Truth or Trend: 30 Day Challenges

@DietBetch, a popular Instagram account with over 213k followers, tends to post memes that subtly poking fun at our diet culture. But recently, I was disappointed to see a post about a “30 Day Challenge” that reinforces the unhealthy, fad diet-obsessed world we live in.

This “30 Day Challenge” prohibits participants from consuming foods that many people often associate with being “unhealthy” like soda, candy, and doughnuts.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

As a dietitian, I’m not going to disagree that the foods listed do tend to be higher in nutrients of concerns—like added sugars and salt, and overall calories—but, I absolutely believe they can be part of a balanced diet.

By completely removing foods from the diet with a 30 Day Challenge like this, one will simply think, “No…for this month.” This purge-style challenge won’t teach healthy sustainable eating habits like intuitive eating or portion control.

Take-away: Instead of tagging a friend for a restrictive diet challenge that doesn’t set either of you up for long-term success, try implementing a small sustainable change. Maybe instead of going out for fast food every day of the workweek with a friend, you both could try packing once a week and share recipes and meal ideas!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY