Hoboken Ad Man Drops 9 Pounds on 25-Day Sweetgreen-Only Diet, Then Gets Sick on Pizza
Tim Donahue, a 27-year-old Hoboken resident, lost nine pounds after eating exclusively from Sweetgreen for 25 days. Framing the experiment as a healthy counterpart to Morgan Spurlock’s 'Super Size Me,' Donahue focused on the chain’s bowls, particularly the hot honey chicken variety. While he reported increased energy, he noted the high cost and logistical difficulties. Upon ending the challenge, he felt ill after eating pizza, and Sweetgreen subsequently launched its own 30-day challenge based on his video.
Key points
- Donahue ate only Sweetgreen menu items, primarily bowls, for 25 days instead of his intended 30 due to scheduling conflicts.
- He lost approximately nine pounds and reported higher energy levels, though he did not intend to lose weight.
- The primary difficulty was logistical, including coordinating meals around store hours and social events, rather than the food itself.
- Donahue described the expense as unsustainable compared to home-cooked meals, though he offset costs by avoiding alcohol and other dining.
- Sweetgreen co-founder Nicolas Jammet confirmed the company launched a 30-day challenge in response to Donahue’s video, receiving hundreds of applications.
- Donahue emphasized he is not a medical professional and does not recommend the diet as nutritional advice.
Background
This story follows a trend of viral single-food diet challenges, such as musician Benny Blanco’s five-day pizza-only experiment reported in August 2026. It also contrasts with recent food safety issues, like the 2026 jalapeño recalls at Qdoba and Chipotle, and the closure of casual dining chain O’Charley’s. While scientific debates continue regarding protein absorption limits, Donahue’s experiment highlights consumer interest in fast-casual health alternatives.
How outlets are covering it
Fox News and the New York Post present the story identically, focusing on the weight loss, the 'Super Size Me' comparison, and the logistical/financial drawbacks. The Washington Times emphasizes the physical reaction to returning to heavy foods, specifically the nausea Donahue experienced after eating pizza. All sources agree that Donahue did not receive payment from Sweetgreen, though the chain later adopted his concept for its own marketing campaign.
Why it matters
The story illustrates the growing cultural fascination with extreme dietary experiments as content, even when not medically advised. It highlights the tension between convenience, cost, and health in fast-casual dining, and shows how individual viral actions can prompt corporate responses in the food industry.
What to watch
Sweetgreen is currently running its own 30-day challenge with 30 participants, following Donahue’s lead. Donahue has stated he will not repeat the experiment and does not recommend it for others, citing cost and sustainability issues.
- New Jersey man loses weight after eating nothing but meals from a high-end chain for 25 days New York Post
- Man loses weight eating nothing but a certain food for 25 days — and paid a price Fox News
- New Jersey man’s pizza comeback after 25-day Sweetgreen diet leaves him feeling sick, he says Washington Times
- Man eats only Sweetgreen for 25 days in modern-day 'Super Size Me' test Yahoo
- New Jersey Man Loses Nine Pounds After 25 Day Fast Casual Diet SuaraGarut.ID
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