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Eat It to Beat It!: Banish Belly Fat-and Take Back Your Health-While Eating the Brand-Name Foods You Love!
Eat the World’s Most Delicious Foods—and Start Dropping Pounds Today!
Discover thousands of shocking food truths to help flatten your belly fast—and get you on the path to better health!
ABC News nutrition and wellness editor Dave Zinczenko, author of the multimillion-copy bestselling Eat This, Not That! series, blows the lid off the bizarre, unnecessary, and shocking ingredients in many common brands, and shows you how smart choices about the foods you love—including burgers, pizza, and chocolate—can help you lose weight, drop blood pressure, boost your immune system, and more.
Discover how you can EAT IT to help you . . .
BEAT BELLY FAT!
Crazy calorie alert! Uno Chicago Grill’s Mega Deep Dish Sundae has as many calories as 13 Krispy Kreme sugar doughnuts! Order the Mini Hot Chocolate Brownie Sundae instead and save 2,380 calories.
BEAT MOODINESS!
Some dark chocolate brands contain polyphenols, the near-magical nutrients that improve learning and memory, boost mood, and lower stress levels. Find out which brands make the grade.
BEAT HIGH BLOOD SUGAR!
Can you believe there’s oatmeal on the market with as much sugar per serving as 13 Hershey’s kisses? Change your breakfast order and start taking control of your blood sugar levels today!
With Eat It to Beat It, better living starts right now
Discover thousands of shocking food truths to help flatten your belly fast—and get you on the path to better health!
ABC News nutrition and wellness editor Dave Zinczenko, author of the multimillion-copy bestselling Eat This, Not That! series, blows the lid off the bizarre, unnecessary, and shocking ingredients in many common brands, and shows you how smart choices about the foods you love—including burgers, pizza, and chocolate—can help you lose weight, drop blood pressure, boost your immune system, and more.
Discover how you can EAT IT to help you . . .
BEAT BELLY FAT!
Crazy calorie alert! Uno Chicago Grill’s Mega Deep Dish Sundae has as many calories as 13 Krispy Kreme sugar doughnuts! Order the Mini Hot Chocolate Brownie Sundae instead and save 2,380 calories.
BEAT MOODINESS!
Some dark chocolate brands contain polyphenols, the near-magical nutrients that improve learning and memory, boost mood, and lower stress levels. Find out which brands make the grade.
BEAT HIGH BLOOD SUGAR!
Can you believe there’s oatmeal on the market with as much sugar per serving as 13 Hershey’s kisses? Change your breakfast order and start taking control of your blood sugar levels today!
With Eat It to Beat It, better living starts right now
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
44 people are currently reading
576 people want to read
About the author
David Zinczenko
131 books64 followersDavid Zinczenko is an American publisher, author, and businessman. Previously, he was the executive vice president and general manager of Men's Health, Women's Health, Prevention and Rodale Books, the editorial director of Men's Fitness and the nutrition and wellness editor at ABC News.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
October 26, 2023
This book is by David Zinczenko of “eat this, not that” fame and is in the same vain as his previous books. Consisting of compiled and annotated lists, it’s an easy book to scan for the most pertinent information.
The bulk of the book consists of a number of food categories (bread, cereals, cheese, etc.), for which he identifies the best and worst choices both in the supermarket and in restaurants. Some of these were surprising to me, as manufacturer’s labeling can be very deceptive. There are some easy recipes to address a variety of conditions (brain fog, diabetes, etc.), which I found very helpful as well as a list of common additives in processed foods and their sources and impact on human health. The very detailed list of the worst restaurant entrees was less useful to me as I don’t often eat in the chain restaurants on the list.
If you are looking for information on what is actually contained in supermarket and restaurant foods, Zinczenko has already done the work for you here. I know I’ll be switching out a few of my regularly used brands.
The bulk of the book consists of a number of food categories (bread, cereals, cheese, etc.), for which he identifies the best and worst choices both in the supermarket and in restaurants. Some of these were surprising to me, as manufacturer’s labeling can be very deceptive. There are some easy recipes to address a variety of conditions (brain fog, diabetes, etc.), which I found very helpful as well as a list of common additives in processed foods and their sources and impact on human health. The very detailed list of the worst restaurant entrees was less useful to me as I don’t often eat in the chain restaurants on the list.
