The Right Bite: Breads, Spreads and Other Dreads: A mini guide to smart choices for picnics

by Jackie Lynch

In this mini-sampler from The Right Bite, nutritional therapist Jackie Lynch helps you navigate some of the pitfalls of the summer picnic. (For the full picture on picnic, and other advice from what to eat on your working lunch, to what you should drink at the pub, you might be interested in the full book, The Right Bite.)

22 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2016

Reviews

[Cynthia Corral · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have spent the last year with a group of extremely obese people, helping to support and educate them in their weight loss journeys. I was shocked and amazed at how little understanding the people had about the food they were eating. They would swear up and down that the weight gain was “a mystery”, but when we looked at the actual food it became clear that a large part of the US is missing a good chunk of health education. It wasn’t always a matter of quantity of food being consumed, it was the choices that they were making and truly did not understand.

All this is to say that many people won’t benefit from this book. Many people already know that granola can actually be one of the worst foods you can choose. But this is news to others, who only think of granola as a health-nut food. Others really and truly don’t understand how many calories are in their KFC lunch. And I would bet that most people don’t really have a great idea of the best foods to choose when going to a neighborhood barbecue, or a romantic picnic.

Do you think you already know? Really? Have you been trying to lose weight? Maybe you don’t know as much as you think. This book will help.

The book is extremely educational, with simple, clear-cut explanations. The book does not just say “Choose oatmeal instead of the almond croissant.” It explains all the options, so you can make the best choice for you, at that particular time. Each food gets two pages of information, with sample nutrient and calorie contents, why the food may be good or bad for you, and the effects it will have on your body and health. So you can read all about the croissant option and why it may be bad, and read about the oatmeal option to see why it would be good. If you’re determined to have a croissant, read the page to find out the best choice of croissant for you.

You may think you already understand the pitfalls of fast food, but do you know the best kind of sushi to choose? What should you choose at the movies, or at a bar? What about going to the mall? There is a lot of information in this book that most of the population needs to know.

There were no pictures in the advance copy I received from NetGalley, just clear and simple information laid out in a way that is not overwhelming.

I would recommend this book for any teenager to prepare them for their adult health. I would recommend it to any adult who is having difficulties losing weight, or just trying to keep their weight steady. It would definitely be helpful for people who travel for work, or don’t have a lot of time to eat at home.

And I just want to repeat again: You may think you already know this information, but are you having trouble losing weight? You might want to take a look at the information in this book.

[Elite Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many people will have been waiting for this book!!
This is a totally BRILLIANT book and I can’t understand why it hasn’t been done before!!
I have seen articles before about choosing the best option when eating out but these tend to be limited to a comparison of just calories. Jackie Lynch shows that whilst calorie counting is a good way of losing or maintaining a healthy weight, not all calories are equal. What does this mean? Buy the book and find out for yourself!
The first part of the book goes through the major food groups and explains how knowing about their component parts can guide us to making better choices. This section is equally relevant no matter where we consume food, whether at home, at pricey restaurants or so-called healthy food at spas. What Lynch then does is to look specifically at those times when we pick up food ‘on the go’ and to identify the best choice, ‘The Right Bite’ for each situation.
There are eight chapters covering Breakfast, Coffee Bar, Lunch, takeaways, drinks at the Bar, Picnics, Barbeques and At the Movies. Each chapter has an introduction which covers the main pitfalls of food choices within that meal choice and gives guidance on smarter choices. It then looks at popular choices, e.g. croissants, cereals, bagels, toast, cooked items, cereal pots or porridge in the case of breakfast, and then gives the author’s ‘Right Bite’ in a clearly highlighted box. There are also two ‘fascinating facts’ boxes in each section which are useful when assessing why some foods are better than others.
I found the book easy to read, well laid out and with very clear information to help me make an informed choice. There were no distracting ‘food sex’ photos or clever graphics; just the facts with the option to skip to the ‘Right Bite’ box for those not interested in the science behind it, but HONESTLY the science is very accessible.
I think some readers might appreciate a short paragraph giving Jackie Lynch’s credentials and for those who would, I have ‘Googled’ her. She is a Registered Nutritional Therapist and is Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition; she also writes for the media, works with Corporate groups and is a popular speaker.
I unequivocally recommend this book to those who eat mostly outside of the home, to dieters, to those wanting to each more healthily and basically to just EVERYONE who cares about what they put in their mouth!!

Pashtpaws

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was the description that tempted me to read this book. I remembered the times when I was travelling throughout the UK and was just eating what was available. I was pretty sure it wasn't doing me any good. I hoped this book might just be the answer next time I have to take a trip.

It is actually quite a nifty little book. It may not be particularly long, but it isn't about the length it's about the information it contains!

There are useful facts spread throughout the book, the quote at the top is just one that really stood out for me.

The book is divided into the following sections:-

Introduction
how to use this book
Understanding key nutrients
carbohydrate
fat
protein
1 Breakfast on the Go
saving your bacon
2 Coffee Bar
the worst cake scenario
3 Working Lunch
mall-nutrition
4 Takeout and Fast Food
fries, pies and lies
5 Bars and Pubs
tots, shots and (salted) nots
6 Picnics
breads, spreads and other dreads
7 Barbecues
what’s charred and what’s barred
8 At the Movies
premiere choices
Index

Each section has ‘The Right Bite’ flagged boldly in the section colour to make it stand out. These coloured flagged areas advise what the reader should select as a preference when they just want a quick nod in the right direction. For example:
"THE RIGHT BITE A protein-rich soup is always going to be the most satisfying option. Some meat-based soups can be surprisingly stingy on the protein, as meat is an expensive ingredient, whereas soups made with cost-effective pulses such as beans, lentils or chickpeas often contain more generous proportions of protein. ..."

