Author Gareth Davies experimented with US President-elect Donald Trump‘s reported fast food diet for a week. Davies’ health significantly declined, according to the Telegraph. This experience led him to question the long-term viability of such eating habits.
Breakfast
Trump often skips breakfast, relying on a few supplements when he doesn’t eat. When he does, he tends to have bacon and fried eggs. Davies followed this routine, initially skipping breakfast altogether. By day three, hunger kicked in, and he resorted to a Diet Coke and Doritos. “I felt nauseous by the time I finished the Diet Coke,” he recalled, adding that the lack of a proper meal was hard to endure.
Lunch
Trump typically skips lunch, snacking throughout the day instead. For Davies, this meant living on Doritos, which left him hungry by mid-afternoon. “There’s hardly anything healthy in those chips,” he said, noting that by the third day, he was craving something more substantial.
Snacks
Trump is said to drink up to 12 cans of Diet Coke a day alongside Doritos. Davies began with three cans but quickly increased to nine. “How anyone manages 12 cans a day is beyond me,” he said, admitting that the artificial sweeteners in Diet Coke became his main source of hydration. By the end of the week, the Doritos also lost their appeal.
Dinner
Trump’s dinners typically include fast food like McDonald’s, KFC, pizza, or a well-done steak. Davies replicated this routine, ordering Big Macs, Filet-O-Fish sandwiches, KFC, and pizza. He described the meal as cold, soggy chicken. Pizza was slightly better, but still hard to eat. The well-done steak with ketchup, as Trump prefers, was the best meal of the week, though still not enjoyable for Davies.
Aftereffects
By the end of the week, Davies had lost 2.6 kg, but it was due to dehydration rather than healthy weight loss. He experienced cold hands, peeling skin, and low energy levels. His workouts suffered, and he struggled through his usual cycling sessions. “Exercising was a real chore,” he said, with his usual energy levels diminished.
Davies’ thoughts
After trying Trump‘s alleged diet for a week, Davies said, “I’ve never felt more unhealthy in my life.” Davies believes the diet is unsustainable. “It’s a bland, unhealthy routine full of fast food and sugary drinks,” he said. “I don’t understand how anyone could live like this for long.”
RFK Jr., who was appointed to be his health secretary, called Trump’s alleged diet “poison.” Nutritionist Sam Rice from the Telegraph also agreed, saying Trump’s diet is very unhealthy.
