“What I Eat in a Day” videos have millions of views on TikTok and Instagram. They can be a window into another person’s fridge and their life. But at times, the videos promote extreme calorie deficits and prolonged fasting.
This isn’t a completely new trend. Before TikTok, people posted their meals on Instagram and celebrities talk about their meals in magazines. There is a public fascination with what other people are eating. Nutritionist Jillian Lampert thinks about that fascination a lot. Lampert is the chief strategy officer of Accanto Health, the parent company of the Emily Program, the Minnesota-based, nationally recognized eating disorder program. She spoke with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer about what messages these videos send to viewers, the harm that can be caused by the videos, advice for people who come across the videos, and how people can use social media to promote a healthy relationship with food.