If you are looking for information on what is actually contained in supermarket and restaurant foods, Zinczenko has already done the work for you here. I know I’ll be switching out a few of my regularly used brands.
June 23, 2017
OMG! Who would even think of half of this stuff that they put in our foods today?!?!?!
This was a very interesting and quick look into what we put into our bodies every day.
He doesn't preach to you, but just gives you information you hadn't thought about or would not have thought about before.
I found it very informative. If you want to know what is really in those chicken nuggets, or what beef is really supposed to smell like then take a listen or read this short informative book. It really is interesting.
This was a very interesting and quick look into what we put into our bodies every day.
He doesn't preach to you, but just gives you information you hadn't thought about or would not have thought about before.
I found it very informative. If you want to know what is really in those chicken nuggets, or what beef is really supposed to smell like then take a listen or read this short informative book. It really is interesting.
February 22, 2017
Read it and weep and take notes! Knew a lot of this stuff, but was enlightened as well. I read every nutrition label, but this handy little resource will up my scrutiny. Love Zinczenko's sense of humor. Good recipes too.
January 28, 2014
DISCLAIMER: I received this book for free from a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
3.5 stars. This is the first book by Zinczenko that I've read, though I've certainly looked through some of the Eat This!, Not That! titles.
Eat It to Beat It features the same engaging style: a smaller book, with tons of color photos along with a visually appealing format. Throughout the book you'll also find icons representing "guideposts" such as "Lose Weight", "Lower Blood Pressure", or "Boost Immunity." These reminded me of the Dummies book series, and that's a good thing. It makes for an easy to read book, where one can focus on only what's important to them, if needed.
I also liked the tone. Zinczenko seems approachable and passionate about his topic. While I thought most of his jokes and puns were painfully groan-worthy and eye-roll inducing (and possibly offensive--what did that one about the transgender even mean??), I figure hey, at least he's trying to present the information in a non-dry, entertaining way. Here's an example: "And what the heck is "Flavour"? Didn't he used to rap with Public Enemy?" See? You're groaning now, right?
Kudos on the massive nutritional information on so very many products. Plus all those photos, many of them appropriately gross-looking. I'm sure it took an age to comb through so many products and decide on which ones were better to eat than others, and that's the main reason to get this book.
Note that all products cannot be covered. I've found some veggie burgers that are better than all of the scarily processed ones the author lists. Plus Dave's Killer Bread is pretty great stuff. I had never heard of some of the products listed, so maybe it's a regional thing. Take the advice and use that to find the best products available near you.
Here's a few things I didn't like, and the things that kept me from scoring it higher:
* This quote, in the Produce section: "Like most people, you probably don't spend a lot of time exploring the produce section." Yeesh, that's actually where I spend MOST of my time. But maybe this is true for the target audience. I also rarely eat at fast food restaurants, the same for sit-down chains like Applebees and Chilis.
* The lack of a bibliography. The bulk of the writing in the book is opinion, presumably based in fact, plus much referring to this or that study that showed this or that thing. I know to take this information with a grain of salt (ha!), but maybe he's got lots of readers that take his word as gospel. If I cared, I could track down some of the studies listed, but I shouldn't have to. Site your resources!
* The potential hypocritical advice. In the BREAD section, we're warned against the Subway Wrap. There's also a "Bogus Label Alert" warning us about the not-really-healthy-like-they-pretend 9-Grain Wheat Bread at Subway. A few pages later, Subway's Italian Bread is in the BEAT IT section, meaning you should avoid that. From what I've heard about Subway bread, you should avoid all of them, mostly for the ingredients list that is dozens of items long. Yet in the SANDWICH section, the Best Restaurant Sandwich is none other than a Subway Roast Beef Sandwich. Similarly, the fish section urges you to avoid ahi tuna due to "extremely high mercury," yet one of the provided recipes calls for Yellowfin tuna.
* I'm dubious about this book's ability to help the readers "...flatten your belly fast—and get you on the path to better health!" I guess if the majority of your diet comes from fast food/chain restaurants and processed food, then yeah, you will lose weight after making some changes that are outlined in the book. But will it be "fast"? Zinczenko offers stats numerous times that explain how if you make change X, then in a YEAR FROM NOW, you'll weigh Y pounds less.
