Understanding What Diet Did Suzanne Somers Eat?

October 6, 2025 •

4 min read

In 2001, following a breast cancer diagnosis, Suzanne Somers famously declared, "I decided to eat like my life depended on it". This philosophy led to the development and promotion of her highly publicized "Somersize" plan, shedding light on what diet did Suzanne Somers eat and inspiring millions to re-evaluate their food choices.

Quick Summary

Suzanne Somers's 'Somersize' diet emphasized food combining, separating carbohydrates from proteins and fats to promote weight loss. This approach also prioritized whole, organic foods, healthy fats, and low-glycemic carbohydrates while eliminating processed sugars, refined grains, and certain starchy vegetables.

Key Points

Food Combining: The Somersize diet is built on the principle of never mixing proteins/fats with carbohydrates in the same meal, an idea heavily debated by nutrition experts.
Elimination of Processed Foods: Suzanne Somers emphasized cutting out "Funky Foods" like refined sugars, white flour, and processed items in favor of whole, organic ingredients.
Emphasis on Healthy Fats and Protein: The diet encourages high-quality, lean proteins and healthy fats from sources like avocados, nuts, and olive oil.
Whole Foods over Calorie Counting: Unlike many traditional diets, Somersizing focuses on the types of food eaten and their combinations rather than counting calories.
Lifestyle Approach: The dietary plan was part of a larger wellness philosophy that also included regular exercise, hormone balance, and using organic products.
Scientific Controversy: Despite testimonials, the scientific community has largely dismissed the efficacy of food combining for weight loss or improved digestion, attributing success to the elimination of sugar and processed foods.

The Core Principles of the Somersize Diet

Suzanne Somers's dietary approach, known as Somersizing, was a comprehensive wellness program that extended beyond simple calorie counting. It was built on the principle of food combining, a method that dictates specific rules for eating different food groups together. Somers believed this strategy would optimize digestion, balance blood sugar, and ultimately lead to weight loss and sustained energy. The diet was divided into two phases: Level One for weight loss and Level Two for maintenance, with stricter rules in the initial phase.

Food Combining: The Foundation of Somersizing

The most distinctive feature of the Somersize diet was its strict food-combining rules. The premise was that eating certain food groups together hindered digestion and nutrient absorption. The main rules included:

Proteins and Fats with Vegetables: Meals could combine high-quality proteins (like meat, poultry, and eggs) and healthy fats (such as olive oil and butter) with low-starch vegetables.
Carbohydrates with Vegetables: If a meal contained carbohydrates (like whole-grain pasta or bread), it was to be eaten only with vegetables and no added fat.
Proteins and Fats Separated from Carbs: The rule explicitly forbade eating proteins and fats in the same meal as carbohydrates. This meant no steak and potatoes, and no butter on your whole-grain toast.
Fruit Consumed Alone: Fruit was designated to be eaten by itself on an empty stomach to avoid digestive upset.

Embracing Whole, Organic Foods

Beyond food combining, the Somersize diet placed a heavy emphasis on consuming whole, organic, and nutrient-dense foods. This involved eating fresh vegetables, fruits, and quality protein sources, while significantly limiting or avoiding processed and refined foods. Somers believed in nourishing the body with foods sourced directly from nature, a principle that gained broader mainstream appeal over time.

Eliminating "Funky Foods"

Somers coined the term "Funky Foods" for items she believed wreaked havoc on the body. The Somersize diet required a strict elimination of these foods, particularly during the initial weight-loss phase. Funky Foods included:

Sugar: All forms of sugar, including white sugar, brown sugar, honey, and maple syrup, were off-limits.
Refined Grains: White flour products, like bread and pasta, and white rice were eliminated.
Alcohol and Caffeine: These were generally excluded from the diet, especially during the initial phases.
Starchy Vegetables: High-starch vegetables such as potatoes, corn, and carrots were restricted due to their carbohydrate content.

