These are the most popular diets in America (spoiler: keto is no longer number 1)
We’re still at the beginning of the new year, and that can mean two things: either you’re still absolutely rocking your new resolutions, or you’ve completely thrown them overboard. Have you resolved to start living a healthier lifestyle this year? You’re not the only one. At the beginning of the new year, people massively search Google for diets. Americans do too.
Because yes, we all know that American food culture generally isn’t the healthiest. It’s not for nothing that we call the aisle with American products the diabetes aisle here. And if you only knew how absurdly unhealthy American school lunches are… It’ll make your jaw drop. So it’s no surprise that more and more Americans are deciding to go on a diet.
Chef’s Pencil has now determined which diet is the most popular in the country based on Americans’ online search behavior (in 2022 and early 2023). You already read the spoiler in the title: it’s not (any longer) the keto diet, the craze that once spread from America to us. So what is it?
1. Vegan diet
There are more Americans Googling the vegan diet than the keto diet. There are several explanations for this. First, the vegan diet isn’t really a diet, but a lifestyle. This makes it more likely that people will Google it throughout the year rather than for a short period. In addition, health isn’t the only reason to switch to a vegan lifestyle; concerns about the climate and animal suffering also play a role. And finally, more and more vegan snacks are coming onto the market. Who would have thought a few years ago that we’d be eating vegan bitterballen, or that we’d be able to order vegan food from Burger King?!
2. Keto diet
Coming in at number 2: the keto diet. It remains tirelessly popular across the pond. In fact, in the states located in the middle of America, the keto diet is still at the top of diet-related searches. For anyone who doesn’t know what keto is: it’s a low-carb diet in which you consume few carbohydrates, but plenty of protein and fat. The reason the diet is somewhat less popular than in previous years is probably the criticism coming from various quarters. For example, it’s said to be unhealthy for women with fluctuating hormones or thyroid problems. Are you a loyal follower of the keto diet? Then you’ll undoubtedly enjoy this keto chocolate mousse and this keto recipe for warm feta and roasted vegetables with pecans.
3. Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers has been around for a very long time. Americans could already sign up for this weight-loss program in the 1960s. The Netherlands followed about 10 years later, in 1974. In the early 2010s, the diet reached a peak in popularity: people were Googling it en masse. That’s much less the case now (for comparison: the popularity scores of the vegan and keto diets are 79 and 67 respectively, while Weight Watchers scores 14—according to the Chef’s Pencil study). Even so, the diet still ranks third among the most popular diets in America.
4. Vegetarian diet
In fourth place: the vegetarian diet. It’s striking that this diet ranks considerably lower than the vegan diet. Aren’t there many more restrictions with a vegan diet? At least, that’s not how Americans seem to experience it. It’s no surprise that this diet is in the top five: for years, we’ve been able to buy and order pretty much everything in a vegetarian version. From vegetarian smoked sausage to vegetarian pizza, you can become a vegetarian with almost no effort if you want to.
5. Intermittent fasting
We know this trend too. If not: it’s a type of diet in which you fast in alternating ways. You can fast periodically, for example between 8 p.m. and 12 p.m., or every other day. In that case, you eat normally one day and very little the next. In any case, Americans are still Googling it. According to the trend report, more than in previous years, so perhaps this diet will rank higher on the list next year.
Are these diet trends for you?
Diets come in all shapes, types and sizes. And we really mean all of them. Have you ever heard of the lion diet? Or the wine-and-egg diet? Maybe these are the diets you’ve been looking for all along. Give them a try—at your own risk, of course. And if your diet fails, you can simply blame the supermarket. Then you can happily give it another try next year.
Also read:
- It really does exist: the carnivore diet. Is this a good idea?
- Strange but true: this diet will make you truly happy
- Does gin and tonic help if you want to lose weight? Research offers hope
Source: Chef’s Pencil