All that said, it's a fine guide for a certain type of person, and offers lots of information. I've become more aware of my salt intake now, though it's not something I need to worry about. I'm guessing that's the reason my beloved GrapeNuts didn't make the breakfast cereal cut, and now that's an item I'll watch on labels. Though I'm not ready to give up my Herdez salsa quite yet. And I've learned that I am okay with having "wood chips" in my pre-shredded cheese, 'cause me and my whole family do not enjoy shredding cheese.
Happy learning and eating!
3.5 stars. This is the first book by Zinczenko that I've read, though I've certainly looked through some of the Eat This!, Not That! titles.
Eat It to Beat It features the same engaging style: a smaller book, with tons of color photos along with a visually appealing format. Throughout the book you'll also find icons representing "guideposts" such as "Lose Weight", "Lower Blood Pressure", or "Boost Immunity." These reminded me of the Dummies book series, and that's a good thing. It makes for an easy to read book, where one can focus on only what's important to them, if needed.
I also liked the tone. Zinczenko seems approachable and passionate about his topic. While I thought most of his jokes and puns were painfully groan-worthy and eye-roll inducing (and possibly offensive--what did that one about the transgender even mean??), I figure hey, at least he's trying to present the information in a non-dry, entertaining way. Here's an example: "And what the heck is "Flavour"? Didn't he used to rap with Public Enemy?" See? You're groaning now, right?
Kudos on the massive nutritional information on so very many products. Plus all those photos, many of them appropriately gross-looking. I'm sure it took an age to comb through so many products and decide on which ones were better to eat than others, and that's the main reason to get this book.
Note that all products cannot be covered. I've found some veggie burgers that are better than all of the scarily processed ones the author lists. Plus Dave's Killer Bread is pretty great stuff. I had never heard of some of the products listed, so maybe it's a regional thing. Take the advice and use that to find the best products available near you.
Here's a few things I didn't like, and the things that kept me from scoring it higher:
* This quote, in the Produce section: "Like most people, you probably don't spend a lot of time exploring the produce section." Yeesh, that's actually where I spend MOST of my time. But maybe this is true for the target audience. I also rarely eat at fast food restaurants, the same for sit-down chains like Applebees and Chilis.
* The lack of a bibliography. The bulk of the writing in the book is opinion, presumably based in fact, plus much referring to this or that study that showed this or that thing. I know to take this information with a grain of salt (ha!), but maybe he's got lots of readers that take his word as gospel. If I cared, I could track down some of the studies listed, but I shouldn't have to. Site your resources!
* The potential hypocritical advice. In the BREAD section, we're warned against the Subway Wrap. There's also a "Bogus Label Alert" warning us about the not-really-healthy-like-they-pretend 9-Grain Wheat Bread at Subway. A few pages later, Subway's Italian Bread is in the BEAT IT section, meaning you should avoid that. From what I've heard about Subway bread, you should avoid all of them, mostly for the ingredients list that is dozens of items long. Yet in the SANDWICH section, the Best Restaurant Sandwich is none other than a Subway Roast Beef Sandwich. Similarly, the fish section urges you to avoid ahi tuna due to "extremely high mercury," yet one of the provided recipes calls for Yellowfin tuna.
* I'm dubious about this book's ability to help the readers "...flatten your belly fast—and get you on the path to better health!" I guess if the majority of your diet comes from fast food/chain restaurants and processed food, then yeah, you will lose weight after making some changes that are outlined in the book. But will it be "fast"? Zinczenko offers stats numerous times that explain how if you make change X, then in a YEAR FROM NOW, you'll weigh Y pounds less.
All that said, it's a fine guide for a certain type of person, and offers lots of information. I've become more aware of my salt intake now, though it's not something I need to worry about. I'm guessing that's the reason my beloved GrapeNuts didn't make the breakfast cereal cut, and now that's an item I'll watch on labels. Though I'm not ready to give up my Herdez salsa quite yet. And I've learned that I am okay with having "wood chips" in my pre-shredded cheese, 'cause me and my whole family do not enjoy shredding cheese.
Happy learning and eating!
January 22, 2018
I am a huge fan of David Zinczenko because of the fact that he believes you do not have to give up your favorite foods in order to be healthy. I have all of his Eat This Not That and Cook This Not That books and David examines foods such as ice cream sundaes, cake, cookies, burgers, chicken fingers and all of the foods that are not exactly "diet" foods and in this book he said that you can still have those food but he gives you tips and trick words to watch out for when ordering so you never have to avoid restaurants and the super-market ever again. 5 stars.
March 2, 2016
I was very pleased to receive this through First Reads. I love the entire series, but this particular title is most appropriate as an aging woman trying to make wise choices and to manage the health concerns of aging through the best foods and supplements. This is a classic reference...one we should all keep on hand. There are also some important food reveals that will change the way you eat forever.
September 25, 2015
Very good tips on all the hidden calories in restaurant food! I think Cheesecake Factory even ddp frys their water. That place is a lard trap!
June 6, 2019
A food book that cherry picks its "research" studies.
The book is a quick read, (I listened to audiobook, so maybe the printed book has illustrations or arrangement that would be useful to some, I can't comment on that).
My main problem is that the author doesn't seem consistent in his recommendations. He seems to tout the benefits of beef as having valuable nutritional qualities and is an anti-depressant (Really would like to see more about this, but he isn't great about citing his sources) but then in the next section talks about how good vegetarianism is. He tries to be a bit too humorous as well, saying that although beef is bad for the environment you can just ride to the butcher (save gas) and eat by candle (energy savings) and the environmental consequences are balanced out. I wouldn't expect him to be an environmental expert, but rather just not make statements he isn't qualified to make. I get the feeling he just picked random studies that would make for a fun read. I would recommend anyone serious about nutrition to read the equally fast "Food Rules" from Michael Pollan https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... which seems to be better about avoiding any trendy studies and has a more grounded approach to recommendations. (IMHO)
The book is a quick read, (I listened to audiobook, so maybe the printed book has illustrations or arrangement that would be useful to some, I can't comment on that).
My main problem is that the author doesn't seem consistent in his recommendations. He seems to tout the benefits of beef as having valuable nutritional qualities and is an anti-depressant (Really would like to see more about this, but he isn't great about citing his sources) but then in the next section talks about how good vegetarianism is. He tries to be a bit too humorous as well, saying that although beef is bad for the environment you can just ride to the butcher (save gas) and eat by candle (energy savings) and the environmental consequences are balanced out. I wouldn't expect him to be an environmental expert, but rather just not make statements he isn't qualified to make. I get the feeling he just picked random studies that would make for a fun read. I would recommend anyone serious about nutrition to read the equally fast "Food Rules" from Michael Pollan https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... which seems to be better about avoiding any trendy studies and has a more grounded approach to recommendations. (IMHO)
October 26, 2017
This book is awesome! There is so much information about packaged food that for me to remember it all I'd either need to research it or read this book several more times and still not remember it all.
I'm amazed at what the food industry puts in our packaged food! Wouldn't it be cheaper to skip all those extra chemicals and add ins (such as natural ingredients that people would actually never eat)! My husband and I are quite upset about what is in our foods. We are trying to eat more natural foods and make new changes in our diet all the time so that we can get healthier, stay healthier and live a much longer and healthy life. I highly recommend this book if you are at all curious about what is in your food of if you are wanting to make healthy changes to your eating habits.
I'm amazed at what the food industry puts in our packaged food! Wouldn't it be cheaper to skip all those extra chemicals and add ins (such as natural ingredients that people would actually never eat)! My husband and I are quite upset about what is in our foods. We are trying to eat more natural foods and make new changes in our diet all the time so that we can get healthier, stay healthier and live a much longer and healthy life. I highly recommend this book if you are at all curious about what is in your food of if you are wanting to make healthy changes to your eating habits.