I have read it from front to back and having done so feel that this would be a very useful addition to the business travellers (or any travellers really) suitcase. And, more than that, anyone who is going out and about beyond the reach of their own kitchen will find it a useful addition to their bookshelf.

In short, I would recommend this book to anyone eating outside of the home, who wants to do so in a healthy way. Buy it, read it, apply it.

I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. NetGalley does not allow for paid reviews.

[Lynn P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something a little different from me today - a non fiction book. I requested this book to review as I thought it sounded like just the thing I needed and I was right!

The book is set out into eight sections covering several different food scenarios, such as - take away, working lunch and at the movies. With a general introduction covering lots of tips on understanding key nutrients.

It's easy to dip in and out of the book looking at the scenario you might find yourself in. I'm going to outline the main tips I've picked up in just a few quick reads of the book.

I've long thought that there is a lot of sugar in low fat yogurts and this the author confirmed. Whilst a natural full fat yogurt contains much less sugar and apparently not that much fat so in the long run probably the better buy.

Doner kebabs my guilty pleasure are covered in the book and I think it is now finally time to say good bye to them and opt for a healthier Shish kebab. It really was a wake up call for me when I read exactly how much fat is in one - 65g and only 10g in a Shish. Yes, I suppose I should have known this, but so helpful to see it in print.

So many times I've stood in the queue at the coffee shop wondering what is the best option. I need a snack on the go, but don't want one high in fat or sugar. I usually opt for a blueberry muffin at the coffee shop thinking it is the best option. Apparently if I'm looking at sugar content then it is. However, the low fat version contains 2-3 teaspoons more sugar, so if it's an occasional treat the author advises having the full fat tastier version. There is also a "Right bite" on each page which gives you a quick tip. In this case the tip is to "opt for a higher fibre version (of muffin) as these tend to be lower in sugar and higher in fibre, keeping you going for longer and minimising the damage to our waistline".

I think this is a great little reference book and one I will be referring to again and again. As I mentioned the "Right Bite" on each page is a great overall tip to quickly refer to.
I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars as I would have liked it to have covered even more areas.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Here is said honest review.

In her book, The Right Bite, Jackie Lynch provides valuable information about eating out when you’re trying to make healthier choices. Although I love a good burger and fries any day, sometimes I enjoy it too many days, and when work and extracurriculars get hectic, it’s easy to run through the drive thru and fall back on the $1. I wanted to read this book to gain insight on how to make better decisions when I don’t have the time or energy to fix something green at home.

Well before any instructions, Lynch gives the reader a rundown of the book as well as a rough guide to the types of things you find in your food, like sugar, carbs, fats, etc. and how they affect your body.

Aside from, of course, the fast food section, the lunch on the go section was my favorite, mainly because, for me, lunch Mon-Fri is the worst. If I haven’t prepared something the night before, it’s not going to happen at 6:30. Working on a college campus provides tons of options, however, most of them are neither healthy nor tasty. Lynch provides valuable information about the quick lunches we all eat at our desks, salads, sandwiches, soups while managing to throw in a couple of interesting surprises.

The fast food section told me some things I already knew, mainly, it’s bad for me, but there are some surprising nutrients in a few types of fast foods, and the calorie counts and entree suggestions are helpful.

After the normal eats, there are some specialty sections, such as bars and pubs, picnics, the cinema, and barbeques. I liked these sections because they aren’t some I would normally consider needing to think about. Eat what’s there, right? Well, there are choices and you don’t necessarily need one of everything in these situations.

Overall, this book was a helpful and enjoyable read. I’d recommend it to people who enjoy reading about food and would like a bit of organized, well-designed direction when eating out.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting. It is certainly a book to dip into rather than read at one sitting. Although I could have read it cover to cover right off. It is a book that when read with friends, it is constantly punctuated with "did you know.....
There are so much fact to take in about food, how they work in combinations to other, calories and nutrients. It talks about breakfast, workman lunches even what is best to eat for snacks. It all has facts to back up the information. I enjoyed it.
This book was provided to me in return for an honest and unbiased review

[Eileen Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

All you need to know about the food available when eating out at restaurants etc.
The nutritional data is welcome and well laid out so it easy to choose which food to eat whatever dietary concerns you may have.
A handy sized book for keeping in your pocket or handbag.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.

[MetLineReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A handy little book that reminds you of the right choices to make. Full of helpful advice without being "preachy", this is a good-go-to reference book for those of us who need a gentle nudge in the right direction!

Thanks to the publisher, Nourish, and to netgalley for my advance review copy.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book on a good read giveaway. Love the cover bright and appealing and the contents live up to it full of healthy decisions and alternative tips for a better diet . Ideal for snackers like myself
in a handy handbag size book Many Thanks.

[susan murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won from goodreads
Good advice for healthy options dip into book at anytime worth a read.
You realise how bad things can be for you and how to make an improvement into your daily diet