Eat to Love: A Mindful Guide to Transforming Your Relationship with Food, Body, and Life

by Jenna Hollenstein

Eat to Love is a joyful, non-diet approach to mindfulness, intuitive eating, and falling in love with the body you live in. In Eat to Love, nutritionist Jenna Hollenstein leads a spiritual revolution against pervasive attitudes towards food and dieting, and demonstrates how to free your mind from the fear, frustration, and shame often associated with eating. Through a series of revelatory exercises, along with simple instructions for time-proven mindfulness and meditation techniques, you’ll learn to identify prejudices around eating and reset your relationship with food. Eat to Love is not a diet book, not a “clean eating” manual, and not a guide to “being your best self.” Rather, it is a liberating path to sanity, and to loving the body you have right now. Since early childhood, many of us have heard that something is wrong with our with the way they look, the way they feel and the food we crave. This diet culture--surrounding us in the form of media, fashion, food trends, and even messages from friends and family--tells us that the only way to be happy is to be thin and to rigidly follow the latest eating dogma. Eat to Love challenges this insidious, pervasive messaging and resets your relationship with food from one that’s shameful to one that’s nourishing, liberating, and enriching.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Health, Nutrition, Food, Bodies, Personal Development

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2019

About the author

Jenna Hollenstein, MS, RDN, CDN, is an anti-diet dietitian-nutritionist, certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, speaker, meditation teacher, and author of five books, including Eat to Love and Intuitive Eating for Life. She blends Intuitive Eating with mindfulness to help people transform food and body shame into joyful eating and movement.

Jenna weaves together science and practicality to help people:

Understand how, when, and why they started mistrusting their bodies

Deprogram false and harmful messages of body shame

Reconnect with sensation, sensuality, and bodily intelligence

Feed themselves physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually

Think differently about dieting, exercise, alcohol, and addictions

Counteract disruptive and problematic thoughts and behaviors

Heal in order to live with joy and purpose

Tolerate and ultimately work with uncomfortable feelings

Discover delight, notice everyday magic, and feel fully alive

Jenna received a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition from Penn State University and a Master of Science degree in nutrition from Tufts University. She has trained in numerous integrative modalities, including polyvagal theory, somatic self-compassion, trauma-sensitive mindfulness, and embodied social justice.

Jenna has spoken at universities, retreat centers, and extensively online for both consumer and clinician audiences. Her work has been featured in the The New York Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, Yoga Journal, Health, Self, Lion’s Roar, Mindful, Vogue, Elle, Glamour, and Women’s World.

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not an overstatement to say this book has to potential to be transformative; it certainly is nudging me in a radically different approach to eating and food. This book challenges readers to reject all forms of diet culture and their promises connected to what she calls "magical eating" and instead says you deserve to give yourself radical permission to eat anything you want, whenever you want. She then completely dismantles the false promises made by diet culture, based on lies about health that are rooted in fat phobia. Finally, she gives you the tool of meditation to begin to attune better with your body and mind so that you will re-learn to eat intuitively, as all people are born knowing how to do. Do not read this book if you want to lose weight, but read this book if you would like to generously accept yourself, eat for pleasure and release yourself from negativity associated with the size or shape of your body.

[Emily Hiram · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book all women should consider reading. This is not a weight loss book but a Buddhist book about accepting and looking after yourself and your body.
The Buddhist perspective is that we are all inherently good and therefore our bodies are good and don’t need to be changed.
Jenna talks a lot about giving yourself absolute permission to eat and acknowledges that there are sometimes reasons to eat other than hunger. For example, if you are sad and want to eat chocolate and that feels like the best thing to do for yourself then do it, without shame or guilt.

[Brynn McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has truly impacted the way I view health, food, and my own body. I believe just about any woman would benefit from the ideas here. There are a lot of religious principles throughout that may not be for everyone, but regardless of your personal beliefs I think you will learn something.

[Mayson Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the principles in this book. It got a little bit too testimonial at times but it had a very interesting eastern philosophy to being present with food that has definitely impacted some of my thinking. Each pāramitā had a greater implication on how to live well, but it’s narrative ties to the topic were compelling and understandable.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important book that applies Buddhist principles to an intuitive eating approach while being practical and compassionate. A strong criticism of diet culture and "magical eating" that many should find valuable. I feel like I will be consulting this book often and highly recommend the book.

