The word “diet” is thrown around whenever people talk about losing weight these days. Professional models say they are “on a diet” every time they are asked how they manage to remain thin. It’s no surprise that many people associate it with restrictive eating habits and uninteresting foods.
In reality, the word diet means either of two things. It is the general term used to mean a specific course of food- -e.g. a balanced diet or a vegetarian diet. The second meaning is health-inspired- -cuisines that are not only tasty but also healthy.
Most people admit they would consider healthy cuisines if they were also tasty. If you also feel the same, we’ve compiled 5 of the best diet books you should read this year.
#1: Eat to Live
Joel Fuhram doesn’t believe in a miraculous way to lose weight. In his book Eat to Live, the accomplished dietician details how anyone can lose 20 or more pounds using simple techniques. You are not pressured to eat less or consume what you don’t want to.
Fuhram recommends foods that are low on carbs, sugar, and oils and high in vegetables. He asks readers to forego meat and dairy products for six or more weeks and instead invest in vegetables and legumes. In Eat to Live, you can eat as many cooked green vegetables, fruits, and legumes as you want.
What you may not eat as you want is starchy foods like potatoes and cereals. A few fruit types like avocados, dried fruits and nuts should be limited to an ounce per day. With no protein for more than a month, Eat to Live requires a medium level of effort. However, the diet also works.
Practical Paleo
The Paleo diet is modeled after foods we believe human hunters and gatherers survived on thousands of years ago. We may not know exactly what our ancestors ate, but researchers believe they ate a lot of wholesome foods.
The Practical Paleo diet is a New York bestseller written by Dianne Sanfilippo. With 480 pages, at least two editions and thousands of great 5—star reviews online, the book is dubbed the Paleo Bible by many.
The book talks about why and how to approach a Paleo diet. It has 14 personalized meals for achieving different goals and over 150 recipes. Athletes can find guides on how to achieve top performance by following the Paleo guide. Those who want to lose weight have their own guides. Almost everything you can achieve by going on a diet is addressed but from the angle of consuming Paleo diets.
Ikaria: Lessons on Food
Ikaria is a Greek Island “Where people forget to die,” a phrase included in the book’s title. So, why do people forget to die? Diane Kochilas, the book’s author, claims it’s because the people there live a stress-free life punctuated with great Mediterranean diets, wine, and frequent sex.
The book lists great recipes that promise delicious yet healthy meals. It goes on and shows you how to imitate the lifestyles lived by people in Ikaria- -that is if you also want a stress-free happy life. The book is one of many Mediterranean-inspired diet books that are highly successful around the world. Others include ‘A Delicious Alternative’ and ‘The Mediterranean Table.’
Mediterranean cuisines include diets from Italy, northern Africa, Spain and regions of Southwest Asia. They, therefore, represent a wide array of foods, some that resemble the Paleo diets. Find a good Mediterranean diet book here and review of more bestselling Mediterranean cuisines.
French Women don’t get Fat
The title is attention-grabbing and a little bit generalized, but it’s worth reading. French Women don’t get fat by Mireille Guiliano isn’t a cookbook per se. It’s a guide that juxtaposes the everyday life of a French woman versus that of an American woman.
In the book, Mireille gives her reasons why French women don’t get Fat by listing the foods they eat and their lifestyles. She continues to describe her country’s women, how they walk longer, eat healthier and live a stress-free life.
Unlike many diet books, Mireille’s book is loved and hated by many. Not everyone agrees with her recipe choices or her generalization of French women. Most American women definitely don’t like some content of the book. If you have time, have a go at the book and judge whether it’s worth the hype.
Gluten-Free Girl every day
Named as one of New York Times’ bestseller books in 2010, Gluten-free features is designed for all the busy out there. If you live a Gluten-free life but you can’t seem to find delicious, healthy cuisines, the book is meant for you.
The author, Shaunna James Ahern, is married to a chef- -and together they had a similar book in 2010. Gluten Free Girl Everyday takes on where her first book (Gluten-free Girl and the chef) left. Shaunna shares her favorite recipes outlined for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Substitute Yourself Skinny
In spite of what the book’s title says, Substitute yourself Skinny doesn’t exactly want you to be skinny. It’s a book about being healthy as guided by Chef Susan Irby. The chef’s method of becoming healthy by slashing your calorie consumption over an extended period of time.
Irby features 175 recipes she believes will keep you satisfied and keep you healthy. Unlike Eat to Live, the book doesn’t ask you to give up proteins or starch for any period of time. She instead offers her recipes and explains how they can help you save on calorie consumption.
For instance, she recommends Monterey Chicken pasta that’s not ridden with sugary sauce to save up to 345 calories. Her guide to eating chocolate cake saves you up to 260 calories. Substituting yourself skinny is a fun, helpful guide you should consider reading.
To Conclude
Going on a diet no longer means starving yourself and living off steamed vegetables alone. It doesn’t mean giving up all your favorite foods. As the featured books show, you can be on a diet and still favor all your favorite dishes. There will be some exceptions though if you want to stay healthy. Simply, find some of the books and try out the recommended recipes.
