Potatoes are undeniably one of the most adaptable foods available, but the thought of consuming only potatoes for an entire year is hard to fathom.
While this diet choice may not be popular, an Australian named Andrew Flinders Taylor, known as Spud Fit on YouTube, decided to undertake this challenge.
In 2016, Andrew embarked on a journey to transform his life by committing to a year-long diet consisting solely of potatoes.
The primary reason for Andrew’s potato-centric diet stemmed from a food addiction he compared to alcoholism, but with food.
During a 2019 interview, he stated: “My Spud Fit Challenge was only ever intended as a short term intervention to treat my own food addiction. My behavior with food mirrored that of an alcoholic with drinking so I decided to get as close as possible to treating it with the same abstinence model: I quit all food except potatoes.”
For Andrew, the simple answer to his diet was potatoes.
He consumed various types of potatoes, including sweet potatoes, and added flavor using dried herbs or fat-free sauces. For a creamier mash, he used oil-free soy milk.
Andrew did not limit the number of potatoes he ate—likely a tactic many might adopt during festive seasons. He ate enough potatoes to keep himself satisfied.
To complement his diet, which excluded meat, Andrew took a B12 vitamin supplement.
Beginning his diet at 334lbs, Andrew shed 117lbs over the year.
He lost 22lbs in the first month without exercising, but then incorporated a 90-minute workout into his daily schedule.
The diet also led to improved cholesterol, blood pressure, and sugar levels, and Andrew found that his mental state was significantly better by the end of the year.
Reflecting on the results on his website, Andrew expressed: “I feel amazing and incredible! I’m sleeping better, I no longer have joint pain from old football injuries, I’m full of energy, I have better mental clarity and focus.”
Andrew’s experience taught him the importance of making his ‘food boring’, but his ‘life interesting’ to help overcome his past food addiction.
He discovered a change in how he perceived food, noting on his website: “Over time, my neural pathways changed. Over time, junk food lost its appeal entirely. Eventually, I came to see the pizza, the cake, the [insert your trigger food here] as a punishment – not a reward.
“I could eat anything I wanted, because I changed what I wanted.”
Eleven months into his diet, Andrew shared a video discussing various lessons he learned throughout his potato-only year.
After the year concluded, Andrew reintroduced unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes into his meals, though potatoes remain a staple.
While the diet was effective for him, Andrew advises others to conduct their own research and make informed decisions regarding their health.
According to Medical News Today, a balanced and healthy diet includes food groups such as vegetables, fruits, grains, protein, and dairy.