[Caveat: My wife has been in therapy with the author and found her helpful.]

[Sabrina Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es bien sabido que yo no leo libros de no-ficción, pero este me salió en Pinterest y me llamó mucho la atención porque justamente estaba recayendo en hábitos alimenticios muy malos y mis pensamientos se estaban distorsionando nuevamente. Verdaderamente Eat to Love me cambió la vida y nunca dejaré de recomendarlo, es un libro que todxs deberíamos leer, en especial las mujeres que somos las más afectadas psicológicamente con la cultura de la dieta y los estándares de belleza.

Eat to Love es un libro que te invita a cuestionarte todo lo que hemos aprendido sobre la comida y nuestro cuerpo en una sociedad que glorifica ser delgada. Estamos tan condicionadas y sumergidas en esta cultura que ya están normalizados conductas agresivas hacia nosotras mismas, dejamos de escuchar a nuestro cuerpo y empezamos a escuchar lo que otras personas tienen que decir sobre el que olvidamos cómo tratarnos con respeto y amor. Buscamos cíclicamente una dieta mágica que nos haga bajar de peso, solo para fallar, culparnos, y repetirlo. Tendemos a echarnos la culpa que no lo intentamos lo suficiente cuando no bajamos de peso y no paramos a analizar que tal vez la dieta es la que no funciona.

Jenna Hollenstein toma una perspectiva budista que te guía a cambiar la manera en la que nos vemos y tratamos a nosotras mismas, a tratar nuestro proceso con generosidad y paciencia, y siempre escuchar a nuestro cuerpo que es el que sabe qué necesita.

[Ashley Grospitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75/5: The author is woke and I really enjoyed this book. Takes a Buddhist perspective on learning to love, trust, and care for your body. A little cheesy at times, but the message was something I really needed to hear

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned of Eat to Love while attending one of Jenna's free webinars for Intuitive Eating. Jenna is super helpful during the webinars and gives insightful responses to questions so I had high hopes for her book. Those hopes were realized.
I appreciate Jenna's practical suggestions, her calm reassurances and her clear-eyed analysis of the prevailing diet culture. Eat to Love is a book I will return to again and again.

[Emily Culver · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was alright. I read it after reading Nourish by Heidi Schauster and Mindful Eating by Jan Chozen Bays. While there were a couple of nuggets, I felt that much of the content was repeated from those previously published books. Particularly the example of the Biggest Loser metabolism decline was literally in both this book and Nourish.

I realized I was slogging through this book, so I actually just started reading the first sentence of each paragraph and only a little more if I needed additional context. I found I did not miss out on much of the content...the writing is just very descriptive, wordy, and repetitive.

I think if you haven't read the other two books it may be worth reading thoroughly, but skimming may be just as useful.

I think the most valuable part of this book was the connection to the lojong slogans and how she related them to food. To me it allowed me to connect contemplation to food while also expanding it to the rest of my life experience. For example, the slogan "Remember the unsatisfactory nature of suffering." I often try to fix whatever is uncomfortable in my life through various efforts. I empathized with the feelings of trying to use food to fix physical and emotional problems. But I was also able to see how I use things I buy or do to this end as well.

Overall, if you are just going to read one book to restore your relationship with food, I'd recommend Mindful Eating, and if you can manage two, I'd skim Nourish. This compliments those two, but doesn't add enough, in my opinion, to read in addition to those two.

[Saša · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back to basics

Very compassionate and relatable book. People (including me) are so lost in the what she calls “magical eating” rules that we overrode our basic senses and human instincts. We all need to listen and trust ourselves a bit more, love our bodies and foods. One star is taken away because of unnecessery politics and because of the listings of various nutrients in the foods at the end of the book which was wierd and I felt it does not belong in this book.

[Paige Trembleau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eat to Love is an outstanding book for anyone looking to deepen their relationship with themselves, their body and food. The author, Jenna Hollenstein, uses the Six Paramitas of Buddhism to explain how each one can help the reader transform her life.

The two essential components present throughout the book are a meditation practice and the importance of being self-compassionate. I have a meditation practice and enjoyed the author’s reminder of how important it is for self-discovery and self-regulation. The author’s voice is incredibly compassionate which models how the reader can begin being kind to herself. Two fundamental tools in this process, mindfulness and self-compassion, help the reader develop more awareness and resiliency.

