Looking to slim down? You might be tempted to try the storied Baby Food Diet. While it’s been around for decades, the diet—which literally involves eating food meant for an infant—creeps back into headlines every few years as new celebrities endorse it.

Proponents say the diet tackles two of the biggest weight-loss challenges: caloric intake and portion control. But can an adult human really survive on baby food without vomiting? Cleo Stiller breaks down the science and offers a verdict—spit, or swallow?