Tag Archives: book reviews

Get the Nutrition Facts from Dietitians on DietsInReview.com

March is National Nutrition Month and today, March 10, is Registered Dietitian Day. Even though we at DietsInReview.com focus on nutrition news, tips, and trends every day of the year, we wanted to take some time to bring some excellent content your way created by top dietitians.

Before I get to “the goods,” I want to explain why seeking advice from a dietitian is one of the best things you can do for your health. Dietitians are the health professionals that can help you make sensible changes to your eating habits. They can help you understand any medical-related nutritional changes you may need to make (from allergies to diabetes or a thyroid condition). Dietitians can help you finish your first 5K or Ironman competition and help you fuel for optimal performance. Dietitians can even help you shop and prepare healthy meals.

RDs complete a minimum of four years of study in food and nutrition, and many have advanced degrees all the way to PhDs and some are MDs and professional chefs as well. After college, RDs must compete for coveted internships that last about a year. Then, it’s a board exam. Basically, it’s a lot of work. I should know! I’m a career changer from the IT field… leaving a cushy desk job to become a food and nutrition expert was the hardest (and best) thing I have ever done. I love my job. The best way to find an RD is to look one up in your area. You can visit www.eatright.org.

Now, here are some of the best features and content on DietsInReview.com that comes from the food and nutrition experts – the registered dietitians! (more…)

Posted on March 10, 2024 by Rebecca

Hot Nutrition Books in 2024 – Part Two

We all could use a little health help and a great way to get advice you can trust is by turning the pages of a great nutrition book. But how do you separate the great stuff from the absolute fluff? You read this post, of course. These books will help provide relief from celiac’s disease, keep you trim, and tell you how to eat well while pregnant — among other things. This list is in addition to my first list of hot nutrition books.


gluten free hassle freeGluten-Free, Hassle Free: A Simple, Sane, Dietitian-Approved Program for Eating Your Way Back To Health is a book that focuses on a no-nonsense approach to the gluten-free diet.

Why I like it: Because one book on celiac’s disease and wheat allergy is not enough, you’ll also want this useful book on your desk.


glycemic index diet for dummiesThe Glycemic Index Diet for Dummies is part of the For Dummies health and fitness series that offers information, suggestions and recipes for this low-starch eating plan.

Why I like it: Not being a huge fan of diets in general, I can still appreciate this book as a good source of information about the effects of carbohydrate-containing foods on blood sugar levels. (more…)

Posted on January 24, 2024 by Rebecca

Hot Nutrition Books in 2024 – Part One

We all could use a little health help and a great way to get advice you can trust is by turning the pages of a great nutrition book. But how do you separate the great stuff from the absolute fluff? You read this post, of course. I have a few books to recommend that would make any health nut’s shelf happy.


what to eat celiac diseaseTell Me What to Eat If I Have Celiac Disease: Nutrition You Can Live With, by Kimberly A. Tessmer RD, LD, is a guide for anyone living with celiac disease.

There have been other books about eating gluten-free written by people who aren’t experts. If you have celiac’s, you need a credible resource to help you eat nutritiously and avoid gluten.

Why I like it: If you want to know about gluten-free, you need to read this book because it is written by a celiac’s disease nutrition expert.


ibs free at lastIBS – Free at Last!: A Revolutionary, New Step-by-Step Method for Those Who Have Tried Everything. Control IBS Symptoms by Limiting FODMAPS Carbohydrates in Your Diet is a book written by Patsy Catsos that provides some diet options for people with IBS that will help ease their symptoms.

Why I like it: If you struggle with IBS, you know how frustrating it can be to deal with eating foods. You wonder “is this going to give me a problem?”. This book is based on the latest science and it is communicated in a simple way. (more…)

Posted on January 21, 2024 by Rebecca

Interview with Ali Vincent, Author of Believe It, Be It

ali vincentWhen Ali Vincent was in Los Angeles going through the final stages of casting for Biggest Loser season five, she took out a small bell, a gift from a friend, and started shaking it at her mom chanting “Believe It, Be It!” No one could have predicted then that those four words would be the mantra that would carry her to become the first female Biggest Loser and that it would be the title of her first book.