The author’s explanation of diet culture and magical thinking is fantastic. It is imperative to understand the cultural messages we receive are destructive to the mind, body, and spirit. These beliefs must be challenged with healthy, empowering mantras that connect our minds and bodies. My wish is that some day ALL women will support each other in learning to love and accept our bodies just as they are.

I loved this book so much, I have it in two versions: paperback and Kindle. I would adore an Audible version and would be thrilled if it is in the works. There is even a free companion workbook to practice skills covered. “Eat to Love” stays with you long after you have finished reading it and one you will find yourself referring to again and again.

There are countless pieces of wisdom in this book, but I will leave you with one of my favorites and hope you read the book to discover the others : “Generosity begins with the willingness to recognize and meet our most basic needs of nourishment, water, rest, comfort, pleasure, and intimacy. Without judging or questioning, we are simply “doing what is required”; we sense what are basically good bodies need and to our best to give that to them”. ~Jenna Hollenstein

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I'm interested in this book at the first place
One of the 15 books listed under 15 Books Like 'Tidying Up With Marie Kondo' To Help You Get Yourself & Your Household Back On Track , an article via Bustle (link).

This is my second book from the list.

What do I think of this book... now that I've done reading it
It took me a couple of days to finish this too, phew! With the aforementioned reading pattern, the writing style is almost similar to my experience after reading Mindfulness In Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana.

Please bear in mind, this book is not about diets and weight-loss advice.

+
1. The book is about having "the talk" with our conscious and subconscious self about food and foodie-related topics based on Buddhism perspectives.
2. The 6 paramitas (aka perfect virtues). It's cool to be able to look (and think) in different perspective.
3. Examples of food for consumption based on food pyramid.

-
1. I skipped Chapter 1 "You aren't good enough" because it's a little bit boring.

Get this
1. For my fellow foodies!
2. If your favorite book genre is on mindfulness.

[Lizzy Hanks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Top Three Takeaways:

- Meditation helps us see ourselves and our environment as they are, without judgment. This can help us make peace with our bodies and gain wisdom about the dangers of magical eating. "Eat to Love recognizes that body and spirit cannot exist without each other."

- We can choose to stop supporting oppressive industries by loving ourseleves and recognizing that our bodies deserve appreciation, gratitude, respect, and care at all times, regardless of external judgments. "Seeing your body as a problem to be fixed will always lead to confusion and suffering... put simply, we take care of things when we love them, our bodies included."

- Our culture typically advocates that weight is our most pressing concern and demonizes certain body parts as imperfections. However, these supposed imperfections are actually life-saving evolutionary miracles. We can and should choose to prioritize the things that actually matter in life. "We acknowledge that our time on Earth is precious and limited. We must choose what to prioritize in order to live according to what is most important."

[Patrycja · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book breaking all of your stereotypical thought about eating. It showed me, among many things, that I really can decide what I can eat, when I can do it, how much and I put a "stop sign" when I feel like I'm full. It made me realise that sometimes I was eating too mucho only because when i was younger my parents (dad) forced me to do so, because it is not polite to leave a plate with food you didn't eat, that it is being very ungrateful. Bullshit. Ever since reading this book I am deciding when do I feel full and better not it more so I don't feel bad on my stomach afterwards. Also, I choose what I want to eat. If I'm craving something, and I pay close attention to it when it happens, I allow to give myself whatever it is. It just gave me some freedom when it comes to eating. Altought it took me a bit to finnish the book, I was able to loose some weight by applying the suggested food mentality.

[Alex Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to enjoy this book, and I did appreciate many elements of the journey she takes the reader on - but for all of its gems, it’s just too long winded for where I’m at in my own project of mind/body connection (which probably means I could use some reflection and slow down). I felt there were too many times that her message was redundant, best suited for a 15 minute ted talk where the principles are distilled and concise, rather than approached from 5 different angles and then supported by anecdotes. The book is written and voiced for women, which I found insightful, but all in all I kind of gritted through the last half after I felt like I had read the same thing in multiple chapters. I believe this book would benefit someone searching for clarity amidst the confusion of diet culture and wants to cultivate their inner resources.

[Alyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book - I think I definitely got a few takeaways from this read. The book speaks about mindful eating, not diet culture or fat loss, and how to integrate that with your spiritual dharma in your everyday life. In a more positive light, the author encourages eating for pleasure and mindful eating instead of mindless consumption and negative thoughts to yourself. Some of the quotes were great:

"Our desire to make sense of the world represents good intentions, but attempting to do so by manipulating our bodies backfires."

“We don’t practice meditation to become good at meditating; we practice meditation to become good at life.”

"Whether we are simply not acknowledging what we are eating, overeating emotionally, or in the midst of an all-out binge, our minds and our bodies are in very different places."

[Riv]

My husband loves to cook and I love to eat. 😊 Enjoying food together is an important part of life in our family. After reading Jenna Hollenstein’s book Eat to Love, I feel ready to incorporate an appreciation of the body that I call home into my mindful eating practice. I have such gratitude for all of the wonderful things my body does to keep me comfortable and alive each day. Connecting that gratitude to the way in which I nourish myself feels right. This book opens the door to having an all around healthier relationship to your own unique body, your hunger, your fullness and every bite in between. 🍑

[Ailbhe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decided to start a path of intuitive eating / living after fifteen years of truly dysfunctional eating patterns (severe restrictions followed by severe bingeing). This book is the first I have read in this genre, I chose it because of the emphasis on mindfulness and Spiritual aspects of healing. She talks about the importance of self kindness vs seld aggression plus acting out of love over fear which is all very helpful. Also about how ingrained diet culture has become. This book is a beautiful blend of holistic self care and food / body acceptable. No nonsense and freeing. I look forward to learning more in the area of intuitive eating - I am already hooked..

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book on my Kindle and loved it so much that I bought the paperback and plan to start re-reading it again right away. It's one of those rare self-help-type books that has meaningul, practical information that can be used immediately (even while still reading the book).

You don't have to be Buddhist to appreciate the lessons offered in this book, but I do think being Buddh-ish is helpful (meaning, being open to mindfulness, meditation, and basic Buddhist concepts and terminology).

[Marita Romo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book with the intention of using spirituality to have a better approach to food. The book is not as captivating as I thought and I struggled to get interested in it. I also found it confusing with messeges like "eat whatever you want, whenever you want" and then "always be aware of your body hungerness scale and don't overeat". I guess it teaches intuitive eating principles but the spiritual part gets compromised within.
Would recommend but it is not as life changing as I would expect.

[Liz Bohan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. If you want to approach your body and your relationship to food in a more compassionate and understanding way this is a fabulous book. I will keep on going back to this one over and over... also has a lot of the awesome Buddhist principles that we can all relate to you in our busy lives ❤️

[Sara E. Goldstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a lot about intuitive eating and the non-diet approach. I found Eat to Love to be a deepening of this philosophy. I would not recommend this book for beginners - I found that the incorporation of Buddhist philosophy added another layer of complexity to an already complex subject. It is a great addition to those already familiar with IE.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

My copy of this book has so many underlines, stars, and highlights because it’s definitely a book to come back to. I recommend for anyone that has been fooled by the diet and weight loss industry. Transformative book - read it for yourself and also recommend to a friend, and grab a copy for a young female as well

[Jenn Platte · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this book to improve my relationship with food. I was really hoping to resent my mindset from “diet” mode to “lifestyle” mode. However, the authors political opinion mentioned within the first 20 pages was a complete turn off. I didn’t purchase this book for political views!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend recommended this book to me in the hopes that it would provide some guidance on how to talk about food and body image with my teen daughter. Jenna Hollenstein did exactly that and much more - she reminded me that I'm not finished having that conversation with myself!

[Carma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this read because it provided a different approach to how I look at my eating (what I'm eating, when, why). It was a solid read that provided me with a lot of insightful questions, tools, and resources.

[Aisyah Samuin · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was not what I expected and quite boring in my opinion.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this audiobook read by the author. A great melding of intuitive eating and Buddhism. The world would be a better place if more people read this book.

[Maria Vargas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too buddhist oriented

I found it repetitive and too buddhist oriented. I did not quite grab the essence of the book. Not sure the contents met my expectations.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful.What a beautiful blending of Buddhist philosophy and self-compassion, allowing us to see a path to develop new relationships with food and nutrition, our bodies and ultimately ourselves.