The ‘almond mom’ responds to accusations
According to Dr. Karla Lester, a pediatrician and childhood obesity expert, an almond mom is someone “stuck in diet culture.” Lester shared her thoughts with TODAY Parents. An almond mom “likely grew up hearing phrases such as ‘a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips’ and ‘you’re not hungry, you’re bored.'”
Hadid took to TikTok to respond to Gigi’s accusations. While walking, feeding goats, and sitting in her living room, Hadid was snacking on a large bowl of almonds.
@yolandahadid #worstmomever #almonds ♬ BIZCOCHITO – ROSALÍA
Again, the public didn’t disappoint with its comments. Many comments included things such as, “remember chew them really well!!”
A quick history of fad diets — and a healthy approach
Fad diets have been in existence since the 11th century. There’s nothing new with people — especially women — going to great lengths in an attempt to lose weight and look skinnier. Here are just a few highlights.
- Liquid Diets: Dating back to as early as 1028, William the Conqueror turned to a liquid diet in order to lose the weight necessary to ride his horse into battle. Many liquid diets since then consist of large amounts of alcohol.
- Cleanses: Supposedly to rid the body of toxins (rather than noting our body’s ability to do so), cleanses appeared as a diet option in the early 1940s. Using a variety of recipes, the thought was to consume low-calorie liquids in order to cleanse the body and lose weight. The Lemonade Diet and the Last Chance Diet are among the most popular.
- Lose Weight Fast Gimmicks: Back in the 1900s, Horace Fletcher encouraged people to chew food for extended periods of time, until the food became liquid. Around the same time, people were rumored to swallow tapeworms (or take a tapeworm pill). The worm would live in your stomach and eat a portion of the food you consumed, thereby helping you lose weight.
- Diets Using Specific Foods: Many will remember the Grapefruit Diet, recommending eating half of a grapefruit before each meal. But what about the peanut butter diet or ice cream diet? And, in the 1950s, the Cabbage Soup diet gained popularity.
As much as we’d all appreciate a quick fix, the healthiest approach to food is focusing on variety and moderation. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. Add some whole grains and carbohydrates. And, save the excessive fats for special occasions. Notice, I didn’t say anything about completely cutting out any certain food or food group.
Encourage the entire family to be active. Whether you enjoy hitting the treadmill in the basement or the trail in the great outdoors, get plenty of exercise — it’s good for the body, mind, and soul.
And, don’t be afraid of getting help along the way. Seek out advice from a registered dietitian who has clinical experience to help guide healthy eating choices.
