The Eden Diet: You Can Eat Treats, Enjoy Your Food, and Lose Weight

by Rita M. Hancock

(This product is not affiliated with or endorsed in any way by Eden Foods Inc.) According to Rita Hancock, author of The Eden Diet, you can have your cake and eat it too, even on a reducing diet. When you eat your treat in small portions, without guilt, and in response to true, physical (not emotional) hunger, a little cake goes a long way to satisfy you. Attuning to your body’s hunger signals also helps you respond to its instinctive call for healthy food to balance out the occasional treats. Dr. Rita’s approach is based on her Ivy League training in nutrition, physiology, and obesity psychology, but is reframed in her strongly Christian convictions about how to live the way God intended—physically healthy and free of the cultural obsession with food, eating, dieting, and thinness.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Health, Christian, Diets

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2008

Reviews

[Anne (In Search of Wonder) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book essentially expounds on the theme of 1 Cor 10:31: whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. It's not really a diet; it's more like a Christian version of intuitive eating.

Most of it makes sense, although I think some people will find this harder than a restrictive diet because it requires a combination of wisdom and self-control and is not an easy quick fix. There's a lot of truth here, though, and it's a good habit to develop regardless of where you are in your weight loss efforts. (If you're looking for a deeper spiritual look at your relationship to food, try Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeust.)

[Melissa]

Pros: I liked this book. Not sure if it was the way everything was presented but it was very easy to get through. If you are looking for a way to diet in a religious way, then this is the book for you. The author will teach you how she believes the Bible looks at food and how we should treat it. Towards the back there are some good recipes.

Cons: While I ended up enjoying this book in reality I had some issues with it.

1. This are many religious undertones in this book. I kind of figured there would be, knowing the publisher (Zondervan). However I know that publisher and know they deal with Christianity based books. For readers that don't know their smaller publishers, the religion throughout the book will be a bit jarring. Especially since this book is sold as a diet book with no mention to religion.
2. Even thought this book is very easy to read, there isn't anything really "new". We have all heard people tell us not to eat until we are really hungry. Throwing God into the equation was more like a new way to sell the same thing.

[Anita Agers-Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Dr. Hancock explains health information in a simple, common-sense manner. Her suggestions are easy to implement, and soothing to the soul as well as for the body. Loved this book, it's changing my life.

[Sundi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. So simple, yet profound. I thought I had it figured out after losing 145 lbs. but Dr. Rita's book showed me differently and God confirmed. What a book to open the eyes of non believers as well.

[Rachel Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Eden Diet is a solid plan for weight loss that is actually centered on biblical principles. The focus is on viewing food as God intended us to view it, and on worshipping/glorifying Him with how, when, and what we eat. Weight loss is an added bonus, but it is not the focus of our efforts, nor is it the ultimate goal. The Eden Diet is “for people who want to break free from bondage to food and eating... for those who seek to make Christ (not food) the Lord of their lives.” She repeatedly discusses four biblical principles for eating, backed up by individual Scriptures as well as the overall storyline of the Bible.

Dr. Rita Hancock is an M.D. who is thoroughly qualified when it comes to nutrition and weight loss (see the first chapter for an extensive list of those qualifications). She advocates using our “God-given” system to tell us how to eat: hunger pangs. She also shows readers how to view hunger pangs as a gift, rather than something to avoid or be anxious about. Eating “to” satisfaction (rather than “for” satisfaction) is also discussed in-depth. The mantra repeated throughout is “Jesus is Lord over me, and I am the boss of the food.” She explores many very practical ways to apply biblical principles for eating.

I am not giving the book 5 stars because the theology, while fundamentally sound, is often very pat. The gospel communicated is true, and the goal of avoiding legalism is spot-on. Additionally, the principles regarding food and eating are rock-solid. Iffy stuff included confusing sin as a “law” that works in us, and a focus on the Garden of Eden rather than our coming redeemed existence in Heaven. (I hope you get your theology from sources other than a diet book, anyway!) Overall, however, I highly recommend this book!

[Roxanne Combs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a "diet" book. It's a common sense book that should be read if you are or have ever struggled with body or weight issue. Dr. Rita makes perfect sense (to me). I read this book as a Bible Study with the workbook and a small group of other women. She points out our God given signals for when food is needed and how to rely on them for when to eat, not the signals from our minds (emotional and mindless eating). The main point of the book is how to eat to the glory of God and not our own emotional triggers.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The guidelines for eating that are presented in the book are probably not new to most people, but reminders can be helpful. Only eat when you're hungry. If you want to lose weight, eat less. Tips you don't come across a lot - if you don't do it often, it's okay to eat foods considered unhealthy or even to have a dessert for dinner.

[Stephanie Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very unusual diet book. The author helps us think of food in terms of the way God made us. She applied both her professional knowledge and experience and her Christian principles to conquer her own weight problem. Then she put that combined knowledge into this book. I recommend it.

[April Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm on the fence. It has some good ideas of ways to change your thinking. Which is what the book is mainly about. It doesn't want you stop eating what you do just think about certain things while and as you do.

[Kipahni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a Diet book. This a how to eat book. Diet implies food restrictions. There are no restrictions, there is only common sense with when and how much you should eat

[Charlene]

I use this kind of book as a reminder that I should be thinking about each bite I eat and why I am eating at all. I like how she thinks.

[Sandra Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back to the basics

This book teaches you what God intended from the beginning. How to eat only when hungry and letting Him fulfill our emotional needs. A very good read.

[Faye Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am finding the book very helpful and enjoying the Doctors insights very much.