The wine and egg diet was a 1970s crash diet built around eggs, steak, black coffee and a bottle of dry white wine a day. It's very low in nutrients and its alcohol content is well over UK guidelines, so it's one to read about, not try.
The quick version
- The diet is widely reported to have first appeared in Vogue in 1977.
- It allowed eggs, steak, black coffee and a full bottle of wine a day. Nothing else.
- A bottle of wine is around 10 units, so that's roughly five times the UK weekly limit every week.
- No fruit, veg or wholegrains means very little fibre and a narrow range of vitamins and minerals.
- Steady, balanced habits beat any crash diet in the long run.
What Was the Wine and Egg Diet?
The diet is widely reported to have first appeared in Vogue in 1977, promising fast weight loss with very little effort. The plan was short and strict:
- Breakfast: one egg, a glass of dry white wine and black coffee.
- Lunch: two eggs, two glasses of dry white wine and black coffee.
- Dinner: a steak, the rest of the bottle of wine and black coffee.
That's it. No fruit, no vegetables, no grains and no snacks.
Why Did It Catch On?
It was simple, it was glamorous and it included wine. Very few rules, a fast result on the scales and a glossy magazine behind it made it easy to sell. Any quick weight loss on a plan like this mostly comes from eating very little, not from anything special about eggs or wine.
Thinking about your own routine? Rather than cutting whole food groups, start with what your body needs. Take our 2-minute quiz for a personalised plan built around your diet and lifestyle.
Why It's Best Left in the Past
- Far too much alcohol: the NHS says a 750ml bottle of 13.5% wine contains 10 units, and advises no more than 14 units a week, spread over 3 or more days (NHS, 2024). A bottle a day is around 70 units a week.
- Missing whole food groups: the NHS Eatwell Guide recommends at least five portions of fruit and veg a day and higher-fibre starchy foods (NHS, 2022). This diet includes none of them.
- Low in fibre: without plants or wholegrains, there's almost no fibre at all.
- Hard to stick to: eating the same three things every day isn't realistic, sociable or enjoyable, so any weight lost is likely to come back.
If you're worried about how much you're drinking, speak to your GP. They can offer confidential support.
What Works Better
- Balance: build meals around veg, fruit, wholegrains, protein and healthy fats.
- Consistency: small habits you can keep going matter more than a dramatic two-week plan.
- Drink less: alcohol adds calories and can get in the way of your goals. Read how alcohol is getting in the way of your weight loss goals and its wider effects on your body.
- Be wary of fads: new versions pop up all the time. Here's our take on a modern one, the sardine fast.
The Bottom Line
The wine and egg diet is a fun bit of diet history, but it's low in nutrients and far too high in alcohol. If a plan sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Want support that actually fits your life? Take the ALYVE quiz to get your personalised plan, or book a call with one of our nutritionists.
References
NHS (2022) The Eatwell Guide. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-guidelines-and-food-labels/the-eatwell-guide/
NHS (2024) Alcohol units. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/calculating-alcohol-units/