September 13, 2019
I have found the information in this book to be very valuable for good nutrition and proper eating because it mentions a lot of stuff I never, ever would have considered before buying certain items. Now I know what to look for and what to avoid. The only reason that I did not give it 5 stars is because many of the brand names of products mentioned in the book or chain food outlets are only available in the USA and not Canada where the book is also sold. As a Canadian I only found some of the food items listed and of course we have Burger King, Wendy's McD's, Olive Garden, Applebees and a few other US chains. but I have not seen any of the others David mentions at all, e.g. P.F. Chang's, California Pizza Kitchen or Bubba Burgers etc. so it doesn't give Canadians much to chose from.
June 23, 2018
I have read some of his books on don't eat this and I found this one far better in the back of the book he explains what those words on your products that you eat really mean and trust me I have cleaned out my cupboards after reading this book.it would surprise you some of the stuff that they put in your food and are allowed to I glad I put in a big garden and have my own meat after reading the book this is a must must read for everyone. the one downside is that a lot of the products in the book are foods that are in the usa but some are avalible in Canada plus I know a lot of people shop in the states now...
December 21, 2017
This was a great book and the information about food additives is fascinating and will definitely make you a "clean" eater. This author has a whole series of books like this. I think this book is the best one with the most overall information.
July 22, 2018
Great food for thought! If you want to be mindful of food choices, this gives great ideas. I’ve read & researched nutritional resources for many decades and still picked up some new ideas. Enjoyed it!!
January 29, 2017
This book was very humorous and a light and easy read. it was quite shocking to discover all the trash that we are eating. I love that he offered better alternatives. He has been echoing what my mom has been telling us for years about processed foods! it's sad all the ways we are being tricked by the food industry.
March 7, 2021
Informative and entertaining, though lots of his jokes/references are already dated. This would be a good introduction for someone who is starting out on a wellness path.
April 3, 2015
“Eat It To Beat It” by David Zinczenko grabs your attention at the very beginning when he writes about our food containing plastic foam, human hair, duck feathers, desiccated abdomens of beetles, silicon dioxide, wood shavings and extract from the anal scent glands of beavers. Sort of makes you hungry, doesn’t it? If you are familiar with Zinczenko’s “Eat This Not That” books, this book will look familiar. It is similar, but different.
The book is divided into categories, and under each category the best and worst choices from popular brands are shown. Categories include breads, burgers, cheese, cookies, smoothies, pizza, pasta, rice, sauces, soups, steak, yogurt and so many more.
In each category, what to look for that makes the foods more healthy or less healthy is pointed out. In just about all cases, less is more. Avoid foods with lengthy lists of ingredients that you can’t pronounce. There is a helpful glossary of these additives in the back of the book.
While many brand name items and dishes are listed, obviously many more aren’t. So it does take some work on the readers part to read why the foods were listed as the best or worse, and then related that information to the selections you choose at the supermarket or your favorite restaurants. Personally, I don’t see myself carrying this book to the restaurant with me and ordering the “best” listed dish, but rather learning why things are good and bad and then making smarter choices based on that information.
I also think reading the book will make some people start reading food labels and restaurant nutrition facts more carefully, and understanding what much of the “misleading” things really mean. Do you know how many ways companies list sugar and salt?
This book has many colorful pictures, sidebars, and text, which makes it an easy and interesting read. Some of the pictures, and yes even some of the pictures of “bad” foods, might make you hungry, so read it after you have eaten. (But eat healthy before reading this, or you might not want to keep what you ate down.)
If you are interested in what’s in the foods you purchase at restaurants and your local supermarket, and want to make healthier choices, reading “Eat It To Beat It” by David Zinczenko is a great place to start. It is not that this book tells you what is healthiest, but it helps you make healthier choices.
The book is divided into categories, and under each category the best and worst choices from popular brands are shown. Categories include breads, burgers, cheese, cookies, smoothies, pizza, pasta, rice, sauces, soups, steak, yogurt and so many more.
In each category, what to look for that makes the foods more healthy or less healthy is pointed out. In just about all cases, less is more. Avoid foods with lengthy lists of ingredients that you can’t pronounce. There is a helpful glossary of these additives in the back of the book.
While many brand name items and dishes are listed, obviously many more aren’t. So it does take some work on the readers part to read why the foods were listed as the best or worse, and then related that information to the selections you choose at the supermarket or your favorite restaurants. Personally, I don’t see myself carrying this book to the restaurant with me and ordering the “best” listed dish, but rather learning why things are good and bad and then making smarter choices based on that information.
