The (Good) Food Solution: A Shame-Free Nutritional Journey to Food Freedom, Spiritual Nourishment, and Whole-Body Health

by Meredyth Fletcher

Get to know your body by discovering how good food can be!God gave you one physical body so you can live, move, and breathe, and He gave you a vital resource to fuel it––food. But because of damaging diet culture and pervasive body-shaming messages, it can be hard to have a relaxing, enjoyable relationship with food. Nutritionist Meredyth Fletcher believes that your perspective on food is directly impacted by your view of God, and in The (Good) Food Solution, she will help you shift any distorted perceptions on food to see it as a gift from God to nourish your body, rather than a burden.This journey isn’t about trying the next fad diet or seeking a quick fix—it’s about finding the right balance for you. Drawing from personal stories and current research, Meredyth provides the tools you need an in-depth look at your emotions to uncover why you hold on to negative narratives about food;learn scientifically based and biblically sound mind-body tools to forever change how you approach your health and faith;discover how heaving a healthy gut is the secret to attaining the God-given nutritional benefits of the food you eat and see real results!God gave you a good body, and it’s up to you to give it what it needs. With Meredyth as your trustworthy guide, The (Good) Food Solution offers a shame-free invitation to bring Jesus into your most vulnerable places, take back your health, and experience food and body freedom for good.Bonus Content Lists of Good Foods and Foods to Avoid, Go-To-Supplements, FAQ, and Discussion Guide

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2024

Reviews

[Katie Betts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discover how to fuel your body with freedom and faith. This guide helps shift harmful food narratives by embracing God’s gift of nourishment. With practical tools, research, and biblical insights, it offers a shame-free invitation to heal your relationship with food, honor your health, and rediscover joy in eating.

I started listening to this audiobook while eating a chocolate-covered pretzel rod on my drive home from a Christmas party. I finished it while making a cheesecake on Christmas Eve. All this to say—I appreciated that the author’s tone wasn’t overly convicting, allowing me to merrily snack and bake 😅

She wouldn’t condone this type of behavior regularly—and might even question where my cheesecake ingredients came from 🤪—but she’d likely approve of the non-regulatory joy in sharing food with good company. Her approach is deeply holistic, emphasizing not only tailored nutrition plans but also recognizing that food is just one piece of the puzzle. I appreciated her insights into how emotions, stress, trauma, gut health, and mindfulness all play vital roles.

When she did focus on food, her methods reminded me of The Beauty Chef (Carla Oates), whose principles I’ve followed at times and absolutely loved (and am planning to revisit soon).

This isn’t a step-by-step guide but rather an overview to shift your mindset from “I need to follow a specific plan” to “every plan has limits, and non-food factors are just as important as nutrition.” If you’re looking for an introduction to holistic nutrition that nourishes your soul, this is an enjoyable place to start.

Perfect for you if you like:
Faith-based health perspectives
Struggle with rigid dieting mindsets
Exploring relationship between emotions, stress, and physical health

Similar to:
Nourish by Katie Farrell
The Beauty Chef by Carla Oats (cookbook)
The Body Revelation by Alisa Keeton

[Lauren House · Rating 5 out of 5]

I realize this will not be for everyone, but I really enjoyed the scientific explanation of what happens when you eat, how your body breaks it down, and how your immune system reacts to the different foods you consume. I feel like I learned so much, and as someone who is trying to always figure out what my body is doing and am I doing something wrong, this was super helpful to me!

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good concepts here: limiting processed food, joyful feasting, losing guilt.

The detoxing, multitudes of supplements and extremely restrictive diet, no.

Numerous studies have shown the benefits of nightshade veggies, legumes, and tofu, for example. This book also has no mention of vegetarianism, which is a viable option.

Not for me.

[Valerie Woerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so excited for this book to come out. I love the way Meredyth makes health conversation accessible and viewed through the lens of faith.

[Grace Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

To show up well, we have to eat well so we can be well. This book did a phenomenal job of sharing the impact that nutrition has on our bodies! Not only does it give a thoughtful approach to how to focus on nourishment, but it also provides it all through the lens of how the Lord created it to be.

Our bodies are resilient and were designed to take in nutrients from whole, natural foods. There are also plenty of whole, real foods that are packed with nutrients - fruits, vegetables, lean meats, nuts, and seeds. What a good reminder that each of us has all the tools within us to eat well, be well, and to show up well.

[Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.
What to Expect

Comprised of ten chapters and featuring multiple appendices, The (Good) Food Solution combines factual evidence with stories of the author’s real experience, as she explores nutrition and its effect on the whole body. Fletcher also delves into the spiritual basis of her arguments: inviting the reader to invite the Lord into this journey, since He is the One who made our bodies and He loves us deeply.

