TWITTER literally went nuts when a TV chef's bizarre diet plan involving "activated almonds" which was published in a Melbourne newspaper, went viral.

Chef and My Kitchen Rules judge Pete Evans became the butt of hundreds of Twitter jokes for his 'My Day on a Plate' food diary in yesterday's Sunday Age magazine, in which he claimed to start the day with "alkalised water" and "sprouted millet".

media_camera The full Pete Evans 'Day on a Plate' column. Picture: Facebook

"7am: Two glasses of alkalised water with apple cider vinegar, then a smoothie of alkalised water, organic spirulina, activated almonds, maca, blueberries, stevia, coconut keffir and two organic, free-range eggs," Evans wrote.

An increasingly pretentious list of ingredients followed, including "sorghum", "chia and buckwheat bread" and "cacao nibs", but it was Evans' mention of "activated almonds" that really captured the imagination of the Twittersphere, with the hashtag #activatedalmonds quickly becoming a trending topic.

"Has anyone thought of ASKING the almonds if they'd like to be activated first? #activatedalmonds," tweeted @fuddlemark.

"Went to eat a snack but my almonds are just sitting there, lifeless. What to do now? #activatedalmonds," tweeted @jendudley.

" 'Activating your almonds' - Aussie slang for being a wanker #activatedalmonds," tweeted @thecyclingcook.

Activated almonds are raw almonds soaked in water.

Evans' mention of "cultured vegetables" was also turned into a source of amusement, as Twitter users debated what they actually were.

"You can tell a cultured vegetable because they talk proper," tweeted @ThatEmilyLady.

"While my almonds were being activated I took my vegies to the ballet to ensure they're cultured," tweeted @bturbott.

Many Twitterers retweeted the column to Weight Watchers, for which Evans is a brand ambassador, complaining his diet plan was expensive and near impossible to follow.

Meanwhile Evans' Wikipedia page was altered, describing him as "an Australian chef, author, television personality and proud owner of activated almonds.".

This morning an angry Evans took to Facebook to defend his diet choices.

"I'm occasionally ridiculed because I choose to eat a nutrient dense diet, and I find it so bizarre as to why people sometimes find my food choice's so offensive," he wrote.

"All I know is that I'm well aware of the consequences of eating 'dead' food, and also I'm a father, and I take that privilege very seriously, so for me striving for optimum health whenever I can so that I can be a responsible role model for my daughters, and still be able to surf right up until the end, is the obvious choice for me."

PETE EVANS' - MY DAY ON A PLATE

7am: Two glasses of alkalised water with apple cider vinegar, then a smoothie of alkalised water, organic spirulina, activated almonds, maca, blueberries, stevia, coconut keffir and two organic, free-range eggs.

8.30am: Sprouted millet, sorghum, chia and buckwheat bread with liver pate, avocado, cultured vegetables plus ginger and liquorice root tea.

12.30pm: Fresh fish, sauteed kale and broccoli, spinach and avocado salad, cultured vegies.

3pm: Activated almonds, coconut chips, cacao nibs, plus green tea.

6.30pm: Emu meatballs, sauteed vegetables, cultured vegetables plus a cup of ginger and liquorice root tea.

Petra Starke is the National Social Media Reporter

Originally published as Activated almonds lights up Twitter