Biblical Eating: New Fad Diet Gains Followers Amid Unconventional Wellness Trends

A series of unconventional wellness trends, many with ties to conservative and Trump-aligned circles, have emerged in the United States. These include beliefs that vaccines are harmful, that testicle tanning boosts testosterone, and that seed oils are poisoning Americans — a claim promoted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Beef tallow, meanwhile, is touted for skin health.

The latest diet to attract a cult-like following is “biblical eating,” a loosely defined concept centered on foods mentioned in the Bible. Although not a new idea, it has experienced a “resurgence in recent months,” according to a New York Times article.

Christian content creator and diet influencer Kayla Bundy told the New York Times, “I had never really thought to look to the Bible for a recipe book.” She added, “Sin entered into the world through food, and Satan doesn’t stop there. Food … is really like a weapon of how I can fight back.”

Bundy sells a $28 digital guide for those seeking to follow her biblical diet. For a higher price, Annalies Xaviera, another influencer featured in the New York Times, offers a $97 “Biblical Eating Reset” course and superfoods coaching sessions at approximately $700 per month.

Columnist Arwa Mahdawi noted that while she does not personally favor locusts on toast, the biblical diet is not among the worst fad diets, as it largely mirrors the Mediterranean diet and avoids ultra-processed foods.

Mahdawi remarked that the trend highlights the profitability of fad diets. She humorously revealed she is working on a recipe book titled “Snack Like a Strongman,” which would detail former President Donald Trump’s diet of up to 12 Diet Cokes per day and McDonald’s meals.

Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist.