What Do People Usually Eat During Intermittent Fasting?

If you've been even slightly curious about trying intermittent fasting, you've probably wondered the obvious, "So, what do people actually eat during it?"
We get it. You've seen reels with kale smoothies and those very intimidating “meal preps” with 500 containers and zero joy. But real people? They're out here trying to balance fasting with full-time jobs, mood swings, chai cravings, and Sunday brunches with their nani. So let’s talk about that.
This blog isn’t a how-to guide or a lecture. Just a casual look at what most people say they eat when they follow an intermittent fasting schedule, along with what some doctors and nutritionists usually suggest
First, Let’s Clear the Air: What Is Intermittent Fasting?
You’ve probably heard about the 16:8 method, where people fast for 16 hours and eat during an 8-hour window. Or maybe you've read about alternate-day fasting or 5:2 schedules. There are many kinds, but the idea is the same: you don’t eat all the time, you eat during specific windows.
And during those eating windows, no, people don’t eat celery sticks and sadness. They eat real food. Let’s look at what kind.