I also think reading the book will make some people start reading food labels and restaurant nutrition facts more carefully, and understanding what much of the “misleading” things really mean. Do you know how many ways companies list sugar and salt?
This book has many colorful pictures, sidebars, and text, which makes it an easy and interesting read. Some of the pictures, and yes even some of the pictures of “bad” foods, might make you hungry, so read it after you have eaten. (But eat healthy before reading this, or you might not want to keep what you ate down.)
If you are interested in what’s in the foods you purchase at restaurants and your local supermarket, and want to make healthier choices, reading “Eat It To Beat It” by David Zinczenko is a great place to start. It is not that this book tells you what is healthiest, but it helps you make healthier choices.
March 25, 2014
See this review on 1776books.net...
http://1776books.blogspot.com/2014/03...
What I love most about David Zinczenko is that he never minces words; he has no qualms about saying that most of the food we put in our bodies is filled with stuff we should back far, far away from. He has no problem calling out specific food and restaurant companies for adding "anal scent glands of beavers" to our food, and some of the things he writes will probably make you lose your lunch. However, I'm the type of person who needs tough love when it comes to diet and exercise (I need Jillian Michaels yelling at me rather than Denise Austin's encouragement), so Zinczenko has always been right up my alley. I say always because I've been reading his Eat This Not That and Cook This Not That series of books for years now. I always look anxiously ahead to January so I can get my hands on the new updated version. I was a little surprised to see that he changed things up a bit this year with Eat It To Beat It. However, the message is always the same...eating healthfully never has to be dull.
Eat It To Beat It looks very similar to Zinczenko's other books; they are all filled with colorful pictures and easy-to-read information. The only real difference I can tell is that he seems to focus more on what you should eat to fight disease; however, his other information pretty much remains the same. When you're reaching for juice at the supermarket, which one should you grab? Which produce should you choose the organic variety? Eat It To Beat It is definitely not as extensively packed as his other books, but it's still a worthwhile read.
The Eat This Not That books are popular for a reason, and I've used the information within them to make the right choices at the grocery store and in a restaurant. I've made many recipes in Cook This Not That, and I can tell you that they are delicious and definitely not "diet food." Zinczenko understands that diets don't work for the long haul; make little changes in your everyday eating habits and you'll soon be reaping the rewards.
MY RATING - 4
http://1776books.blogspot.com/2014/03...
What I love most about David Zinczenko is that he never minces words; he has no qualms about saying that most of the food we put in our bodies is filled with stuff we should back far, far away from. He has no problem calling out specific food and restaurant companies for adding "anal scent glands of beavers" to our food, and some of the things he writes will probably make you lose your lunch. However, I'm the type of person who needs tough love when it comes to diet and exercise (I need Jillian Michaels yelling at me rather than Denise Austin's encouragement), so Zinczenko has always been right up my alley. I say always because I've been reading his Eat This Not That and Cook This Not That series of books for years now. I always look anxiously ahead to January so I can get my hands on the new updated version. I was a little surprised to see that he changed things up a bit this year with Eat It To Beat It. However, the message is always the same...eating healthfully never has to be dull.
Eat It To Beat It looks very similar to Zinczenko's other books; they are all filled with colorful pictures and easy-to-read information. The only real difference I can tell is that he seems to focus more on what you should eat to fight disease; however, his other information pretty much remains the same. When you're reaching for juice at the supermarket, which one should you grab? Which produce should you choose the organic variety? Eat It To Beat It is definitely not as extensively packed as his other books, but it's still a worthwhile read.
The Eat This Not That books are popular for a reason, and I've used the information within them to make the right choices at the grocery store and in a restaurant. I've made many recipes in Cook This Not That, and I can tell you that they are delicious and definitely not "diet food." Zinczenko understands that diets don't work for the long haul; make little changes in your everyday eating habits and you'll soon be reaping the rewards.
MY RATING - 4
November 14, 2014
Update May 2014: smh, I am ashamed to say I have not done well. I have been eating more greens and fruits but have not cut out enough of the bad stuff :( Still intent on doing better. A work in progress. Making plans for another course of action. We'll see how the summer goes!
