An "almond mom" is a term used to describe a mother who is deeply influenced by diet culture and often exhibits an obsession with healthy eating, body image, and fitness, sometimes to an unhealthy or extreme degree. This parenting style involves projecting restrictive eating habits and disordered eating behaviors onto their children, often encouraging very limited food intake or "clean" eating that can lead to eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, or orthorexia
. The term originated from a viral clip of Yolanda Hadid, mother of model Gigi Hadid, telling her daughter to "have a couple of almonds and chew them really well" when Gigi said she felt weak after eating very little. This clip sparked widespread discussion about the impact of diet culture on families and the pressures to maintain thinness at any cost
. Almond moms typically:
- Are consumed by diet culture and have rigid, often unhealthy eating habits.
- Influence their family's attitudes toward body image and food, policing what and how they eat.
- May unintentionally perpetuate cycles of disordered eating by modeling these behaviors and attitudes.
- Often express concern about weight, food portions, and body size in ways that can harm their children's relationship with food and self-esteem
The "almond mom" phenomenon highlights how diet culture can affect not just individuals but entire families, especially daughters who may adopt similar restrictive behaviors as their mothers
. To avoid "almond mom" behaviors, experts suggest:
- Avoiding discussions about weight, clothing size, or food portions with children.
- Modeling body positivity and refraining from harsh self-criticism or criticism of others.
- Promoting a healthy, balanced relationship with food and body image rather than restrictive or shame-based approaches
In summary, an almond mom is a parent who, often unknowingly, enforces restrictive and potentially harmful eating behaviors rooted in diet culture onto their children, which can contribute to long-term negative impacts on their children's mental and physical health
