The Reverse Diet

The Reverse Diet is Tricia Cunningham. The ideology of eating “Dinner for Breakfast and Breakfast for Dinner” is the sole premise of this diet; at least on the surface. Or at least that is the part grabbing our attention. Her recipes include Splenda, lots of Tofu, minimal red meat, and a healthy daily intake of “Sunshine Tea” (hot water and lemon).

Tricia has successfully maintained her goal weight for 7 years. Her success was apparently done in the absence of exercise, as there is no mention of it. Having realized amazing results (170lbs) in a short period of time (4 months) has motivated many in this new direction.

But is the Reverse Diet really new? Nope; not at all. For centuries, many cultures adapted and still follow an eating regime that supports eating a larger protein and fiber based breakfast with the smaller meals in the evening. It wasn’t until the invention of two working parents trying to get themselves and their kids out the door, coupled with brown bagging lunch at your desk that North Americans invented drive-thru lattes for breakfast and reward themselves at dinner with steak and potato for making it through the day.

Tricia and her book completely reverse that thinking. Many agree to the doctrine of breakfast being the biggest and most important meal of the day but, the philosophy of eating pasta or chicken or even steak at breakfast may seem very foreign. It does seem to work for many but also appears unappealing in the long haul so the jury is still out on whether this is a lifestyle diet or a means to an end.