This Is What You're Really Hungry For: Six Simple Rules to Transform Your Relationship with Food to Become Your Healthiest Self

by Kim Shapira, Kaley Cuoco (Foreword)

Quit your on-again, off-again relationship with dieting for good—and become healthier and happier than ever.

You've tried to eat only vegetables. You've tried to eat only meat. You've gone gluten-free, dairy-free, satisfaction-free—but you shouldn't have to. In fact, you don't have to. 

It’s time to stop restricting yourself and learn to make your relationship with food healthy—without forcing yourself to eat "healthy."

Dietitian Kim Shapira has developed six simple rules that will change your relationship with food forever. In This Is What You’re Really Hungry For, she breaks down the science to get your brain and your body on board; replaces fad diets that do not last with a sustainable method that encourages you to eat what you love; and empowers you to be the authority in your own body.

Kim’s refreshing approach will help

Lose weight—or maintain your current weightResolve blood pressure issuesImprove your energy levelsReframe your beliefs about food and why you eatIdentify foods that don’t love you backManage your emotions in authentic, healthy ways
Food should be a source of joy and nourishment in your life—not stress—and This Is What You’re Really Hungry For will help you get there. Featuring a foreword by Kaley Cuoco, this will be the last “diet” book you ever need—without ever asking you to go on a diet.

Genres: Health

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 25, 2023

Reviews

[Ratchet child · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Perfect for me! But the advice definitely assumes you want to loose weight (I do) but the title says it’s about having a better relationship with food. You can still use the steps, but the book constantly mentions that you will loose weight, assuming that your an over eater.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Somehow, this never came together for me. I appreciated the message and that it really comes down to mindfulness. But it felt a bit too pat and easy and I'm not sure how much was truly relevant to each person's particular situation.

At its heart, it is about following 6 rules: Eat when hungry, Eat what you love, Eat without distractions, Take 10,000 steps each day, Drink 8 cups of water a day, and Get seven hours of sleep. The author goes into details about each of those rules and why they are important when it comes to creating a healthy relationship with food. As such, it isn't a diet book; indeed, if you love Lucky Charms for breakfast, the author encourages you to continue eating them. Just understand if you are eating them to satiate hunger - or just mindlessly filling your mouth.

The author gives many examples from her practice of patients and the reasons why they had unhealthy relationships - and how she addressed them. Whether it was grazing, force of habit, eating to forget emotional reasons, it all focused on finding the root of the issue. As such, a lot of the book is exploration of emotional and well being issues (hence the focus on sleep). Too much of it read like a help book on self love or an excise in mindfulness. This made it feel very nebulous and hard to find a grounding on what to do (even with the somewhat concrete rules).

I think in the end I was finding the idea of eating whatever I want being problematic. The author uses the Lucky Charms cereal example as a way of illustrating that it can be easy to get a food hangup if you are putting labels such as 'evil' on food. But at the same time, there are just so many addictive aspects of processed food that I don't feel is addressed here - such as the cravings and lack of satiety from processed food that will leave someone hungry sooner and stronger only a few hours after eating. There really needed to be a whole section on why we are so addicted to ultraprocessed food.

The book is definitely about removing the triggers surrounding fat, diet and calories (and macronutrients such as fat and carbs). But I can't help but feel this addresses one problem but at the expense of another: eating those Lucky Charms is not going to end well, even if you have a healthier relationship with food. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Hanadi Alnawwab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not another diet book telling us what to eat, when to eat, or what to count (calories, protein, etc.). Instead, it offers a framework for developing a healthier, more trusting relationship with food. Shapira blends science, psychology, and compassionate coaching to create a sustainable approach that feels both practical and empowering. It’s certainly not a “one-and-done” read. Much like a textbook for a new subject, it invites ongoing study, reflection, and practice. Each rule is grounded in science (for those of us who want scientific facts!) yet also made accessible through real-life application. While the rules may sound simple at first, putting them into practice requires patience, consistency, and self-reflection.

I began with the audiobook, which was perfect for listening while driving. But I soon realized I wanted to highlight, underline, and jot down my own notes, so I picked up the hard copy as well. One of the things I appreciate most is that Kim is active on social media and genuinely approachable, try asking her a question on her “ask me anything Fridays” … which makes the journey feel that much more supportive!

[Marla Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

“This is What You’re Really Hungry For: Six Simple Rules to Transform Your Relationship with Food to Become Your Healthiest Self.” This book single handedly changed my life. The six simple rules make permanent lifestyle habits stick. They are not complicated and Kim breaks them down in a way that is attainable. My relationship with food has changed completely and I only eat when I am hungry and stop when I am full. I have emphasized sleep, movement and mindfulness when eating and I have dropped my scarcity mindset around food. In the last 16 months, I have lost 45 pounds.I bought the book on audio as well and follow along in the book as I enjoy the authors voice and gentle tone. I also have done one on ones with Kim as well as been involved in groups and resets that she offers often. I cant say enough, I now know what foods love me and those that dont love me back.
Thank you Kim for changing my life.

[Chinitafuriosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The formula seems simple 6 rules: eat when you are hungry, eat what you love, eat without distractions, take 10,000 steps each day (no really, take 10,000 steps a day), drink 8 cups of water a day, and get seven hours of sleep. What I like about this book is that the Author fully acknowledges the types of barriers that people face in achieving these things- but I think the most important thing is that the book isn't really about dieting as much as it is about being your best self

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest bias free review

[Brenda Squiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love learning new information for my kids and I. I have been able to show them pages of information about changing their coffee dates to walking and coffee dates, keep moving and counting their steps while they are away at Universities. It's been a very fast and easy read for me. I also finished the bulk of the book in one sitting, which is great, too. Now I can start to make better choices and feel great about it.

[Evelyn Cresswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed this wellness book. Kim gave some great educational topics, and explaining the science behind it. The book was easy to understand, and created a lot of food for thought (no pun intended). She goes into why diets don’t work, and how we can change our eating habits to better our health. Audible read for me!