Summer Reading

Are you looking for a book on the latest diets and lifestyles?  They are a dime a dozen, packed full of food philosophies and celebrity testimonials.  Which one will be on your summer reading list? There are so many…which one is the best one?  A few members of the American Dietetic Association reviewed 18 of the latest diet and lifestyle books.  The dietitians gave advice for the best picks based on the science, ability to use the information in practical ways and the lifestyle you are trying to achieve. 

HERE IS MY TAKE ON THE BOOKS THEY REVIEWED:

• NOT SO FAST, these books may not be so helpful …for various reasons: Turn the page at your own risk!

The 4 Day Diet! …you will be missing some key nutrients.

Eat this not that for kids: Be the leanest, fittest family on the block …a book full of colorful photo’s and was said to be fun…the science is even sound,  however, what’s not clear is how some foods made it on the “Eat This” list.

Never Say Diet: Make 5 Decisions and Break the Fat Habit for Good…there’s some questionable advice about indulging once a week in what reads like the Adkins diet plan.  It’s long on motivation…and short on nutrition information.

La Dieta Del Gordo…Obesity is being blamed on carbohydrate foods. COME  On people…Let’s NOT make villains of the carbohydrates again.

There is a good amount of personal experiences in this book and the meals suggested need improvement for nutritional content.

The NO CRAVE Diet: Lose Weight by conquering your cravings…Not recommended!

T.O.”s Finding Fitness: Making the Mind, Body and Spirit connection for total health…there are some helpful nutrition messages…but it is basically a workout guide.

GOOD Calories, Bad calories: fats, carbs, and the controversial science of diet and health…don’t worry about fat…the book says…focus on eliminating refined carbohydrates and sugar…however there aren’t any meal plans provided…but you can eat protein and non-starchy vegetables…starting to sound like Adkins again.

The Hot Latin Diet: The Fast Track plan to a Bombshell body…the reviewer states …“as far as the diet plan, it is very similar to other fad diets, only with a Latin twist.”

• GOOD BUT, Specific… these are books that are specific to certain populations depending on lifestyle or dietary restrictions to control disease.

One bite at a time: nourishing recipes for cancer survivors and their friends, 2^nd edition. The reviewer says that if you have the 1^st edition you need NOT purchases the 2^nd.  But if you are looking for your first book on the subject or you need to provide guidance for a caretaker or friend looking to be helpful…it’s a good choice.

Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven: A gusty guide to becoming one hot (and healthy) Mother: This one is for women wanting to maintain a vegan diet during pregnancy…but beware, it has some rough language.

The Flexitarian Diet: The Mostly Vegetarian way to lose weight, be healthier, prevent disease, and add years to your life…The title explains it all.

The Engine 2 diet: The Texas Firefighter’s 28-day save-your-life plan that lowers cholesterol and burns away the pounds…This is a vegan diet…and will be helpful if you’re looking to progress your diet to the vegan lifestyle.

• O.K and BETTER YET’s…

FLAT BELLY DIET…it’s based on the Mediterranean diet….just repackaged.

The Complete Beck Diet for Life …more about behavior modification…but could be a good choice if you need help with accountability.

The Best Life Diet Cookbook… It is a cookbook…and it has, what the reviewer calls…”widely accepted and researched strategies for weight management.”

The Sneaky Chef: How to cheat on your man (in the kitchen)… purees and juices fortify foods to give them a nutrient boost…and you can’t taste the difference. It is another cookbook…and can be used for the picky eaters in your house.  But let’s not give up on feeding our loved ones whole fruits and vegetables.

The most comprehensive book yet is …THE DIET SELECTOR: From Atkins to Zone, more than 50 ways to help you find the best find for you…this book evaluates 75 of the most popular, time tested weight loss and health plans…it could be helpful in finding the type of meal plan that may work best for you.

I support the Non-Diet approach to a healthy lifestyle. However, I know there are people that need a jump start…a reference point!  AND FOR YOU…one of these books may give you the start you’ve been looking for.  Good Luck!

Le Greta