Structure / Chapter Organization

Chapters build off one another hierarchically, with ensuing sections adding to understanding of the book’s thesis. Following the introduction, chapter 1 (“Food for Thought”) delves into the spiritual framework of our relationship with food, going back to the Garden of Eden. “Gut Check” (chapter 2) further establishes the book’s framework, explaining how healing needs to happen at the gut level.

From there, we move into discussion on nutrients and their effect on the body and the importance of lasting change (chapters 3-4). The next several chapters fill in additional pieces of the puzzle, with emphasis on the immune system, the gut-brain connection and toxins.

Chapter 8 takes a deeper, more personal, dive into how trauma and stress affect our bodies. The book draws to a close with a discussion on sleep, followed by an invitation to “ea[t] with delight when food becomes enjoyable again.”

Chapters are fairly short and each one closes with a list of practical tips, as well as a “Digging Deeper” section with questions for personal reflection.

Back matter includes guidelines for “The Whole Body Health Protocol,” plus recipes, food/supplement list, guidelines and FAQs.

Spiritual Themes / Scripture Connection

Healing is the key theme of the book, as the author encourages readers to adopt a new approach to food, so as to heal their bodies. The text emphasizes God’s design for people to be nourished with, and not harmed by, the things we put into our bodies.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8
I also just connected that the book covers one of my very favorite themes: being fulfilled in God. This is something I often discuss, in my reviews of romance books, in contrast to trying to find fulfillment in another person. In The (Good) Food Solution, the contrast is with food, because it can be so easy to look for comfort there.

What I Liked

My favorite parts of the book were the passages that bridged the (potential) gap beyond food and nutrition to Christian living, in general. For instance, in the chapter “Odd Couple,” Fletcher describes her own experience of inviting God into the process of “seeking healing for [her] mind, body and soul” (p. 82). She confesses to being “afraid to ask God to join [her] in the depths,” and expresses her concern that God might want her to focus on “more ‘holy’ and spiritual matters” (p. 83).

Fletcher goes on to tell about the day when things began to change with her: “In that moment I finally believed that God wasn’t reluctant to meet me and everything I had to bring to the table— my emotions, my past, my health, and my relationships” (pg. 83).

I found this passage to be such a relief, such a beautiful thing— to “hear” someone saying that, yes, God wants into even the deepest parts of me. And yes, He can handle me—He wants to.

This section is also illustrative of the author’s vulnerability in sharing from her own life. In doing so, she establishes credibility, demonstrating that she has experienced the things she’s describing. She also delivers on the offer of a “shame-free journey,” as she writes on the reader’s level.

Another example of Fletcher’s advice going beyond nutrition is in the chapter about stress. There’s a section on establishing boundaries with others, which I found to be helpful. Even as she offers these bits of practical advice, she also makes a point to connect them back to the main point of nutrition. Her argument really hinges on the idea that the body and its systems are all working together, which is why holistic change is so important.

Key Takeaways

Here are my top three personal takeaways from the book. Overall, these are ideas I am familiar with or was already learning to implement (I am super blessed to have a mom who is very invested in health and who prepares tons of food for me and sets and incredible example), but reading the book definitely reaffirmed their importance:

Taking time with your food prep is immensely valuable and “worth it.” Something I hadn’t known is that God designed us so that our digestive systems start getting to work when we think about food. Interacting with food through preparation gets the digestive system going, which is something we miss out on with faster food.
God wants to be part of my relationship with food. This is not too insignificant, nor have I failed so badly that this area is hopeless!
I am someone who seeks comfort from food. I really liked Fletcher’s concluding remarks about God being the One to fill us and also minister to our need for comfort.
Content Notes

One reference to the Agricultural Revolution beginning as far back as 14,000 years ago.

Recommendation Status

Fletcher offers kind guidance and instruction on the path to holistic healing. I appreciate that the book is practical, not only in its treatment of nutrition, but also in its exploration of other facets of physical health—and their convergence with the spiritual. Whether or not the readers opt to follow the “Whole-Body Health Protocol” from the appendix, there’s a wealth of information, throughout the text, that is practical and beneficial. Recommended for Christian readers who are prayerfully examining their relationship with food and nutrition.

[Reader Views · Rating 4 out of 5]

In crisp, clear language, author Meredyth Fletcher tackles systemic health, focusing on its nutritional aspects in “The (Good) Food Solution.” She provides a scientifically sound explanation of why her three planks – being thankful, slowing down, and eating fresh local food – lead to better overall mental, emotional, and physical health. These three are in fact closely interrelated, and she understands that you will be unsuccessful in tackling one of these without addressing the other two. She draws on many stories from the Bible to illustrate her points and stresses the importance of a good relationship with God and Jesus Christ for overall well-being.

