Unpacking almond moms and the nutty legacy of generational diet culture

A term has emerged in popular culture that humorously encapsulates a specific type of parental behavior surrounding food and diet: the “almond mom.” But what exactly are almond moms, and why has this term gained traction? An almond mom is a parent, typically represented as a mother, who exhibits a preoccupation with health, diet, and body image, often to an extreme. These parents may encourage restrictive eating habits, prioritize low-calorie foods and diets, and express concerns about weight and appearance. The term itself draws from anecdotes shared on social media where mothers would suggest eating a handful of almonds to curb hunger, symbolizing the minimalistic and often unhealthy dietary advice they impart.

“Almond Mom” gained popularity in 2023 primarily due to teens and young adults sharing their experiences on social media. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter have become spaces where young people discuss and sometimes parody the restrictive eating habits promoted by their parents. This phenomenon has opened up conversations about the lasting impact of these behaviors on their relationships with food and body image.

But where did their habits form? During the 1970s and 1980s, the now-parents of today grew up amid a burgeoning diet culture, heavily influenced by media portrayals of ideal body types and the rise of the health and wellness industry. Popular magazines at the time, like Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Seventeen, and television programs of the era, frequently showcased incredibly slim individuals as the standard of beauty. Alongside this, the 80s saw the rise of the health and wellness industry, with an increasing focus on dieting, calorie counting, and fitness. Aerobics became a cultural phenomenon, epitomized by figures like Jane Fonda, whose workout videos were viral. This period also saw the introduction of various fad diets, such as the low-fat diet, which promoted the idea that reducing fat intake was vital to achieving the ideal body.

Relentlessly exposed to idealized body images and societal pressures to conform, many individuals have developed a deep-seated, subconscious obsession with weight and appearance—an obsession that often influences their parenting styles today.

The underlying obsession with controlling food intake and body weight remains a common thread throughout all recent diet eras. Whether that was the non-GMO craze of the 2000s or the whole foods of today, the overarching theme of this thinking stays constant. While the motivations might have shifted from purely aesthetic to a blend of health and aesthetics, the restrictive nature of the advice often leads to similar outcomes. Children of almond moms grow up internalizing the same rigid and hateful attitude towards food, only perpetuating a cycle of disordered eating.

The influence of almond moms on their children is profound and multifaceted. While published on popular media such as TikTok as a humorous joke, the problem is far from funny.

Kiana Shelton, LCSW and women’s health expert at Mindpath Health, notes that kids typically mimic their parent’s actions rather than heeding their words. So, despite toxic diet practices staying out of dinner table conversations, obsessive practices over food in the household only act to create a similar unhealthy relationship with that same food. 

Children raised in such environments often develop poor, stress-surrounded relationships with food. They might experience guilt or anxiety around eating, leading to disordered eating patterns such as restrictive dieting, binge eating, or orthorexia. Parents perpetuate the generational cycle of disordered eating and negative body image through the attitudes and behaviors they pass on to their children.

The moral judgments surrounding food and body that almond moms often impose can lead to long-term psychological effects, including low self-esteem and body dysmorphia. Impressionable children usually internalize these harmful beliefs, affecting their relationship with food and self-worth well into adulthood.

“They made me think eating was something to stress over, not enjoy,” said high school senior Lila Greenwald. “It was like I had to eat a certain way to look a certain way, and that way of eating just wasn’t what I wanted as a kid, or honestly even now.” 

The rise of the almond mom phenomenon highlights the deep-rooted issues within our societal attitudes toward food and body image. By understanding its origins and impact, we can begin to address and ultimately break the cycle of disordered eating and negative self-perception that has spanned generations. Parents need to model a positive relationship with food, emphasizing balance, variety, and the enjoyment of eating rather than restriction and control. By doing so, they can help their children develop a healthier, more intuitive relationship with food, free from the moral judgments that have plagued the previous generations.