15 ’90s Health Food Trends That Didn’t Last
Here's a nostalgic dive into the quirky health food fads of the 1990s that fizzled out as fast as they caught on.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
The 1990s were a wild time for health-conscious eaters, with new “superfoods” and diet gimmicks hitting grocery store shelves every month. However, not everything that was once labeled “healthy” managed to survive the test of time — or science. Here’s a look at 15 once-popular ’90s health food trends that disappeared almost as quickly as they rose to fame.
1. Fat-Free Everything
Kevin McCutcheon on Unsplash
The war on fat led to shelves packed with fat-free snacks and meals. However, without fat, flavor took a hit, and sugar took its place.
2. SnackWell’s Cookies
Geoff on Wikimedia Commons
These fat-free cookies symbolized ’90s diet culture. People devoured them thinking they were “healthy,” but the sugar content told a different story.
3. Olestra (Olean)
Roadsidepictures on Flickr
This fat substitute promised indulgence without calories. The reality? Unpleasant digestive issues and an infamous warning label. It flopped and was largely banned or pulled from shelves.
4. Rice Cakes as Meal Replacements
Cindy K on Flickr
Light, crunchy, and totally unsatisfying. Rice cakes were the low-calorie snack hero of the time, but they offered little nutrition. Eventually, they were replaced by protein-rich and fiber-packed alternatives.
5. Low-Calorie Frozen Entrees
Famartin on Wikimedia Commons
TV dinners for the health-conscious flooded freezer aisles. The problem? They were often high in sodium and preservatives. Consumers moved on to fresher, whole-food meal options.
6. Tab Energy Drink
rick on Flickr
Originally created by Coca-Cola, Tab made a comeback as a “diet energy drink” for women. The pink can couldn’t mask the aftertaste or chemical-laden formula.
7. Diet Shakes (SlimFast)
Roadsidepictures on Flickr
“Shake for breakfast, shake for lunch…” you know the jingle. SlimFast had its moment, but people grew tired of drinking their meals. Modern diets now favor whole foods and real meals over liquid substitutes.
8. Carob Instead of Chocolate
Felagund on Wikimedia Commons
Carob was sold as the “healthier” chocolate. However, it lacked flavor and that rich, satisfying feel. It never quite caught on and now lives mostly in niche health food stores.
9. Wheat Bran in Everything
Phu Thinh Co on Flickr
Adding wheat bran to muffins, cereals, and bars was the fiber craze of the day. However, it often made foods dry, bland, and hard to digest.
10. Sprouts on Everything
Harduser on Wikimedia Commons
Whether it was sandwiches or salads, sprouts were hailed as the nutrient-packed add-on. Unfortunately, they were often linked to foodborne illness outbreaks.
11. Tofu Everything
Christina Deravedisian on Unsplash
Tofu burgers, tofu dogs, tofu nuggets — it was everywhere. People tried to embrace it, but texture and flavor were constant barriers. While tofu stuck around in some diets, the craze for turning it into everything didn’t last.
12. Metabolife Supplements
Leohoho on Unsplash
These fat-burning pills were sold like candy. Marketed as miracle metabolism boosters, they were later linked to heart issues. Once lawsuits and FDA warnings hit, the brand lost all credibility.
13. Crystal Light
Mx. Granger on Wikimedia Commons
A go-to for calorie-free flavor, this powder was everywhere. However, artificial sweeteners and synthetic dyes eventually turned people off.
14. Grapefruit Diet
Rayia Soderberg on Unsplash
This was a bizarre fad that promised weight loss by eating half a grapefruit before meals. It was never backed by science and didn’t promote long-term health.
15. Soy Everything
Daniela Paola Alchapar on Unsplash
Soy milk, soy cheese, soy meat — the soy wave hit hard. Overexposure led to questions about hormones and over-processing.