This may not resonate with all readers, but if you swap the words “God’s will” or “God’s plan” with “evolution,” you would end up with a book that wouldn’t raise eyebrows even in our most august universities or corporate wellness seminars. The information here isn’t new or groundbreaking, but it serves a new audience, which is reason enough to admire it.

Pew Research says that the five U.S. states with the highest rates of regular church attendance are Utah, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Utah excepted, these states also rank in the top 20% for smoking, top 22% for teen pregnancy, and lowest 20% in life expectancy, according to the CDC.

I am not being judgmental here; the point is that Fletcher’s book may reach an audience that has, until now, not had appropriate resources for promoting this sort of thinking. Protecting public health is a highly pragmatic affair, and Fletcher is on the side of the angels as she explains how spiritual health, mental health, and physical health all go hand in hand to an audience who will not feel disrespected by the delivery.

She leads us on a high-level overview of the most important topics in nutrition, including the microbiome, nutritional values of various foods (and how processing degrades their value), fad diets, the immune system, digestion’s effect on the brain, and how external circumstances and stresses decrease all aspects of health. Some of this content, like her discussion of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, is surprisingly technical, but for the most part, Fletcher emphasizes the ability and the necessity for us to take control of this problem for ourselves. There are no quick fixes or pills that will generate good health; instead, we must alter our lifestyles to reduce stress, improve sleep, and spend more time cooking a variety of good, healthy foods.

Going back to interconnectedness, the very act of preparing decent, healthy food is itself (after a degree of mastery is acquired) an exercise in stress reduction. She tells a nice story of a visit to South Africa in which she visited remote villages where she and her fellow missionaries were building churches. Preparing the main meal of the day was an all-day affair, involving picking vegetables, collecting water and firewood, and slaughtering a goat. The villagers seemed to greatly enjoy their work, and she experienced true joy in experiencing the spirit of community and well-being among the villagers. And while preparing good, healthy food for your happy family in a well-stocked kitchen is an ideal to strive for, many readers will not have the means or environment to achieve it. But her spiritual guidance for loneliness and relationship issues will help these readers, to be fair.

The real value in this book will be for people who have never been able to put the full picture together: Physical health begets mental health begets spiritual health begets physical health ad infinitum. Going on a weird diet without addressing emotional issues is not going to work, just as trying to address emotional problems without a healthy body is stacking the odds against you. Mrs. Fletcher sounds sincere in trying to help people with “The (Good) Food Solution,” and may God light her path.

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️✨ (2.5 stars)

I liked some parts of the book. Every chapter ended with a “Digging Deeper” section that were a set of reflection questions. I like that the author tied God into the content.

Most of the first half of the book was the author’s personal experience with an eating disorder, with some nutritional advice/education scattered throughout. It was interesting at times, but not a whole lot I hadn’t heard before.

The end of the book talks about her Whole-Body Health Protocol, which is a 75 day “detox” of your gut in order to heal your body. It was mostly the same type of advice you’ve likely already heard - lots of whole food consumption. However, she also advised that people should take additional herbs and supplements during this detox timeframe… many of which I had never even heard of. I personally did not find her approach to be realistic for myself. Too many rules and guidelines, one of which was to not eat or drink anything cold because it is too hard for the body to digest cold things. Also, the chapters were SUPER LONG.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers | Tyndale Refresh for providing me with this ARC! #netgalley #TheGoodFoodSolution

[Shaina Perkkio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the holistic look at the intersection of food and faith and gained some key insights throughout that I found helpful. I just wanted more. The anecdotes felt very surface level, the advice seemed common sense, and there didn’t seem to be much acknowledgment of or adaptability for people who eat various diets by choice or health reasons: IE vegetarians, celiac/autoimmune. I get that it can’t be all encompassing, so I might recommend this as a basic jumping off point. I also felt like the information was coming from a privileged point of view and that obtaining some of these foods and supplements, not to mention expense, wasn’t addressed.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The incorporation of the spiritual and emotional aspects of eating and health make this book stand out. The truth is shared with a gentle, persistent and yet gospel free style which is winsome.
I loved the chapters about digestion, gut/brain connection and establishing rhythm around food as ways to freedom.
As a medical provider and health coach, I’ll recommend this book for sure!

[Bobbie Monroe Boyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. It was interesting, informative and I love it was done from a Christian perspective. But it wasn’t anything I haven’t heard before. It was very informative about the gut health section.