Parents Should Intervene With the ‘Crunchy Teen’ Trend

If you’ve ever stumbled into a specific neighborhood of TikTok, you might’ve seen the “scrunchy mom” trend, involving mothers who aim to detox their household and live consciously. They pride themselves on their natural, non-mainstream approach to parenting and lifestyle rooted in sustainability and holistic values.

Now, we’re seeing the rise of the “crunchy teen”. The self-care intent is evident but these teens are drawing some criticism and sparking concern over their questionable food restrictions.

What Is ‘Crunchy’, Anyway?

The term “crunchy” comes from the stereotype of granola-eating, earth-conscious individuals and has evolved to describe those who reject conventional norms in favor of natural alternatives and activism. In this case, we’re talking about food. For these teens, this lifestyle can be both a personal philosophy and a social identity, reflecting a growing awareness of global issues like consumerism and health.

While on the surface it looks positive, with these teens often calling out processed foods. On closer inspection, they seem to take some pretty bold stances, such as suggesting that almost everything is toxic, while demonizing supermarkets.

For example, one crunchy teen on TikTok ate raw organic grass fed beef, promoted a parasite cleanse, and dished out advice to parents on what to feed their toddlers. Another teen boldly suggested Takis cause autism.

Is This Extremely Innovative, or Just Extreme?

Parents spoke to experts who are on the fence about the impact of these self-titled crunchy teens.

A. Susana Ramírez, PhD, MPH, Associate Professor of Public Health Communication at the University of California, says it’s encouraging to see young people engaging critically with the food system and advocating for healthier choices, especially given how aggressively ultra-processed foods are marketed to their generation.

“However, it’s also important to recognize that the line between empowerment and misinformation can get blurry on platforms like TikTok, where personal anecdotes often substitute for evidence,” she highlights. “It’s powerful to see teens pushing back against ultra-processed foods, but some of this content oversimplifies nutrition and veers into misinformation. We should be just as critical of ‘clean eating’ rhetoric that moralizes food as we are of corporate marketing that distorts science–both can harm public understanding and health.”

Lotta Andonian, MS, RDN, a Los Angeles-based Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, agrees, saying hyperbolic claims, fear-based messaging, or statements that contradict the prevailing body of evidence should be met with skepticism.

“These types of videos can contribute to health anxiety, disordered eating, and potential medical consequences by attempting an eating pattern based on misinformation or dangerous suggestions,” she warns.

This includes excessively prioritizing protein over other macronutrients, cutting out entire food groups, trying “detoxes” or “cleanses,” or exposure to potential pathogens by eating raw ground beef.

“It can also detract from the pleasurable aspects of food and eating, which is unfortunate. Food is about more than nutrition – it is also pleasure, culture, creativity, and connection,” Andonian adds.

Parsing Questionable Health Information on Social Media

A study found that 49% of Instagram users who followed health-food accounts showed symptoms of anorexia nervosa. Another survey of college students at the University of Rhode Island found that 50% of participants reported that social media affects the way they deal with their health. Additionally, 48% felt judged or criticized for their food choices because of social media.

Ramírez says this type of content should be a concern, especially when videos use shame, fear, or pseudoscience to talk about food. “Content like this can normalize restrictive eating, trigger anxiety around everyday foods, and promote disordered thinking by framing health as a matter of purity rather than balance,” she says. “Even when well-intentioned, these messages can push teens–who are still developing their identities and body image–toward unhealthy relationships with food and self-worth.”

She further says teens should be encouraged to question the food system, but also to question the information they hear, especially when it’s emotionally charged or makes extreme claims. “In this video, like in many of the most successful pieces of misinformation, there’s a valid point: diets high in ultra-processed foods have been linked to increased risk of chronic diseases like cancer.”

With that said, Ramírez notes that there’s no scientific evidence linking processed foods to autism.

“That’s a harmful myth rooted in misinformation campaigns. It’s crucial that teens learn to separate fact from fear-mongering by checking credible health sources or talking to trusted adults.”

Suggestions for Handling It With Your Teen

Andonian suggests responding with curiosity and compassion to these types of videos and influencers at first.

“Tell your teen that it is great that they’re interested in their health and encourage the practices that are more neutral or positive, such as if they are eating more vegetables or fruit, trying new recipes at home, avoiding soda, or other generally healthy behaviors.”

She then recommends asking about your teen’s concerns that led them to these influencers.

“Gently help your teen see how certain practices are harmful or detract from their overall well-being and quality of life. With frightening headlines about ultra-processed foods, rising cancer rates, and certain ingredients being banned in other countries, it is understandable to be concerned about the food supply and health.”

At the same time, Andonian notes that most influencers are not trained to interpret scientific data, nor do they have clinical experience working with patients in healthcare settings. This can result in oversimplified or magnified claims and dangerous recommendations, which can lead to isolation, sleep loss, drops in grades due to obsessing over health, body image disturbances, and rigid behaviors that ultimately detract from quality of life.

“So after first validating the teen’s concerns, I would help them see the discrepancy between the advice that is shared in the video and what the current body of evidence says,” she recommends. “I would also ask the teen to check in with how certain videos or accounts make them feel. Do they feel anxious and overwhelmed, or inspired and empowered?”

It can be helpful to mute or unfollow accounts that generate anxiety and instead follow accounts that share a more positive message, such as accounts that share delicious recipes or realistic lifestyle advice without using black-and-white, extreme messaging.

Where To Find Accurate Health Information

While many of these social influencers can be captivating and seem to know what they’re talking about, experts say stick with the pros when it comes to finding accurate health and nutrition information.

“Trusted, trained professionals such as registered dietitians, school health counselors, and pediatricians, and public health websites such as MyPlate.gov,” Ramírez advises.

Andonian reiterates this, adding that reputable sources for nutrition include Registered Dietitians, Certified Nutrition Specialists, nutrition scientists, and doctors with additional training in nutrition, functional medicine, or lifestyle medicine.

“Government dietary guidelines or academic institutions are also great sources, with the caveat and acknowledgement that nutrition science is always evolving and can change over time,” she notes. “Of course, someone who is sharing healthy recipes or general lifestyle tips does not need such advanced training and can be a great source of inspiration. It comes back to how the videos make your teen feel and limiting exposure to fear-based messages.”

She also suggests the CRAAP test as a great method for checking the accuracy of claims.