Feb 2014: I found a lot of things that are relevant to me in this book. I was going to finish and send it to a friend but I have decided that I need it around to reference so I'm going to send her a copy of her own :) It's not perfect for everyone and some things don't apply, either to me or the area I'm in, but there is so much information that will be helpful to me as I try to make better choices for myself. I will come back in a few months and update this to see if it actually helps me (adding to calendar now...); see you then!
Note: If you eat out a lot this book is a great source of information to make better choices. I think the people in our country absolutely need to do better when it comes to fast food, especially for the children. I don't, so my main focus will be on the supermarket portion and other health information in the book. Much to learn.
I received this book from the author after being selected in the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway as a winner. Thanks David and Goodreads!
Feb 2014: I found a lot of things that are relevant to me in this book. I was going to finish and send it to a friend but I have decided that I need it around to reference so I'm going to send her a copy of her own :) It's not perfect for everyone and some things don't apply, either to me or the area I'm in, but there is so much information that will be helpful to me as I try to make better choices for myself. I will come back in a few months and update this to see if it actually helps me (adding to calendar now...); see you then!
Note: If you eat out a lot this book is a great source of information to make better choices. I think the people in our country absolutely need to do better when it comes to fast food, especially for the children. I don't, so my main focus will be on the supermarket portion and other health information in the book. Much to learn.
I received this book from the author after being selected in the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway as a winner. Thanks David and Goodreads!
February 16, 2017
Useful, practical advice for healthy eating without giving up your favorite restaurants and foods (but, not necessarily your favorite foods at your favorite restaurants).
January 27, 2014
I'm a big fan of Zinczenko's Eat This Not That series. I try so hard to make wise choices in the grocery store or out to eat, but sometimes it seems the cards are stacked against me. He breaks it all down and gives very straight-forward recommendations to help you make wise choices when it comes to your health.
This book focuses on certain items in stores or restaurants that you "think" are good for you, they are marketed as such, but they actually are doing you a disservice. I really appreciated the eye-opening experience of going through his lists. My kids were entertained when I lamented that "I just bought that!" and then found it on his Beat It list. But at least I'm a smarter consumer.
The only thing I did not appreciate is his assessment of cellulose as "wood chips" and is an additive in many foods. Cellulose is polysaccharide linear chain of glucose. Yes, it is an additive I'd like to steer clear of, especially in ice cream, but come on- its not wood chips mixed into the tub. By the way- it is even in some organic foods so look out!
This book focuses on certain items in stores or restaurants that you "think" are good for you, they are marketed as such, but they actually are doing you a disservice. I really appreciated the eye-opening experience of going through his lists. My kids were entertained when I lamented that "I just bought that!" and then found it on his Beat It list. But at least I'm a smarter consumer.
The only thing I did not appreciate is his assessment of cellulose as "wood chips" and is an additive in many foods. Cellulose is polysaccharide linear chain of glucose. Yes, it is an additive I'd like to steer clear of, especially in ice cream, but come on- its not wood chips mixed into the tub. By the way- it is even in some organic foods so look out!
May 17, 2014
Not really a cookbook, but there are recipes in there. Some of the things I learned were surprising (and gross...most shredded cheese contains wood pulp? Really?) but some were pretty obvious. I only found one or two things on the "beat it!" list that Tim and I eat at all, so that's good. Also, I learned that there are 20 entrees at Cheesecake factory that have more at least 1800 calories (one whole day's worth, for a woman), and nine of those have more than 1800--some over 2000. Wow! Olive Garden, On the Border, Outback Steakhouse, Quiznos and Ruby Tuesday are all major offenders too--but perhaps no one more so than P.F. Chang's. Curiously enough, I didn't see McDonalds, Burger King, etc on the list.
I think this is a nice book to look through just to get an idea of how much you may be consuming in one meal at your favorite restaurant. It was eye-opening, that's for sure. I also thought the discussion of the different marketing techniques that food companies use to sell "healthy" and "natural" products was fascinating. I have a better idea of what to look for now.
I think this is a nice book to look through just to get an idea of how much you may be consuming in one meal at your favorite restaurant. It was eye-opening, that's for sure. I also thought the discussion of the different marketing techniques that food companies use to sell "healthy" and "natural" products was fascinating. I have a better idea of what to look for now.
