Gone are the days of the hard-to-stick-to, the farfetched and the downright dangerous diets (how did the Cotton Ball diet become a thing?!) — today, the argument for a more relaxed approach to eating has seen a dismantling of diet culture. Right now everybody’s throwing caution to the wind with the new form of culinary inspiration: the anti-diet book. Packed with scientific information, compelling stories and plenty of myth-busting, anti-diet books are encouraging us to ignore everything we already know about wellness and health and learn something new. Essentially, that it’s time we all started enjoying food again. Hear hear.
Gene Eating
by Giles Yeo
Dr Yeo delves into the science of weight and obesity as he debunks everything we thought we knew about diets and dieting. Come for the facts, stay for Yeo’s self-deprecating humour.
Key Takeout: Genetics play a far greater role in our weight than you would think.
Just Eat It
by Laura Thomas
Registered nutritionist Laura Thomas PhD throws off the shackles of restrictive dieting and punishing exercise in favour of intuitive eating.
Key Takeout: We need to rely on our natural hunger and fullness cues, and learn how to distinguish between physical and emotional hunger.
The No Need To Diet Book
by Pixie Turner
Turner encourages us to become a ‘diet rebel’ in this frank exposé of all the things we still get wrong about food and health — challenging misconceptions on everything from orthorexia to emotional eating.
Key Takeout: We can cater to and understand eating disorders if we destigmatise and normalise the issue.
Eat It Anyway
by Eve Simmons & Laura Dennison
Eat it Anyway brings in experts to quash myths and provide an unbiased exploration of food — all alongside some seriously delicious recipes from prominent names in the food industry.
Key Takeout: We need to view food as the epicentre of an enjoyable life, one that brings people together and creates memories.
The F*ck It Diet: Eating Should Be Easy
by Caroline Dooner
With a unique, no-nonsense voice, Caroline Dooner — a former raw vegan and yo-yo dieter — dishes out all the truths alongside a hefty dollop of humour and even some self-care tools that can be carried out at home.
Key Takeout: Our bodies are actually hardwired against dieting, and diets actually make us even more fixated on food.
Is Butter a Carb?
by Helen West and Rosie Saunt
Registered dietitians and founders of The Rooted Project, Rosie Saunt and Helen West, tackle common misunderstandings as they explore the latest links between diet culture and weight stigma.
Key Takeout: Gut health is a key component when it comes to healthy, natural weight loss.
