With the quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic spurred on, some of the most viral and iconic videos on TikTok involve food.
Whether it’s the whipped dalgona coffee most people made at home in March and April 2020, the famous baked feta pasta dish, or the salmon bowl, TikTok has become a source of inspiration for nutritionists and home cooks alike.
Yet, like most health content on the platform, many food and diet videos are subject to misinformation, misleading claims, and downright dangerous advice. do you
But there are also really great ways to cook easy, healthy meals on a budget.
Here are the top 10 food, diet and nutrition trends on TikTok and how to spot the most legit ones.
1. lettuce water
The lack of scientific evidence doesn’t stop a trend from going viral on TikTok.
This goes for the lettuce water trend where lettuce is steeped in hot water like tea and drunk before bed to aid sleep.
In a video that has millions of views, a TikTok user tried lettuce water and claimed it made him very sleepy.
However, the benefits of lettuce water as a sleep aid are rather unclear. In fact, some nutritionists point out that it’s probably not enough to affect sleep.
A 2017 study found that romaine lettuce has several properties and antioxidant polyphenols that help mice sleep, but that has not been proven in humans.
2. Salmon bowl
Seeing people cooking on TikTok really makes me want to try the recipes myself. His salmon bowl, one of the most viral recipes on the platform last year, does just that.
The meal is a mixture of rice, grilled salmon, soy sauce, mayonnaise, sriracha and a spicy mayonnaise made from sesame oil, topped with green onions, avocado and sesame seeds. In the original recipe, you can enjoy it with seaweed.
Filled with protein and healthy fats, salmon bowls are one of the healthier TikTok diet trends. .
3). #WhatIEatInADay
With over 14 billion videos, the #WhatIEatInADay hashtag on TikTok is filled with people showing what they eat in a day.
There are fitness gurus who show you what to eat to stay in shape, people with eating disorders who show you what to eat to recover, and people who monitor their daily diet for fun.
While it may seem harmless at first, one recent study found that this trend can negatively impact the eating habits, body image, and mental health of young people. The study, which looked at over 1,000 hashtagged videos, found that less than 3% of videos contained weight.
4. 75 Hard Challenge
In an October video, TikTok user Vegard Hjelmen explained a new challenge that lasts 75 days. Stick to any diet, exercise for 45 minutes twice a day (one for him outdoors), and read 10 pages of self-help or non-fiction books for him. Take progress photos daily. Not to mention drinking a gallon of water every day.
Many of the videos under the hashtag are from people who have tried challenges and succeeded, but they may still be the least helpful for those with busy schedules or some form of eating disorder.
You don’t need to train twice a day for weight loss or health. Small steps can often encourage lifestyle changes more than strenuous challenges.
5. Healthy cola
Mixing ice, balsamic vinegar, la croix berries, or other flavors is a fairly common trend on TikTok. Called “Healthy Coke,” this simple recipe is meant to be an unhealthy alternative to soda.
In one video, user Healthylittlepeach tried a recipe, was skeptical at first, but was pleasantly surprised. “It’s delicious,” she said after a few sips. “It’s my new drink. Don’t put too much balsamic in it. It overpowers it.”
While it may not taste quite like cola, this drink is relatively safe and harmless. However, other users were less impressed.
6. Frozen honey
It’s easy to do. Put honey in a plastic bottle or keep it in a plastic honey bear. Place in freezer overnight.
The next day, your honey will be chewy like candy. The idea is to make a cheap, sweet treat that theoretically has less sugar than other treats.
Several TikTok videos featuring frozen honey have received over 90 million views. It turns out that a very popular treat tastes like honey… except cold.
7. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has long been touted by dieters and so-called health experts as good for weight loss, gut health, and blood pressure. It does not mean.
Still, it’s no surprise that the craze has made its way to TikTok, where some users claim it can help you drink it before bed, use it as a hair rinse, or use it in your bath. These claims are not supported by rigorous evidence.
8. Cloudbread
Not only does it sound cool, it also looks cool.
Cloud bread has been considered one of the most viral food trends on TikTok in recent years. However, whether it is healthy is debatable.
In one video that has over 34 million views and over 5 million likes, user abimhn explains how to mix egg whites, white sugar, and cornstarch to create a flourless, fluffy dough. I’m here.
Coloring, chocolate chips and vanilla are optional. Cloudbread may be easier to make than the sourdough bread that was happening during the pandemic, but it may not be the healthiest or most nutritious option.
9. mug cake
Microwave-baked mug cakes, or essentially mini cakes, have recently become very popular on TikTok. can enter.
But not all TikTokers are convinced. In one of his videos that has nearly 22 million views, one commented, “I made it and it tasted like eggs.” In other words, try at your own risk.
Ten).green goddess salad
This was one of the most popular videos of 2021. Known as the Green Goddess Salad, Melissa’s baked recipe.
The recipe consists of a kind of “salad dressing” made with chopped cabbage, cucumber, leeks, olive oil, garlic, spinach and nuts.
Vegan food is a healthy one, and nuts provide a source of protein. In general, nutritionists agree that this is a solid recipe.
