Thursday, February 13, 2025, 9:20PM |  34°
MENU
Advertisement
Dr. Sanford Siegal and his son Matthew founded a company to produce his diet cookies.
1
MORE

Doctor didn't imagine how diet would catch on

Doctor didn't imagine how diet would catch on

When Sanford Siegal was growing up in Squirrel Hill, the idea of one day being known as "the Cookie Doctor" might have seemed kind of crazy.

But then, the idea of losing weight by consuming cookies would, too.

An alumnus of Allderdice High School who attended Duquesne University for a short while before graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Siegal attended medical school at Iowa University and eventually set up practice in the Miami area.

Advertisement

He said he was surprised to see so many overweight patients in his practice, which began in 1957. Many also had thyroid problems, and to help them drop weight quickly, he created his meal-replacement plan.

"We couldn't begin to attack their real problems until we attacked their weight problems," said Dr. Siegal, 81.

He acknowledges that although the cookie diet is simple, it takes commitment. Anyone stopping before reaching his or her goal weight runs the risk of backsliding.

"I suspect it [the diet] is not for everybody, but there's hardly anything in this world that is for everybody."

Advertisement

His cookies -- there are other products as well but the cookies are the big seller -- come in a variety of flavors, including oatmeal raisin and chocolate. They are sold in GNC stores, at kiosks in malls, and some retail outlets.

Dr. Siegal said he's amused that there is a Cookie Diet store around the block from Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles.

"That's where we see the celebrity customers, although they don't always go there themselves. It's sort of interesting: the paparazzi patrol up and down the street. They want to know who is visiting the plastic surgeons, who's buying our diet cookies."

First Published: December 28, 2009, 10:00 a.m.

RELATED
Comments Disabled For This Story
Partners
Advertisement
A cutout batter sits in the bullpen at Pirate City, the spring training facility of the Pittsburgh Pirates, during a spring training baseball workout in Bradenton, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015.
1
sports
Joe Starkey: Bad news Pirates outdid themselves on Day 1
The administration of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro -- shown last week delivering the annual budget address -- on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration over the freeze of federal funding. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
2
news
Gov. Shapiro and Pa. agencies sue federal government over Trump administration funding freeze
Hockey legend Mario Lemieux hands Canada forward Sidney Crosby a commemorative banner prior to the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey action against Sweden in Montreal, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.
3
sports
Jason Mackey: Fenway Sports Group's tepid relationship with Mario Lemieux must improve
A customer picks up a dozen eggs to buy  in a Giant grocery store in McLean, Va. on Jan. 28, 2025.
4
news
These grocery stores around Pittsburgh have put purchase limits on eggs
Salem’s Market beat out three other finalists in 2021 for the right to operate the Hill District store.
5
business
Hill District Salem's Market halting operations one year after opening
Dr. Sanford Siegal and his son Matthew founded a company to produce his diet cookies.
Advertisement
LATEST life
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story