"Foodist" book review
Image source: Foodist.com
I just finished "Foodist" by Darya Pino Rose, Ph.D.
I stumbled upon it while looking for a new audiobook to check out from the library. (I like to listen to audiobooks on my walks.)
Ever since I stopped counting calories and embraced mindful eating, I've been struggling to figure out how to eat, and hoped this book might provide some insights.
This is the anti-diet diet book. It approaches diet from a mental standpoint, addressing how you think about food rather than some magic formula involving calories/protein/fiber/gluten/vegetarianism/juice-fasting/etc. THANK YOU.
It also had some very practical "how-to" advice surrounding shopping for and preparing food. I can definitely see the value if you're someone whose diet consists mostly of restaurant and packaged foods, you'd like to start eating whole foods and you aren't sure how to start. As someone who already prepares most of my meals at home, this was less helpful for me.
Here are some points the book makes that I found interesting/especially important:
- Processed food is bad. You know this.
- We eat more sugar in a week than people in the 1800s ate in a year. Whoa. This blew me away. Those darn processed foods, man.
- Real, wholesome food is delicious.
- If you have a consistent diet of whole foods, you can re-calibrate your metabolism and eventually lower your base weight (the weight your body naturally returns to after your holiday weight gain and after your gung-ho diet phase). This is huge news for me.
- Buying local produce from a farmers' market gives you a more personal attachment to the food since you've met the farmer, and therefore you are more likely to have more gratitude and care with it. Totally makes sense, which is why I'll now be frequenting the farmers' market.
- If you have an unhealthy food habit, identify and isolate the real issue (it's probably not the food). If it truly is a food craving, stock your kitchen with a suitable healthy replacement (such as fruit for sweets).
- Foodists appreciate food. They indulge themselves, but only on the really good stuff. (A legit cupcake made from quality ingredients rather than a packaged cupcake.) This is something I've realized recently. Ever since I gave myself permission to eat whatever I want, I don't want the packaged cupcake. I want the real deal. And even though the real deal consists of sugar and butter, it's probably better to eat sugar and butter than chemicals from a factory.
- If you're struggling with mindful eating, try the following: Set your fork down between each bite; Don't start prepping your next bite when you're still chewing. I've been doing this since I read it, and I definitely eat slower and with more intention.
- If you're struggling with giving up packaged foods, do some research. Watch "Food, Inc." If you don't look at food differently, I don't know what to tell you.
Overall I'd say it was a good read. (Well, in my case, a good listen.) I wouldn't say I've figured out my ideal non-diet diet — I'm still exploring this area. However, I did learn a few things that are helping me on my food journey.
Do you have any non-diet diet books you've enjoyed? I have a couple on my must-read list, but I'm looking for others!