What is the potato diet Australian man: The Story of Andrew Taylor

December 22, 2025 •

4 min read

In 2016, Australian man Andrew Taylor captured global attention by eating only potatoes for a full year, a radical approach to overcoming food addiction and losing weight. What is the potato diet Australian man followed, often called the 'Spud Fit Challenge,' and what can we learn from his extreme dietary experiment? His journey provides a captivating case study, but it also raises important questions about the long-term sustainability and nutritional adequacy of such a restrictive plan.

Quick Summary

The 'Spud Fit Challenge,' popularized by Andrew Taylor, involved eating only potatoes for 365 days to overcome food addiction and lose weight. He lost over 50kg, but health experts warn against the diet's nutritional deficiencies.

Key Points

Andrew Taylor's Origin: The 'Spud Fit' movement began with an Australian man, Andrew Taylor, who ate only potatoes for a year in 2016 to combat food addiction and lose weight.
Significant Results: Taylor lost over 50 kilograms and experienced improvements in his cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
Nutritional Deficiencies: Dietitians warn that a potato-only diet is severely lacking in key nutrients like protein, fat, calcium, and certain vitamins (A, E, B12), making it unsustainable and potentially dangerous long-term.
Short-Term Reset: Taylor himself suggested the diet is best used as a short-term 'reset' to break unhealthy eating habits, not a permanent lifestyle.
No Oil and Supplements: Taylor's plan included cooking potatoes without oil and taking a vitamin B12 supplement to mitigate some of the nutritional risks.
Not a Recommended Diet: Health experts overwhelmingly advise against mono-diets like this, favoring balanced, varied nutritional plans for sustainable health and weight management.

Who is the Australian man behind the potato diet?

Andrew Flinders Taylor, a resident of Melbourne, Australia, gained international fame in 2016 when he announced his year-long dietary challenge. Weighing over 150 kilograms (approx. 330 lbs), Taylor was struggling with a debilitating food addiction. Feeling as though his food choices controlled his life, he decided to take an extreme, singular approach to reset his relationship with eating. His solution was the "Spud Fit Challenge," a year-long experiment where 99% of his calories came from potatoes, with the remaining 1% from minimal seasonings.

Taylor documented his progress on YouTube and Facebook, sharing his meals and emotional journey with a global audience. This transparency was a key part of his success, as it not only held him accountable but also inspired thousands of followers, some of whom adopted shorter, less extreme versions of his diet. His story eventually led him to launch a business to help others with their own food challenges, leveraging the notoriety of his year-long spud odyssey.

The 'Spud Fit Challenge' rules and results

The rules of Taylor's plan were deceptively simple, yet incredibly strict.

Only eat potatoes: Any variety was permitted, including both white potatoes and sweet potatoes.
No oil: He cooked his potatoes by boiling, baking, or mashing them, completely avoiding oil and other fats.
Minimal seasonings: Spices, herbs, and fat-free sauces were allowed in small amounts for flavor.
Stay hydrated: Water, tea, and black coffee were the only allowed beverages.
B12 supplement: Taylor took a vitamin B12 supplement to compensate for a key nutrient missing from a potato-only diet.
Exercise: He incorporated regular physical activity, starting with low-impact movements and increasing to 90 minutes of exercise per day.

The results of his experiment were significant. Taylor lost 53 kilograms (approx. 117 pounds) over the course of the year. More importantly for him, he claimed to have successfully broken his food addiction and reset his palate. Blood tests taken throughout the year revealed that his cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels all improved, moving from unhealthy to a normal range.

The nutritional perspective: Is a potato diet healthy?

While Andrew Taylor's results were impressive, health professionals emphasize that his diet should not be copied by the average person without medical supervision. The potato is a nutrient-dense food, but relying on any single food source long-term is highly problematic from a nutritional standpoint.

Potato nutrition vs. a balanced diet

The potato has an undeservedly bad reputation, but it's a powerhouse of nutrients. However, it is not a complete food source.