A Comparison of Somersizing and a Standard Healthy Diet


Feature	Somersize Diet	Standard Healthy Diet
Macronutrient Combining	Strict separation of proteins/fats and carbohydrates at meals.	Encourages balanced meals with a mix of all macronutrients.
Processed Foods	Strict elimination of all "Funky Foods" like refined sugar and white flour.	Advocates for limiting processed foods and refined sugars.
Dietary Emphasis	Focuses on food combining and whole, organic foods.	Balanced macronutrients, caloric control, and a variety of food sources.
Scientific Backing	The food-combining theory is widely disputed by nutrition experts.	Based on extensive scientific research for weight management and health.
Weight Loss Mechanism	Proponents claim improved digestion and metabolic efficiency, but the actual effect is likely due to reduced calorie intake from cutting carbs and sugar.	Achieves weight loss through a calorie deficit, with diet and exercise.
Allowed Foods	Grass-fed meats, organic produce, full-fat dairy, some whole grains.	Lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats, and low-fat dairy.

The Controversy and Reception of the Somersize Diet

The Somersize diet, despite its popularity, was not without controversy. Many registered dietitians and medical professionals argued that the core principle of food combining is a myth. Experts stated that the human digestive system is perfectly capable of processing different food groups simultaneously, and that the claims of improved digestion were unfounded. The weight loss experienced by many on the diet was likely attributed to the significant reduction in processed sugars and refined carbohydrates, rather than the specific food combinations. Somers was also criticized for promoting potentially risky bioidentical hormones and other supplements alongside her diet, drawing rebuke from the medical community for perceived misinformation.

The Holistic Lifestyle Component

It is important to acknowledge that Somers's diet was part of a larger, holistic lifestyle philosophy. This lifestyle included regular exercise (like her famous ThighMaster routines), prioritizing quality sleep, and focusing on overall well-being and hormone balance. By promoting this comprehensive approach, she influenced her followers to make broader health-conscious changes beyond just their plates.

A Legacy of Wellness

Suzanne Somers's wellness empire and her Somersize diet demonstrated the power of celebrity influence in the health space. While many aspects of her dietary advice sparked controversy and lacked scientific consensus, her emphasis on whole, unprocessed foods and a healthy lifestyle resonated with a wide audience seeking alternatives to conventional dieting. By urging people to think critically about processed foods and adopt healthier habits, she undoubtedly left a lasting impact on the wellness industry.

Authoritative Outbound Link: For a critical perspective on the medical and nutritional claims made by Suzanne Somers, a piece from the Los Angeles Times provides a detailed analysis on her influence and the controversies surrounding her advice: Suzanne Somers pioneered the role of celebrity purveyor of medical misinformation.

Conclusion

Ultimately, what diet did Suzanne Somers eat was a strict, but not calorie-restrictive, plan focused on whole foods, organic produce, and separating carbohydrates from proteins and fats. The Somersize diet, while heavily criticized for its unproven food-combining theory, succeeded in introducing many people to the importance of cutting processed sugars and incorporating healthier, natural ingredients into their meals. Her legacy is a testament to the enduring public interest in diet and wellness, even if the science behind her most famous principles is debated.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Somersize diet is a weight loss and maintenance plan created by Suzanne Somers that focuses on the concept of food combining, separating carbohydrates from proteins and fats in meals.

The theory behind food combining is not supported by mainstream nutrition science. The weight loss often seen on the Somersize diet is more likely due to the elimination of processed sugars and simple carbohydrates.

The diet, especially in its initial phase, forbids "Funky Foods" such as sugar, alcohol, caffeine, white flour, white rice, and high-starch vegetables like potatoes and carrots.

Yes, a fundamental aspect of Suzanne Somers's dietary approach was the strong advocacy for consuming organic and whole foods whenever possible, minimizing exposure to pesticides and chemicals.

According to sample menus, a typical Somers breakfast might include protein-rich options like scrambled eggs with spinach and avocado, or Greek yogurt with berries and nuts.

While both diets are low in refined carbs and sugar, the Somersize diet is not a ketogenic diet. It allows for some complex carbohydrates to be eaten with vegetables, whereas keto maintains a very low-carb intake to achieve ketosis.

Somers's dietary plans, and broader wellness philosophy, often included a focus on balancing hormones and advocated for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), though this aspect was also met with significant medical criticism.