10 Tiktok food trends you should never try
Food influencers and content creators on social media are having a major impact on the way we eat. On Tiktok alone, videos with #food have been viewed over 360 billion times and have given way to some of the most popular food trends in recent years.
However, this does not mean that all of these food trends are safe, even if millions of people are following them. Here are 10 of the most popular Tiktok food trends you should definitely steer clear of and what you could try instead.
Washing raw chicken
If you frequently turn to Tiktok for your recipes, you have probably seen many creators washing their raw chicken before preparing it. However, this incredibly dangerous practice could further spread bacteria and pathogens to other food and utensils.
According to a study conducted by the USDA in 2019, 60% of participants who washed their chicken prior to preparing had bacteria in their sink and the surrounding area after washing.
Nacho tables
We’ve all seen the videos where the family dining room table gets covered with aluminum foil and then covered with a smattering of chips, meat and nacho cheese for a communal dining experience.
While this may seem like a fun and dish-free way to dine, considering we are in the midst of a pandemic, it really only becomes a breeding ground for cross-contamination. In order to make it a safe and healthy way to consume food, each person would need to wash their hands before touching the nacho table each time.
Sleepy chicken
This food trend would have home chefs marinating and cooking their chicken in Nyquil. Whether people are actually embracing this trend remains to be seen. Regardless, it is not a safe way to consume cold medication.
Lemon coffee
Adding a squeeze of lemon to your coffee has been touted on Tiktok as a weight-loss aid. While there are studies to support that caffeine can assist in burning calories while at rest, and lemon has many nutritional benefits, the combination has no scientifically proven benefits.
In fact, the additional acidity can lead to acid reflux, tooth enamel loss, heartburn and likely a terrible-tasting beverage.
Toaster grilled cheese
Many Tiktok food trends are aimed at making your life easier, and thus toaster grilled cheese was born in an attempt to save you time in the kitchen.
However, it is important that any kitchen appliances are only used as intended. Melting cheese in your toaster could cause your toaster to short, spark and potentially catch fire.
Inserting garlic in your nose
Considering all of the various cures and preventive measures people were turning to during a pandemic, this one shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Some Tiktokers have claimed that stuffing garlic cloves inside your nostrils will help clear your sinuses.
Stuffing things inside your nose should really be left to the professionals, though. If you want to clear out your sinuses, the Mayo Clinic recommends applying a warm compress to your face, drinking water and nasal lavage.
Internal shower
The “internal shower” drink has been showing up on Tiktok as a way to detoxify by drinking copious amounts of chia seeds mixed with lemon water. This trend is dangerous as well as unnecessary.
Our bodies are well equipped to detoxify naturally, and taking dietary fibers in extreme amounts can put undue pressure on our liver, kidneys and digestive systems. To increase your fiber intake, it is safer to include whole foods that are rich in fiber, like fruits and vegetables, instead of forcing yourself to ingest an undesirable gelatinous substance.
Chlorophyll water
This trend involves many unproven claims, from clearing acne-prone skin to more energy and detoxifying your blood. While all of these claims are entirely unsubstantiated, drinking chlorophyll water can’t hurt.
It can even be an excellent way to supplement nutrients found in dark green vegetables such as kale, broccoli and spinach. Just ensure you never exceed the recommended dosage of chlorophyll drops.
Dry scooping
Dry scooping is a trend that recommends taking pre-workout supplements without water. The benefits of pre-workout supplements are debatable when taken correctly, but taking them without water increases the risk of choking. It also heightens the risk of caffeine overdose resulting in vomiting, heart palpitations, anxiety and GI tract upset.
What I eat in a day videos
The trend of Tiktokers documenting what they eat in a day has been around for a while and can serve as some good inspiration for those looking to explore an alternative or a healthier diet.
However, these videos can also be triggering to those who have a problematic relationship with food. It’s essential when looking for inspiring content to focus on videos that talk about the WHYS of their daily food intake and not the WHATS.