The Foodie Diet: Love Food, Live Well, and Heal Yourself

by Ella Davar RD

A non-diet approach to optimal health and longevity

The Foodie Diet challenges conventional dieting by merging culinary pleasure with science-backed longevity principles. Drawing on her expertise as a dietitian and her personal journey as a food lover, Ella Davar, RD, introduces a revolutionary, Blue Zone-inspired approach to sustainable health and well-being—one that transcends restrictive diets and calorie counting.

Rooted in gut-healing and longevity science, the book is structured around Ella’s core
Emotional Transform cravings into intentional, nourishing choices. Gut Unlock the power of the gut-brain connection for overall well-being. Decode your body’s unique nutritional needs. Eliminating Unfriendly Identify and replace foods that don’t serve your health. Love-Infused Build a balanced, gut-healing, anti-inflammatory diet. Mindful Turn meals into an act of love, gratitude, and self-care. Practical Navigate dining out, travel, and real-life eating situations effortlessly. Food as Personalize dietary strategies for optimal metabolic and hormonal health.
Culminating in a personalized 28-day plan, The Foodie Diet is a guide to thriving from the inside out—helping readers cultivate a healthy, joyful, and sustainable relationship with food.

352 pages, Paperback

Published November 11, 2025

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

This book has not only has a great 28-day plan to help with your gut health, but it has tons of useful tips inside. I actually requested the book not because I was planning on doing any type of diet, but I wanted to look at any recipes that might be included. Although there weren't as many recipes as a traditional cookbook, there were still quite a few at the end of the book. There were several that I will definitely be trying, then healthy and delicious meatballs and steak and rainbow vegetables.

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I get older, I’m not interested in reading any book that has diet in the title. We all know that “diets” just don’t work in the long term. What drew me to The Foodie Diet by Ella Davar, however, is that it is a book that takes a non-diet approach to eating. It’s more about how to eat the foods that you and your body loves. Davar introduces the reader to a “YOU-tarian” approach to eating.

What I Liked About The Foodie Diet:
I love to read and watch anything that has to do with health. It’s my new obsession, so I was excited to read a book that had to with eating the right foods for your body. What is right for one person, won’t necessarily be right for someone else. My gut health, hormones, and metabolism are completed different than my husband’s. This is why I appreciated the “You-tarian” approach to food.

The Foodie Diet is well-researched. It is obvious that Davar’s passion is healthy eating. She is well-known for her study of gut-brain science. I really enjoyed “Pro Tip From a Dietician” throughout each chapter. I was most interested in learning the effects of different foods and how they would help or hurt my body.

The first half of the book was the most interesting to me. It is all of her tips and tricks to healthful eating. She does include recipes in the back of the book; I’m not a good cook, so I skimmed this part, but they did sound good. I DO want to try the healthy meatballs recipes, though. I read this on a Kindle, which I don’t really recommend if you are getting this book for the recipes.

What I Would Change About The Book:
I found the organizational flow slightly challenging at times. The topics shifted quickly or were repeated at times. This slight lack of organizational coherence is the only reason I docked a star. This might be because I was reading it on a Kindle, however. It didn’t stop me from enjoying the book.

Quotes From The Foodie Diet:
I highlighted A LOT from this book, but here are some of my favorite quotes that stood out to me.

** “The goal of becoming what I call a professional foodie: someone who eats their way to a healthier life and does it with enjoyment and love.”

** “Remember: The goal isn’t perfection but becoming a qualitarian. Choose high-quality, minimally processed foods 80% of the time. For the other 20%, when you do indulge in foods that don’t love you back, make sure they’re worth it. Choose quality versions of your favorites rather than processed alternatives.”

Life is too short to not enjoy the food that is provided us. It’s all about learning what works for your own body. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good hamburger or a pizza. But as she states, you should be eating 80% of foods that are clean and nutrient-dense. The other 20% is indulging in pleasurable foods. That being said, I am learning to love that 80% even more than I used to in my earlier days.

