Survey: Australians fed up with fad diets

The overwhelming majority of Australians are fed up with food trends and fad diets, with 94% of them viewing these as status symbols, according to research.

The survey, released by Galaxy Research, which surveyed 1,000 Australians on behalf of cereal brand Uncle Tobys, also revealed that one in five consumers believe these trends do not offer good value for money. 

Instead, Australians prefer to make less effort on their diets, with 81% saying a simple approach to a healthy eating was better suited for their lifestyle, particularly at breakfast. 

The research found that 41% of those who started their morning with a simple bowl of cereal made better health decisions throughout the day, and 61% were more likely to choose low-sugar foods afterwards. 

Dietitian Geraldine Georgeou said it was refreshing to see that the majority of Australians were able to look past the craze of food trends and fad diets. 

Aussies are right in saying that there are other foods which are just as healthy as the latest fad food, so investment in this isn't necessary,” she said. 

The new research also found that the majority of Australians took a more relaxed approach to their diets, with only one in 10 opting for special diet such as Paleo or sugar-free. 

Most said they tried to eat well to stay healthy, while almost half said they did it to lose weight. Meanwhile, nearly a quarter said they felt guilty when making bad food decisions and opting for unhealthy foods.