What's the deal with Almond Moms?

If you haven’t heard the term ‘almond mom’, creators on social media (specifically TikTok) are using this term to describe parents who push restrictive eating habits onto their kids. The term stems from a 2013 episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where Yolanda Hadid tells her daughter Gigi to “just eat a couple almonds and chew them really well” after Gigi said she “feels really weak”. OOF. That video just crushes my heart.

Almond mom has now become a term that also references anti-fat bias, disordered eating, eating disorders, and diet culture. Let’s chat a little bit about why this matters.

The relationship our parents have with their own bodies and food affect us. It is soo hard to not internalize other people’s comments, especially if we don’t have the right tools or reframes to protect ourselves. If someone in your life is constantly saying things like “I look so bad” or “Did you see them? They really let themself go”, it’s difficult to not reflect on that and think , “do they think that about me, too?” Or, maybe you’re the person saying these things. Either way, I invite you to ask:

• What do I associate weight with? What about weight gain?

• What are the standards or expectations that I’m comparing myself to? Are they my own? Or society’s?

• How do I feel hearing/ saying these comments?

• What kind of relationship does the person saying this have with their body?

If you’re reading this and going “Omg, my mom’s an almond mom”, I feel for you. That shits hard. I hope that some of the reframes/ questions above can help provide a little more insight to their comments. If not, that’s okay too. We are living in a culture and society that very much praises disordered behaviors. It can be hard to navigate fact from fiction, feel your feelings, and heal body and food relationships.

Although I don’t personally resonate with having an almond mom, I have met with many clients who do. And, I can whole heartedly say, this does not have to be your reality. It is a lived experience that should be nurtured and met with compassion because, as we discussed, it’s hard. I also think it’s important to say that I don’t blame almond mom’s for their behaviors or comments. They are also subject to diet culture. They too need compassion. However, you can fully heal from these comments and learn how to protect yourself with new perspectives and tools. Other statements that may be helpful are:

• I deserve love at any body size

• My body is part of who I am and what makes me beautiful

• My worth stays the same even if my body changes

• It’s okay for me to have big emotions and feel my feelings

• My body does not need fixing

   

That’s all for this week. Chat soon!

Your dietitian bff, Abbey

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“Working with Abbey has literally changed my life, and my perspective on food and nutrition in general! I came to her at a time in my life where I was experiencing huge changes and was dealing with a new diagnosis of IBS, and was attempting to quit nicotine. This had huge adverse affects with my digestive system. I went to a gastroenterologist, but personally experienced a very surface level solution with medication as the main solution. Abbey listened to everything I had been going through, and approached a solution very holistically. She wanted to find out what was happening and approach a solution that worked for my lifestyle. In only 6 months I went from not being able to eat much without stomach issues, fearing any food would cause me stomach pain, to knowing my body better than ever. Abbey coached me through everything I was experiencing and helped me get to a point where I felt I could be curious about my diet instead of fearful. I would definitely recommend Abbey to anyone looking for nutritionist advice, and tell anyone I know to head to her for service. 11/10 would recommend.” LA (she/her)

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