** “If I truly love myself, what would I choose to eat today?”

I feel like I want to put this on a sign for my refrigerator door. Actually, it should go on my pantry door. That’s where the treats are stored. But honestly, isn’t that a great question to ask yourself on a daily basis?

** “What you really need is to get to know your own body to find what’s right for you – and become a you-tarian who simply eats what your body loves!”

Davar does discuss having different tests to find this out. These days I listen to my gut and do my research. What foods are best eaten for a woman my age? How can they be paired together to reach my total nutrients for the day? There are many considerations.

AND MY FAVORITE QUOTE…

** “Your brain is 60% fat.”

I mean, I’m blaming the numbers on my scale on my big brain. Enough said!

I’ve only scratched the surface of the insightful tips and deep research packed into this book. If you’re ready to ditch the restrictive diet mentality and start treating food as an act of self-love, The Foodie Diet is an interesting read.

Where To Buy This Book and More:
Purchase The Food Diet: https://amzn.to/4s9e4bZ
Read more of my book reviews: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/
Missed my Top Books of 2024? Find them here: https://judiholst.com/top-20-books-th...
Thank you to NetGalley, Smith Publicity, and Ella Davar for my free copy. This is my honest opinion.

To read more about Ella Davar and the Gut Brain Method: https://www.gutbrainmethod.com/

If you had to identify one food that you know your body loves and thrives on, what would it be?

[Morag Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - this book is extensive!! The ultimate guide to eating well written by someone who absolutely gets that food is pleasure as well as fuel. Ella's appreciation of this makes this book really stand out for me. Pro tips from a dietician feature at the end of each chapter and these are really practical take-aways.

There is so much content in this book - particular highlights for me where the chapters on the various health tests and markers that are available to gauge how we are doing on the many markers of health and how to optimise these. Information that dispels the myths - (such as that fat should be demonised by those seeking to lose weight) are so informative and well presented that I will actually take pleasure from reaching for the olive oil rather than fearing its calorie content. The anecdotal stuff in this book is fab - hearing peoples real stories is so meaningful and and illustrates the information so well.

Overall a great book, For health and longevity it is essential reading / listening!!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Netgalley ARC-This one is weird. The first part of the book is all about her approach, which is, on one hand, brillant - become a 'you-tarian' and eat what your body needs/desires to function optimally rather than a fad diet. On the other hand, she pushes a lot of supplements, which is, in my mind, a contradiction to being a foodie. The handful of recipes that she does include are pretty basic and can be found anywhere, but do actually look delicious. No photos, though, so no feasting with your eyes. She seems passionate which is something I guess.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of The Foodie Diet seems like a misnomer. I think of a foodie as someone who loves food, not supplements, which the author heavily promotes late in the book. I also expected more unusual recipes, and honestly, more of them. These recipes seemed too basic for a true foodie. This is also not a diet book but more of a nutritional primer. The only original idea I found in here was calling herself a you-tarian.

Unfortunately, I can’t recommend The Foodie Diet. 2 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Health Communications Inc. for providing me with an advanced review copy.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

(listened to the audiobook)

This book started well, and I was really enjoying it. However it became incredibly repetitive - so much so, it had me questioning if the book was going backwards and rewinding itself. It happened quite frequently that it stopped me enjoying what I was reading and made me think I was going a bit nuts.

I enjoyed it - but the repetition was really lazy!

I liked the fact the author narrated the audio book.

[JCS · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audio book is packed with helpful guidance for creating a healthy relationship with food and using it in the best way to suit you. I found it very informative, helpful and interesting. The narration was great but I think a paper copy would be advisable for those wanting to use the recipes at the end of the book. Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Rosa Valenzuela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book that showed me good ways to eat healthier for diferent type of sicknesses. I honestly think iy was a little to long though and didn't have quite that many recipes. But it was still a good read for what it was worth.