10 Non-Diet Books That Inspire
Here are 10 non-diet books that inspire. Whether you want to shift away from diet culture, learn more about intuitive eating, or enjoy a cookbook without diet language, I have you covered!
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Disclosure: Some of the links below are Amazon affiliate links. This means that at no additional cost to you if you click through and make a purchase I will earn a commission.
It seems that both social media and traditional media are finally talking more about the benefits of ditching diet culture and diets. That said, these non-diet posts and articles are still a minority in our diet and body-focused world.
This time of year diet culture is especially prevalent: from talks of “quitting sugar” to “resets” to “pantry overhauls.” To help remind you of the many benefits of ditching diet culture, I have rounded up 10 of my favorite non-diet books. I hope that maybe one of them will intrigue you to learn more too.
10 Non-Diet Books That Inspire
1. The Original Intuitive Eating Book
by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch
If you want to really dig into intuitive eating, look no further than the original source. Currently in its 4th edition, this is the book that revolutionized the idea of ditching dieting and instead improving your relationship with food and your body.
2. Intuitive Eating for Every Day
by Evelyn Tribole
If you want everyday intuitive eating inspiration and guidance, this is the book for you. This book also makes a great gift to someone new to intuitive eating.
Just as the sun nourishes plants to grow and bloom, Food turns into my body, Into living cells, living tissue, living organs. May I be in awe and appreciation of the transformation of food into body!
Meal meditation excerpt from “Intuitive Eating for Every Day”, Day 341, Nourishment is Transformation
3. Raising Kids to be Intuitive Eaters
How to Raise an Intuitive Eater
by Sumner Brooks and Amee Severson
An essential read for all parents, this book guides you through the process of raising kids with positive food and body relationships. With evidence-based information and real-life examples, you will get the facts and tools you need to parent in the era of diet culture.
4. Challenging the Current Beauty and Body Standards
by Lindsey Kite and Lexie Kite
This book is a must-read for teens and adults alike as it challenges the idea that a woman’s health, happiness, and lovability, are directly correlated with how she looks. It offers a step-by-step guide on how to dismantle self-objectification and develop a positive body image.
5. Understanding the Anti-Diet Movement
Anti-Diet: Reclaim Your Time, Money, Well-Being, and Happiness Through Intuitive Eating
by Christy Harrison
This book will forever change the way you view diet culture and the diet and wellness industry. It examines the history of dieting and is filled with well-researched science. Another must-read in my opinion!
To your body, diets (or “lifestyle changes,” or “eating plans,” or whatever they call themselves now) feel like famine. Even the most seemingly gentle diet pulls the pendulum to the side of restriction. When that happens, your body’s natural response is to push the pendulum back to the other side–to eating a lot, feeling out of control with food, even bingeing.
Anti-Diet excerpt, Chapter 3, How DIet Culture Steals Your Time, page 95
6. Examining the Oppressive Roots Behind our Views on Body Image
by Sonya Renee Taylor
This New York Times bestseller explains how radical self-love is the key to healing the wounds inflicted by our violent and oppressive systems. This book will change the way you view our current society and inspire you to make changes for both yourself and all those around you. Moreover, it’s a page-turner that will have you hooked from page one.
7. A Guide to Food Freedom
by Alissa Rumsey
Have you ever dieted or tried to somehow change your body so that it’s more socially acceptable? If so, this gem of a book provides a guide to help you make peace with food, trust your intuition, improve your body image, and finally eat and live without apologies.
Most of the differences we see in health outcomes between people in smaller bodies and larger bodies likely have to do with weight stigma, rather than weight itself.
Unapologetic Eating excerpt, Chapter 3: The Truth About Health, Nutrition, and Weight, page 71
8. Body Image and Boys
Being You – The Body Image Book for Boys
by Charlotte Markey, Daniel Hart, and Douglas N. Zacher
While there is a lot of focus on girls and body image struggles, the truth is boys are struggling too. Many boys have unhealthy behaviors such as a preoccupation with “bulking” or restricting carbs. Overall, rates of eating disorders among boys are on the rise. This book is written for preteen and early teen boys to help them develop a positive body image.
9. Gentle Nutrition in Practice
by Rachel Hartley
This is a great little book that focuses on the 10th principle of intuitive eating: Gentle Nutrition. Rachel provides practical, non-diet nutrition information along with simple, satisfying recipes complete with beautiful photos.
10. A Cookbook with the Non-Diet Mentality
Simply Julia: 110 Easy Recipes for Healthy Comfort Food
by Julia Turshen
One of my current go-to cookbooks, this gem has a little something for everyone–from vegetarians to meat lovers to bakers. Julia is a lovable author who in this book also writes about her struggles with weight and body image.
Closing Words
I hope you feel inspired to check out one or more of these amazing books. As a reminder, I also have a non-diet breakfast e-book that is perfect for everyday breakfast or snack inspiration. In addition, I will soon be coming out with a fika e-book. The goal of this book is to inspire you to indulge in the daily Swedish habit of fika. Fika is the act of taking a mindful coffee and snack break. (Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter and be the first to know when it’s available!)
Other Posts You Might Like
- What are the Factors of Good Health?
- How to Have Respect for Your Body and Improve Your Body Image
- Intuitive Eating for Teens
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