Maybe don’t rush to get on board.
So-called Balkan breakfasts – shrimp-style spreads consisting of feta cheese, raw vegetables, tomatoes, bread and maybe some bacon and a red pepper sauce called Ajvar – have taken TikTok by storm, with countless users trying to recreate their own versions of the Southeast European holiday.
Foodies are proudly flaunting their board-based gifts on camera, eating each food item to test the array of flavors together.
“It’s basically just a dish with different ingredients and you just eat them all together,” a food content creator named Soogia explained in her video.
“What a great way to eat,” she added.
“I would 100% eat this again, but only because the cleanup was so easy,” another creator lauded in the caption of a TikTok where she tried the meal for the first time.
“The Balkans make breakfast the best,” someone else wrote.
But the fad has faced some backlash. Some users have criticized the TikTok adaptation as inauthentic or criticized the Americans for “just discovering vegetables” or “rediscovering”[ing] to be healthy.” Meanwhile, some foodies have suffered the unexpected consequences of the high-fiber meal.
One TikToker, who goes by Robb, admitted he couldn’t stop “going to the bathroom” all day after the hearty, veggie-rich meal.
“My body is not designed to handle that amount of fiber at once,” he said in an online video update.
The toilet problem has led some experts to issue a warning to diners hoping to try the meal at home.
Jamie Maitland, a certified holistic nutritionist, author and founder of The Office Health, told Delish that there’s plenty of fiber in a traditional “Balkan breakfast,” which can cause problems for your gut.
“Of course, fiber can help you feel full and aid digestion, but it can also cause bloating or stomach discomfort, especially if you’re not used to it,” she said. “Jumping from low to high fiber overnight can be a bit rough on your stomach.”
Adults are advised to eat between 25 and 34 grams of fiber depending on age, biological sex and other factors.
Amanda Sauceda, a registered dietitian, sounded a similar warning as she told Betches that the trend could be a great alternative for those who aren’t fans of the breakfast food.
“A Balkan breakfast is simple but flavorful and a great alternative to sweet foods that can taste good but aren’t filling,” she said.
While Maitland warned that too much fiber can negatively affect the body’s absorption of nutrients, Sauceda, on the other hand, praised the trend for encouraging people to start their day with fiber, explaining that it leads to “better health intestinal and more stable energy.”
“Plus it emphasizes using the vegetables you have on hand,” Sauceda said. “You can also use farmer’s cheese to accompany your vegetables, and this can be a source of live, active cultures that help your gut microbiome.”
However, Maitland urged people to find a “sweet spot” with fiber intake that doesn’t depend on the next viral trend, which she doesn’t even recommend for the optimal diet.
“Overall, I would not recommend this as a nutrient-dense breakfast option for any of my clients. “Starting the day with highly processed bread can spike your insulin, which is not good for your pancreas,” she continued.
“Raw peppers and cucumbers contain lectins that can cause micro-tears in the intestinal lining, so it’s best to peel and clean them. As for processed meats, they’re often loaded with sugar, so unless you’re using home-processed meats with no added sugar, I’d steer clear of those lower-quality meats.”
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Image Source : nypost.com