Why-the-trendy-30-plant-a-week-diet-might-not-be-as-good-as-you-think-and-which-surprising-foods-count-yes-chocolate-is-one-of-them

I’ll admit it—I jumped on the 30-plants-a-week bandwagon like everyone else on TikTok. The idea sounds amazing, right? Boost your gut health by eating a variety of plant-based foods. Simple. Healthy. Instagram-worthy. But here’s what I quickly realized: just because it’s trending doesn’t mean it works for everyone.

At first, I went all in—chia seeds, rainbow veggies, herbal teas, you name it. But soon, I found myself obsessing over numbers instead of nutrition. Was this spice plant-based? Does dark chocolate count? (Spoiler: yes, it does—hallelujah!) It turned into a game of “plant points,” and honestly, it started to suck the joy out of eating.

Let’s be real: variety is great, but not if it overwhelms your gut. Some people—like me—end up bloated, gassy, or just plain exhausted trying to hit that magic number. I learned that fiber overload is a thing, and not everyone’s digestive system wants 30 different types of fiber every week.

Also, can we talk about how processed some “plant-based” foods can be? Just because something is made from chickpeas doesn’t mean it’s clean eating. It might still be loaded with additives.

The surprising upside? You can count things you’d never expect—herbs, spices, nuts, seeds, even cocoa. That means your guilty-pleasure dark chocolate might actually be helping your gut flora. Score.

Here’s my takeaway: don’t chase trends blindly. I’m learning to listen to my body, not just TikTok. If the 30-plant rule works for you, amazing. If not, that’s okay too. What matters is balance, not bragging rights.