TikTok's 'almond daughter' trend leaves viewers divided as Gen Z women boast of their tiny meals and hardcore workouts - as some fear it's fuelling eating disorders

You've heard of the 'almond mom'; but Gen Z's spin-off on the controversial TikTok trend has raised even more concerns.

The video sharing platform is now awash with clips of young women and teens claiming they are 'almond daughters'  as they show off their tiny, ultra healthy meals meals and gruelling exercise regimes. 

The original 'almond mom' phrase was inspired by Yolanda Hadid, who told her supermodel daughter Gigi to eat 'a couple of almonds' when she said she felt weak. 

The trend was first applied to mothers, with their children posting clips of the tiny portions they ate throughout the day, as directed by their mothers. The mothers themselves were also pictured eating tiny portions.

But now the daughters themselves seem to have joined the trend, with some users expressing concerns that it may be glamourising restrictive food and exercise habits. 

One TikToker, posting under the username @taylorflesherr, joined in on the trend by filming a video of herself on a walk with the caption: 'Unfortunately, I am an almond daughter and will have a meltdown if I can't go on my daily walk.'

A TikToker user shared a video where she described herself as 'THE almond daughter'. The new trend has sparked debate over whether those adopting 'almond' term are promoting restrictive eating or healthy eating

Another user @agleavefit showed herself eating a meal alongside the caption: 'POV: you don't have an almond mom but you're 1000% an almond daughter.'

One social media user, who goes by the handle @mariiapakhomovva, posted a recent video sharing her 'almond daughter' eating habits, sharing a photo reel of meals she had eaten including a big bowl of salad, dark chocolate snacks, and protein powder. 

Commenters were divided over the video, with one concerned writing: 'Almond daughter? Close it's actually clinically underweight and an eating disorder to maintain low BMIs like this. Hope that helps.'

A second said: 'An "almond" anything is code for having an eating disorder. An almond mum has been battling for years so much that her kids notice.'

Defending almond daughters, one wrote: 'That's just healthy eating, hope this helps,' while a second agreed writing, 'but it's normal, I love these kinds of foods'.

It seems to reflect that many are less convinced when it comes to the influence of the 'almond daughter' trend, with some describing it as 'just healthy' rather than strictly harmful. 

Last year, millions shared their experiences having lived with an 'almond mum', with the hashtag racking up a billion views.   

A second TikTok user described needing to go on a daily walk to avoid having 'a meltdown'. Last year, the term 'almond mum' made its debut online, describing mother's obsessive eating habits - now the roles has reversed and 'almond daughters' are coming under fire

A third TikToker posted a video describing herself as '1000% an almond daughter' as she eating off a fork. The viral phrase was inspired by Yolanda Hadid who told her daughter to eat almonds when she said she felt weak

One TikTok user shared several examples of their diet which included big bowls of salad and healthy snacks

The viral phrase was inspired by Yolanda Hadid advising her then-teenage daughter supermodel Gigi Hadid - who was only 17 at the time - to 'have a couple of almonds and chew them really well' to abate her hunger in a resurfaced clip of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Following the criticism, Yolanda, who previously modelled herself, hit back against the criticism in an interview with People magazine by saying she'd been 'half asleep' during the interaction with her daughter.

'I don’t even remember... There was no rhyme or reason to it. It’s such a silly narrative that is out there, that has nothing to do with the reality of our lives,' she said. 

Mocking her critics, a clip surfaced of Yolanda eating a big bowl of almonds while doing a variety of activities, including yoga alongside the caption: '#worstmomever #almonds.' 

The trend shone light on the restrictive eating habits favoured by the 'heroin chic' era in the 90s - when extremely thin figures were particularly fashionable and disordered eating behaviours were rife among women. 

'"Almond moms" set their children up to be obsessed with food and their bodies in ways that are toxic and extremely harmful,' an eating-disorder specialist told Teen Vogue last year.

Women who resonated with Gigi in the Real Housewives Of Beverley Hills episode shared similar stories of consuming minuscule portions and avoiding fast food at all costs. 

In one video, a Gen Z-er going for a meal with her family compared her large portion of a burger and chips  with her mother, who ditched the bread bun and begged her children to finish her chips for her.

In another clip, an American TikToker went viral after she shared a video of her 'almond mom' pacing around a hospital room to get her 'steps in' after an emergency visit.

Comments on one user's video expressed their concern over her reported 'almond daughter' eating which featured her eating big salads and snacks

Others remained convinced that one almond daughter who shared pictures eating salads, protein powder, and dark chocolate, was ' just healthy'

Sadie Shaw, who uses the handle @s.s.training, posted her fitness obsessed mother pacing manically around the room while she laid down in bed in hospital. 

'I'm literally in the ER and my almond mom is just pacing around so she can still get her steps in?' she wrote in the on-screen text attached to the clip.

'She asked me if she could do pushups in the corner because she missed her workout class to meet me there,' she added in the caption. 

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is often considered to be a famous example of an 'almond mom', coming under fire for her diet which includes drinking bone broth before completing an hour-long workout. 

The 'almond' trend follows a popularisation of Y2K fashion that favours slimmer frames and endorses any means to reach thinness.

In fact, several videos under the 'almond' head feature a TikTok sound that features a male voice describing Kate Moss when she dominated the fashion scene in the 90s and noughties.

The sound features a voice describing her as 'promoting anorexia' and is attached to a number of 'almond daughter' videos, making it seem less likely that many are motivated by being 'just healthy'. 

For anyone struggling with the issues raised, the eating disorder charity Beat’s helpline is available 365 days a year on 0808 801 0677. You can visit their website here.