June 29, 2014
I won this book from goodreads and was looking forward to going through it. I thought that the book did a good job of explaining the right food choices and the what you should be on the lookout for (sodium content, sugar, etc.). It gives the dieter the best choices when eating out and explains in detail the reasoning. I guess I didn't think it was an exceptional book because 1) I don't eat out often enough 2) I wouldn't go to most of the restaurants he has in the book and 3) I wouldn't choose most of those meals anyway.
No doubt that Zinczenko's book advocates better food choices when going out to eat but unfortunately this book isn't something that I'd keep because it wasn't relevant to me.
No doubt that Zinczenko's book advocates better food choices when going out to eat but unfortunately this book isn't something that I'd keep because it wasn't relevant to me.
August 9, 2016
A decent book to guide you in your goal to eat better food. It comes as no surprise that companies have been adding garbage and chemicals to our food. Perhaps surprising is where the book points out those things that really are unnecessary. You will find certain ingredients for Mt Dew to be horrifying. Not to mention and I capitalize this: IMITATION VANILLA FLAVORING COMES FROM ANAL SCENT GLANDS OF BEAVERS! ugh! Though the book was interesting and informative...it covers a lot of restaurants and food distributors not found in my area. The basics are still there for you to make judgements of what to eat. A lot of the information would better be served in an Ap. Overall a good book and in the very least gives you some table talk.
February 6, 2017
4 1/2 stars
I listened to the audiobook version of this book, for which Goodreads does not seem to have a listing. I received the audiobook for free from Penguin Random House, just because they periodically give away books. My opinion was not influenced by their generosity.
This book was a quick listen. I thought it provided good information in a humorous manner. It went out of it's way to make it clear that any choices on what I ate were mine to make and that the key to eating well is to do everything in moderation. The narrator, the author, had a clear voice and presented the information in an easy to understand way.
I would recommend this audiobook to anyone interested in healthful eating.
February 7, 2014
I was excited to hear that I won this book through First-reads Goodreads giveaway. I always enjoyed watching Zinczenko on the Today show. It is very entertaining and you learn a lot about how unhealthy food can be. It makes you try to be wise about your food chooses. I only wish there was a bigger section on recipes to combat the different systemic diseases. Can't wait to try the recipes from this book!
January 19, 2014
Absolutely great! The author also wrote the "Eat This, Not That!" series. Pick a food type - home or restaurant - look it up, and be prepared to be shocked at how bad so much of what passes for "food" is on most of our menus. I've read all the way through this book (dog ear-ing many pages), but I'm hardly "finished" with it - I'll come back to it again and again when I need to make a good decision about what to eat.
January 21, 2014
ABC News Nutrition and Wellness editor Dave Zinczenko, author of the multimillion-copy bestselling Eat This, Not That! series, blows the lid off the bizarre, unnecessary, and shocking ingredients in many common brands, and shows you how making smart choices about the foods you love -- including burgers, pizza, and chocolate -- can help you lose weight, drop blood pressure, boost your immune system, and more.
April 10, 2014
It was an interesting read. Here in Anchorage, Alaska, we don't have most of the chain restaurants he profiles. Cheesecake Factory has sooo many of the worst foods ever -- I am GLAD there is not one here in our state. Anyhow, the book is cute. It kept my interest and was enjoyable. The author explains things well in an understandable manner even if I couldn't pronounce the evil ingredients we don't want to ingest. It was well done, but not really applicable to my life.
November 29, 2015
I love the "Eat This, Not That" books, but there's that "too much of a good thing"...thing. You really only need to look at one book to see that restaurant food is deceptively calorie dense, and the grocery store version to shop smarter. I appreciate that they will help people reach their goals, but I almost feel like this would be better as a Consumer Reports style magazine on food vs. an endless series of books.
July 28, 2015
I enjoyed skimming g through it but 11 year old Lizzie loved it. She read it from cover to cover. I think she learned a great deal about what's hidden in our food----she's still reeling from wood pulp being in shredded cheese & the possibility of ground feathers being in her frozen pizza dough. We're all looking closer @ labels, trying to select those with understandable ingredients. An enjoyable book.
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