In the New Year, people let go of many trends while some trends wiggled their way into 2026. Social media tends to lead conversations and even sways the public into trying things they probably would have never considered.
For example: Spicy Bowls.
This not-so-new phenomenon recently became the latest dish that’s consuming many timelines.
Other than the debate over where an “authentic Spicy Bowl” originates or if it is a thick dip or a soupy consistency, a bigger conversation concerns the health of those who are consuming them. Some TikTok creators even claimed they were hospitalized after trying the viral snack.
These claims should be taken seriously, according to Barbara Kamp, registered dietitian, nutritionist and chef at The American College of Culinary Medicine.
“I wouldn’t call trying [the Spicy Bowls] a bad choice,” Kamp said. “But would eating a whole bowl of it be problematic? I actually think it would be.”
Although with the likeness of a seafood boil, which is traditionally served in steamy plastic bags, these bowls are commonly made in clear plastic deli containers. Whether made at home or bought, the bowl could include sausages, peppers and hot sauce, shrimp, pickles, pickled items like eggs and chips for dipping.
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Kamp says she is worried less about the spiciness of the bowl and more so the sodium levels. Cleveland Clinic reports that a three-ounce jar of pickles can equal two-thirds of the recommended daily sodium a person should intake.
The serving size of Mt. Olive Kosher Pickles is half of a large pickle with 260 mg of sodium. Big John’s Pickled Eggs has 320 mg of sodium with a serving size of one egg. Some users chop two Big Mama Pickled Sausages together totaling 2,440 mg of sodium.
With the additional pickled elements and the juice from the jars added, bowls exceed the 2,300 mg target set by the USDA.
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According to Kamp, spicy foods deliver many benefits from boosting your metabolism to giving one an endorphin boost, but eating Spicy Bowls regularly can make someone think the next thing they eat is not seasoned enough which could be harmful to health.
“Salt is one of those foods that you can build a tolerance to,” Kamp said. “So, the saltier the food you eat, the less salty it tastes over time. This means your sensitivity to sodium goes down as you eat more of it.”
Kennedy Tate, a nursing student at Louisiana State University, said social media could be considered an echo chamber that reaches impressionable youth and that encourages unhealthy eating habits.
“I’m concerned about the unhealthy eating habits that are rising from this trend,” Tate said. “Seeing younger people continue the trend is troubling because it keeps this cycle of unhealthy habits going that could cause long-term health issues.”
Madisyn Shivers, a first-year biology major at Howard University, believes that trends are like a never-ending book, and it’s what makes people follow them.
“When the imitation crab boils came out, everyone was in a frenzy about how much easier it was to make,” Shivers said. “Now that trend has died down, the Spicy Bowls filled their space.”
Chef Kamp suggests a healthy alternative to cut down on the sodium for individuals interested in testing the bowls for themselves.
“You can do a spicy crab dip with still a good amount of spice, but controlled sodium,” Kamp said. “You could use some pickles or capers and rely on dried peppers.”
Should Spicy Bowls be eaten at all? Kamp’s response was simple.
“Even eating this moderately as a dip, just walk away,” Kamp said. “There are better foods out there.”
Faith Harper covers culture, lifestyles and trends for HUNewsService.com.
