An Almond A Day Keeps Positive Self Image at Bay

How So-Called “almond moms” promote disordered eating under the facade of “healthy” living (TW)

A young Gigi Hadid, already a rising star in the modeling world, confides in her mother Yolanda about feeling weak. 

"I had like half an almond," Gigi admits. 

Yolanda's response? 

"Have a couple of almonds and chew them really well." 

This exchange, captured on "Real Housewives," shocked viewers and sparked conversations about diet culture and maternal influence. Welcome to the world of "Almond Moms."

Spoiler Alert, your mom is not a health guru nor dietician - she has disordered eating habits.

The term "Almond Mom” has been around for some time, but the label has recently taken TikTok by storm, with over 77.3 million views on the hashtag. It refers to mothers who promote restrictive eating habits and toxic relationships with food, often passing these behaviors down to their children. But should we really be creating cute titles for such harmful practices?

Restrictive eating is more than just a diet trend; it's a pattern of behavior that can have lasting impacts on mental and physical health. Often, we unconsciously model our relationships with food and our bodies based on what we observe in our parents, especially our mothers. When a parent obsesses over calories, portion sizes, or "good" vs. "bad" foods, children absorb these attitudes like sponges - especially when  pubescent girls are hearing their material idols say “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”.

While the "Almond Mom" trend aims to shed light on these issues, it inadvertently glamorizes disordered eating habits. Much like the controversial discussions surrounding Ozempic (a medication beneficial for those who truly need it, not for orthorexic mothers), we risk making emaciation seem trendy or desirable.

So how should parents approach body image and food with their children? The key lies in neutrality and health orientation, rather than fear or control. Dr. Karla Lester, a pediatrician and life coach, emphasizes, "Parents are the biggest role model and influence on eating practices and body image. If parents have a diet culture thinking about food and body image, there is a lot of judgment and [it] brings restrictive eating practices into the family."

Instead of fixating on weight or restrictive diets, parents should focus on creating a positive eating environment. This means promoting family meal times, role-modeling healthy habits without perfectionism, not commenting on the way bodies look (both themself and others), and practicing self-compassion. As Melissa Leah Hughes, a certified health coach and mother of two, puts it, "Food is meant to be enjoyed and not to be forced."

Our relationships with food aren't just shaped by explicit rules or comments from our parents. We're also deeply influenced by silently observing their own struggles and habits around eating. When a parent meticulously counts calories or obsesses over "clean eating," their children are taking mental notes. Even if it's unintentional, a parent's strict dietary regime can cast a long shadow over their child's developing relationship with food. It's a subtle but powerful form of modeling that can echo through generations. And when these learned behaviors collide with society's unrealistic beauty standards, the impact can be devastating. If you don't fit into the narrow mold of the "ideal" body type, you're left vulnerable to a toxic cocktail of body dissatisfaction, plummeting self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. In the worst cases, this perfect storm can even spiral into full-blown eating disorders. It's a vicious cycle that starts at home but is amplified by a society obsessed with impossible ideals.

We need to be able to look up to our mothers and watch them eat without anxiety or guilt. A handful of almonds a day washed down with diet soda does not set a healthy example for a teenager navigating the complex changes of puberty. It's time to break the cycle of "Almond Mom" behavior and foster a generation with a healthier relationship to food and their bodies.

Let's move away from restrictive practices and toxic phrases, and instead create an environment where all foods can be enjoyed in moderation, where bodies are appreciated for their strength and capabilities rather than their size. After all, our children are watching – and they deserve to see us nourish ourselves with love and respect, not restriction and fear.