced to provide all the nutrition you need to stay healthy. Plus, the protein and fiber you get from vegetables can keep you feeling full longer than straight carbohydrate meals.” helps keep the
The trend of dry scoops to scoop out protein powder before a workout without using water also gained popularity on TikTok this year.
“Eating pre-workout powder without water can be inhaled, which can pose a serious risk,” says Manaker. “This habit can also cause digestive problems.”
This trend has caused so much concern that TikTok is no longer searchable for the term. Type “dry scooping” into the search bar and you’ll see a page on how to assess issues and warnings.
This food trend is the worst of 2022, according to nutritionists, and the FDA is also recommending against it.
“This has to be at the top of my list. Medicines containing NyQuil should not be heated and are safe to use only according to the directions on the bottle,” says Scheinman. Aside from the risks of using NyQuil in a method, consuming raw or undercooked chicken puts you at risk of foodborne illnesses such as salmonella.
She adds that under no circumstances should anyone try Sleepy Chicken.
“These types of challenges are particularly concerning and dangerous for children and teenagers who are susceptible to these viral trends,” Scheinman said. That’s why you can’t search for “sleepy chicken”.
