# Tell them they're doing a staple wrong

A food and nutrition format, measured November 8, 2026 by Volume. https://tryvolume.app/working/food-and-nutrition/tell-them-they-re-doing-a-staple-wrong

Open by calling out a common mistake or default way of using a food, then show your better way. It worked for 8 accounts, with a median of 12x their usual reach. Type: Angle. Seen as: Voiceover, Video, Talking head.

## Why it works

A contrarian opener makes viewers check their own habit. The fix lands as an immediate benefit.

## How to make it

1. Name the exact mistake (time, temperature or use)
2. Say 'stop doing that'
3. Show the fix with the result

## Hook formula

STOP using [ingredient] as [common use]... try this instead.

## Examples

- @ainttooproudtomeg (848K followers, Instagram voiceover): 25x their usual views. Hook: “The Best Tool for Cutting Cheese Isn't a Knife” [Original post](https://www.instagram.com/p/De91AiNujgU/)
- @ashleyelsenpeter (7K followers, TikTok talking head): 30x their usual views. Hook: “Tips for the best choc chip cookies” [Original post](https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleyelsenpeter/video/7698576331969285389)
- @detoxinista (408K followers, Instagram video): 11x their usual views. Hook: “STOP using spaghetti squash as a pasta substitute....” [Original post](https://www.instagram.com/p/DehNY-KB4SC/)
- @bellyfull.net (1.2M followers, TikTok talking head): 12x their usual views. Hook: “If you're someone who usually bakes chicken breast at 350 degrees for 1 hour with a couple seasonings, stop doing that.” [Original post](https://www.tiktok.com/@bellyfull.net/video/7695070892790926622)
- @sweetfixbaker (22K followers, Instagram video): 14x their usual views. Hook: “Stop using simple syrup.” [Original post](https://www.instagram.com/p/DewQqqnxQF6/)
- @the.sourdough.girl (50K followers, Instagram video): 11x their usual views. Hook: “Please STOP feeding your sourdough starter 1/2 cup flour & 1/2 cup water” [Original post](https://www.instagram.com/p/De3MimHTsTQ/)
- @andreabuckettcooks (630K followers, Instagram talking head): 3.4x their usual views. Hook: “YOU'VE BEEN EATING BEANS ALL WRONG” [Original post](https://www.instagram.com/p/DehqfM0CqV6/)
- @sofia_hrdz (275K followers, TikTok talking head): 2.6x their usual views. Hook: “The BEST vanilla iced latte, easy at-home recipe” [Original post](https://www.tiktok.com/@sofia_hrdz/video/7693312158284778783)

More food and nutrition formats: https://tryvolume.app/working/food-and-nutrition.md

## Get the full library

The full library has every post, format and hook in food and nutrition, plus long-running Meta ads, and your AI agent can search it over MCP. The library comes with Volume Core and Pro, from $29.99 a month, and every plan starts with a 3-day free trial. Start a free trial: https://tryvolume.app/library

Agents: add Volume's MCP server (https://app.tryvolume.app/api/mcp) and call `search_library(shelf: "formats", niche: "Food and nutrition")` for every format, `search_library(shelf: "posts", niche: "Food and nutrition")` for examples with transcripts and scripts.

## How this is measured

- Every post is compared with its own account's usual reach, not with other accounts. "14x their usual" means the post got 14 times the median views of that account's recent posts.
- TikTok videos and Instagram Reels are measured on views. Instagram carousels have no view count, so they are measured on likes against the account's usual likes, and say so.
- A post makes the library at 2x its account's usual or more. A format is a repeatable move (what is said or shown, or how it is edited) that several accounts used in breakout posts. It is listed here once it worked for 3 or more different accounts.
- Formats rank on how many accounts they worked for and how far above usual, damped so a fluke on one tiny account cannot outrank a format that worked for ten.

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