Nutrient	Found in Potatoes (Plain, Cooked)	Missing or Low in Potatoes	Why it Matters
Carbohydrates	Excellent source	N/A	Primary energy source for the body.
Fiber	Good source, especially with skin	N/A	Essential for digestive health and promotes feelings of fullness.
Protein	Contains some, but low quantity	N/A	Needed to repair cells, build muscle mass, and produce enzymes and hormones. A single food cannot provide enough.
Healthy Fats	Virtually none	Excellent source (Avocado, Nuts)	Essential for hormone production, nutrient absorption, and long-term satiety.
Vitamin C	Excellent source	N/A	Antioxidant, boosts immunity.
Potassium	Excellent source	N/A	Important electrolyte for blood pressure and heart health.
Vitamin B6	Excellent source	N/A	Supports brain function and metabolism.
Vitamin B12	Very low to absent	Excellent source (Animal products, Supplements)	Crucial for nerve function and red blood cell production.
Vitamin A	Very low to absent (not in white potatoes)	Excellent source (Sweet potatoes, other vegetables)	Important for vision and immune function.
Calcium	Very low	Excellent source (Dairy, Leafy Greens)	Essential for bone health and muscle function.

Potential health risks

Nutrient Deficiencies: Long-term consumption of only potatoes risks deficiencies in protein, fats, calcium, and vitamins A and B12, among others. Taylor's use of B12 supplements was a necessary precaution.
Muscle Loss: Extreme calorie restriction and low protein intake can lead to muscle mass loss alongside fat loss.
Metabolic Slowdown: Very low-calorie diets can cause the body's metabolism to slow down, making weight regain more likely once the normal diet resumes.
Unhealthy Eating Habits: Highly restrictive diets can foster an unhealthy relationship with food and potentially lead to disordered eating patterns.
Sustainability: The monotony of a mono-diet is mentally and socially challenging, making it unsustainable for most people.

Is the Spud Fit Challenge a viable diet plan?

As a short-term 'reset' for the palate and food psychology, as Andrew Taylor himself suggested, the potato diet has some merit. It forces an individual to confront their relationship with processed, high-fat, and sugary foods, essentially providing a form of 'cold turkey' detoxification. However, it is not recommended as a sustainable or nutritionally balanced long-term solution for weight loss or health improvement.

For those inspired by the concept of eating whole, unprocessed foods, a more sensible approach would be to adopt a balanced, plant-based diet that incorporates potatoes alongside a variety of other vegetables, fruits, legumes, and healthy fats. This provides the same benefits of feeling full on fewer calories, but without the significant nutritional risks of an extreme mono-diet.

Conclusion

The story of what is the potato diet Australian man is more a tale of extreme self-discipline than a blueprint for healthy eating. Andrew Taylor's journey successfully addressed his personal struggles with food addiction and resulted in impressive weight loss and improved blood markers. Yet, health experts are clear that a diet restricted to a single food is nutritionally incomplete and poses significant risks over the long term. While the potato is a nutritious vegetable, true, lasting health is found in a balanced diet rich in variety, not in a mono-diet of any kind. For anyone considering a similar path, consultation with a healthcare professional is essential. You can find more information on balanced eating from reputable sources like the National Institutes of Health and other health organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Australian man is Andrew Flinders Taylor. In 2016, he undertook a year-long diet of eating only potatoes, calling his regimen the 'Spud Fit Challenge'.

Yes, the diet worked for him in achieving his goals. He lost over 50 kilograms and reported significant improvements in his health markers, including lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

The core rules were to eat only potatoes of any variety, avoid oil in cooking, use minimal seasonings, drink only water, tea, or black coffee, and take a vitamin B12 supplement.

The diet is extremely restrictive and unbalanced, leading to deficiencies in essential nutrients like protein, fat, and various vitamins. It can also cause muscle loss and promote an unhealthy relationship with food.

No, while potatoes are nutritious, they lack essential fats and sufficient amounts of protein, calcium, and vitamins A and B12, making a potato-only diet nutritionally incomplete for long-term health.

A more balanced and sustainable alternative is to incorporate potatoes into a diverse, whole-foods diet rich in other vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and healthy fats, rather than restricting yourself to a single food.

No, the diet is not considered sustainable long-term due to its monotony and the high risk of nutritional deficiencies.

Following his viral success, Andrew Taylor founded 'Spud Fit,' a business that offers coaching and resources to help others address their food addictions and eating patterns based on his personal experience.