From Fat-Free to Keto – 50 Years of Food Trends with Dr. Kelly Blodgett & Megan Barnett – Ep 22

In this episode of The Whole Health Podcast, hosts Dr. Kelly Blodgett, DMD, NMD, IBDM, and Megan Barnett, MS, CNS, trace the history of food trends from the 1950s to today, reflecting on how shifting cultural norms, government guidance, and marketing have influenced the way we eat. They highlight how the rise of artificial flavoring and convenience foods altered our relationship with nutrition, often leading to confusion and extreme dietary swings. From the fat-free craze of the 1980s to the carb-restrictive Atkins and keto movements, they discuss how each trend shaped public perception of health. Megan emphasizes how dietary advice often oversimplifies complex needs, leading people toward imbalance. Ultimately, they advocate for personalized nutrition and a return to whole, fiber-rich foods as the foundation of lasting wellness. The conversation underscores that balance, not extremes, is the key to healthy eating across a lifetime.

Topics Discussed:

• The evolution of food trends over the past 50 years — from home gardens and minimally processed foods to the rise of convenience packaging, artificial flavoring, and global cuisines.
  
  
• The pendulum swings of nutrition advice — cultural shifts from fat-free diets in the 1980s, to low-carb/high-fat trends like Atkins and keto, and now to today’s high-protein movement.
  
  
• Personalized nutrition and whole foods — how extremes often fail, why context and lifestyle matter, and the importance of returning to real, unprocessed foods with adequate fiber for long-term health.

To learn more about Megan Barnett’s clinic and practice, click below:
https://bioloungepdx.com

To learn more about Megan's organic soluble fiber blends, click below:
https://thinkflorasophy.com

Learn more about Dr. Kelly Blodgett's dental practice below:
https://www.blodgettdentalcare.com/

About The Whole Health Podcast:
Hosted by Dr. Kelly J. Blodgett, DMD, NMD, IBDM, and Megan Barnett, MS, CNS, this podcast is dedicated to advancing biological dentistry and integrative health. Join Kelly and Megan as they dive deep with experts and leaders across various disciplines to explore the connections between oral health, nutrition, and holistic human wellness.