{"id":72473,"date":"2025-05-04T00:19:29","date_gmt":"2025-05-04T00:19:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/72473\/"},"modified":"2025-05-04T00:19:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-04T00:19:29","slug":"people-are-obsessed-with-this-lazy-girl-nutrition-hack-taking-over-the-internet-but-a-dietitian-has-mixed-feelings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/72473\/","title":{"rendered":"People Are Obsessed With This “Lazy Girl” Nutrition Hack Taking Over The Internet \u2014 But A Dietitian Has Mixed Feelings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let’s be real. Everyone, me included, could do with more veggies in their daily diet. You can always just eat a side salad or throw a serving of broccoli into your weeknight pasta, but these routes require effort, planning, and dishes. Luckily, there’s another way making its rounds on the internet (and no, it’s not hidden spinach brownies).<\/p>\n

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TikTok user Amy Garrett (@sahmthingsup<\/a>) is the face of “Dinosaur Time,” which might just be the single healthiest internet wellness hack you’ve ever heard of. Its sole purpose is to add a serving of vegetables to one’s daily intake and have fun doing it \u2014 by acting like a dinosaur.<\/p>\n

@sahmthingsup \/ TikTok \/ Via tiktok.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Let me explain. Amy takes a moment out of her day right before lunchtime to open up a plastic box of salad greens, grab a giant handful, and go to town. It looks a little something like this:<\/p>\n

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She’s conquered spinach, butter lettuce, bok choy microgreens, and more in this fashion.<\/p>\n

What started as a “lazy girl hack to get your greens in<\/a>” has blossomed into a true internet phenomenon.<\/p>\n

Amy has been featured on\u00a0NPR<\/a>\u00a0and made dozens of follow-up videos answering commenters’ questions. She’s also added the\u00a0Jurassic Park\u00a0<\/a>theme music to her TikToks, of course.<\/p>\n

Amy described her sole purpose for Dinosaur Time in an FAQ video<\/a>: mainly, to get more greens into her diet with the least hassle possible. She says she does it before she eats lunch so that she doesn’t have to “pretend to like the taste” or go through the effort of incorporating a sufficient serving of veggies into her meal. She also says she doesn’t add something like cheese or salad dressing for taste because her “brain is more focused on getting it down” (but to go for it if you want).<\/p>\n

@sahmthingsup \/ TikTok \/ Via tiktok.com<\/a><\/p>\n

People were kind of mind-blown. Who knew it could be this simple?!<\/p>\n

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This person wrote, “adulthood is just finding increasingly strange ways of tricking yourself into doing what you’re supposed to.” (I couldn’t agree more.)<\/p>\n

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Many people have said they’re trying Dinosaur Time for themselves or doing it with their children<\/a>. I figured adding more vegetables to your life couldn’t possibly be a bad thing, but I wanted to get an expert’s take on this nonetheless.<\/p>\n

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BuzzFeed spoke with New York-based registered dietitian Esther Tambe<\/a>, MS, RDN, CDN, CDCES about the potential benefits of Dinosaur Time and whether it’s something people should think about trying for themselves.<\/p>\n

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Esther Tambe<\/p>\n

Esther told BuzzFeed she’s “always concerned about TikTok nutrition trends, especially when advice comes from people without proper expertise,” but generally supports people getting more vegetables in their diet. After all, only about 1 in 10 Americans<\/a> eats the federally recommended 2+ cups of vegetables daily.<\/p>\n

But there are potential pitfalls, too. Esther says that you should consider any medications you might be taking, as some can react poorly<\/a> with more vitamin K-rich greens in your diet (namely, the anticoagulant drug, Warfarin). She also said that for some gastrointestinal conditions that require less fiber intake<\/a>, Dinosaur Time might not be a great idea; she recommends speaking with a dietitian “before making significant changes to your fiber intake to ensure it aligns with your personal health needs.”<\/p>\n

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Grace Cary \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Esther also has a gentle warning for those making it a family activity: “I’ve also seen this trend used to encourage kids to eat vegetables, which can make it fun, but it\u2019s important to consider\u00a0how it might impact their relationship with food,” Esther said. “Always consult a\u00a0qualified professional to ensure a trend is right for your needs.<\/b>“<\/p>\n

Another creator, Jordynn Nicholson<\/a>, has been on the handful-of-spinach train since at least last year. She had two videos go super viral a couple of months ago and hasn’t slowed down taking what she calls her daily “vitamin.”<\/p>\n

\"TikTok<\/p>\n

In one of her videos, Jordynn says<\/a> she’s doing it because she learned that the first thing you taste and digest “sets the tone for your cravings for the rest of the day.” She proceeds to munch some salad mix straight from the strainer, followed by eggs, toast, and sausage.<\/p>\n

@jordynn.nicholson<\/a> \/ TikTok \/ Via tiktok.com<\/a><\/p>\n

So, BuzzFeed also asked Esther whether there’s any truth to the idea that the first thing you eat “sets your cravings.” Her answer? Not really.<\/p>\n

“Nutrient-dense foods like leafy greens are high in fiber, which promotes fullness and satiety,” she said. “However, this is not a guaranteed way to reduce cravings or make your food choices healthier throughout the day.”<\/p>\n

The bottom line is that Esther “wouldn’t necessarily recommend following” trends like Dinosaur Time, but does support eating more veggies in general. “Greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens are great for boosting fiber and overall nutrition, but they’re not the only vegetables that provide these benefits,” she said.<\/p>\n

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Alvarez \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

“If you’re not a fan of spinach, don’t feel like you have to force it down! Plenty of other vegetables can offer fiber, vitamins, and other nutrients,” Esther said. She also emphasized that “nutrition is highly individualized” and that it can be confusing to understand how many servings of vegetables you should be eating. “A good guideline is to include at least one serving of vegetables and\/or fruit (one cup raw or cooked) with each meal and snack. Aim to fill half your plate with vegetables or fruit, and vary your colors daily<\/b> (green, orange, red, yellow, white, purple\/blue).”<\/p>\n

So, friends, whether they’re blended in a shake, dressed in a salad, or munched straight from the container \u2014 make like a dinosaur and eat your vegetables. Let me know how you’re getting your greens in the comments.<\/p>\n

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If you’re suddenly thinking about getting your greens in, download the free Tasty app<\/a> to explore our library of 7,500+ recipes, including hundreds of easy salads \u2014 no subscription required.<\/p>\n

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BuzzFeed<\/p>\n