16 Old-School Diet Trends That Have Been Abandoned
This list breaks down diet fads that once ruled magazines and grocery shelves but have long since lost their grip on the health world.
- Daisy Montero
- 4 min read
Old-school diet trends were once treated like gospel, even when they made zero nutritional sense. Many of them stuck around far too long, even after experts called them out. These 16 trends may have been popular in their day, but they’ve since been kicked to the curb for good reason.
1. The Low-Fat Everything Craze
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Low-fat cookies, chips, and yogurt took over grocery aisles in the ’90s. People thought fat was the enemy, without realizing these foods were often loaded with sugar. The trend faded once we learned fat is not the bad guy it was made out to be.
2. Grapefruit-Only Diet
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This diet promised weight loss just by eating grapefruit with every meal. It left people undernourished and sick of citrus fast. Once doctors weighed in, the trend peeled away for good.
3. Cabbage Soup Cleanse
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The cabbage soup diet had people slurping watery broth for a week in hopes of quick results. It was low in calories but also low in everything else your body needs. Once the weight came back, so did the regret.
4. Snackwells and “Diet” Cookies
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Snackwells were seen as guilt-free treats because they were low in fat. The truth was, they were packed with sugar and empty calories. This was one of the first times we learned that “fat-free” does not mean healthy.
5. Diet Sodas as a Health Fix
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Diet sodas were hyped as a smart switch for weight loss. However, artificial sweeteners and chemical additives told a different story. Studies linking diet soda to cravings helped this trend fizzle out.
6. No-Carb Diets
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Cutting carbs completely became a badge of honor during certain diet crazes. However, energy dipped, moods tanked, and bread became the enemy. Eventually, balance won out over carb fear.
7. Eating Only Slim-Fast Shakes
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Meal replacement shakes were marketed as a fast track to weight loss. Drinking two shakes a day and one small meal worked short-term but left people starving. Once the hunger kicked in, so did the backlash.
8. Calorie Counting to the Extreme
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People once tracked every single calorie like it was the only number that mattered. It led to obsession and disordered eating for many. Now, nutrition is more about food quality than just math.
9. Hollywood Celebrity Diets
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Famous people swore by some bizarre regimens, from baby food to lemon cleanses. Fans copied them without thinking twice about nutrition or safety. Eventually, most folks stopped trusting celebrity meal plans.
10. Zero-Fat Dressings and Spreads
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Salads were soaked in fat-free dressings that tasted like vinegar and chemicals. These products often ditched healthy fats and replaced them with sugar or starches. Real ingredients made a comeback once taste and science aligned.
11. Microwave Diet Meals
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Frozen diet meals promised convenience and calorie control. But they were often high in sodium and low in flavor. Eventually, people chose real food over mystery meat in plastic trays.
12. Atkins Obsession
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The Atkins diet pushed protein and fat while treating carbs like poison. It worked fast but left people constipated and cranky. Many moved on once the long-term risks became clear.
13. Juice-Only Detoxes
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Drinking nothing but juice for days was sold as a way to “cleanse” your system. In reality, it stripped the body of fiber, protein, and energy. Most people just ended up hangry and lightheaded.
14. Eating Like a Caveman
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The Paleo trend had people tossing out grains and dairy to mimic ancient diets. While it focused on whole foods, it also excluded key nutrients. Most have since found that variety works better than strict imitation.
15. Fat Burners and Diet Pills
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Pills that claimed to melt fat were all the rage for a while. Many came with shady ingredients, side effects, or zero real results. The more people learned, the less they trusted them.
16. Eating Tiny Meals All Day
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Some believed eating six mini meals a day would keep metabolism revved up. It was hard to maintain and often led to constant snacking instead of satisfaction. Eventually, meal timing took a backseat to food quality.