“Believe It, Be It” published last month and provides an intimate look at Ali Vincent’s life – what got her to her starting weight of 234 pounds, what pushed her to follow her dream and win Biggest Loser season five, weighing 122 pounds, and how she lives her life today, still listening to her mantra.

Listen now as I speak with Ali about the book, her lifestyle, and what her advice is for everyone about to start those New Year’s resolutions.


(more…)

Posted on December 30, 2023 by Natalie K

Best Diet Books of 2024

Diet books are a financial boon for the weight loss industry. Each week a new title releases, and while most seem to be different ways of saying the same things, some truly stand out by providing readers with unique, interesting and reliable information about managing their health and weight.

Recently, Amazon.com announced the bestselling books of 2024, and the list of 100 books included nine stellar titles under the diet and weight loss category.

View Bestselling Diet Books of 2009 Slideshow (more…)

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Natalie K

Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day Recipes and Review

HEALTHY BREAD IN FIVE MINUTES A DAYWe eat a lot of bread in this house. Part of it is the six kids and two adults plus visitors business, but part of it is flat out just because we eat a lot of bread. I love everything about most breads. I am a good baker, and I often make bread from scratch, but it can be time consuming and labor intensive. The mixing, the kneading, the rising – it can take an entire day just to make a loaf of bread and it’s gone in about 12 seconds.

The book Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, the first book by authors Jeff Hertzberg, M.D. and Zoe Francois, details how to make delicious, crusty, European breads quickly. These are all white breads, though, so I was really happy to hear of their newest book, Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day, which uses not only whole grains, but fruits and vegetables as well. I admit that I was intrigued. The premise is simple:

ARTISAN BREAD IN FIVE MINUTES A DAY taught busy people how to make great bread at home, with only five minutes of active preparation time. Now, HEALTHY BREAD IN FIVE MINUTES A DAY whips up fabulous breads made with more whole grains, fruits and vegetables. The secret? Mix up a lightning-fast batch of moist no-knead dough, save it in your refrigerator, tear off portions over the next week or more, shape, and bake. (more…)

Posted on December 3, 2023 by Carmen

Believe It, Be It by Biggest Loser’s Ali Vincent Releases Today

ali vincent believe it be itOn April 15, 2024 Ali Vincent made history when she became the first female to win NBC’s hit weight loss reality show Biggest Loser. Ali had entered season five of Biggest Loser weighing 234 pounds, and was eliminated during the fourth week of competition. In a twist of fate that reality shows are known for, Ali returned in the final weeks of the season, having lost more weight at home than her fellow eliminated contestants. With that she re-entered the game and instantly became a competitor. At the season finale, Ali walked on to the stage looking like a knock-out in a dress in her trademark hot pink. And when she walked on the scale that final time, it showed she’d lost 112 pounds to become the season’s winner.

DietsInReview.com had the opportunity to speak with Ali just moments after her victory, in which she continually said to us “Believe It, Be It.” It’s a personal mantra Ali used to drive herself during the competition, and today, it’s the title of her first book.

Believe It, Be It: How Being the Biggest Loser Won Me Back My Life releases today, and shares her very personal story of going from an all-time low point in her life before Biggest Loser, to feeling on top and regaining the life she so desired. (more…)

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Natalie K

My Two-Year-Old Eats Octopus Teaches Balanced Eating for Kids

my two year old eats octopusWhen I was growing up, one of the many mantras in our house was “This is not a restaurant, you’ll eat what I fix for dinner or go to bed hungry.” That meant from the time I went off the bottle until I moved to college I ate what was served for dinner. I had meatloaf, tuna casserole, spaghetti, hamburgers, or anything else my mom decided to fix that night, like it or not. We never had any kid food, you know, the food that is served to the kids but not the adults. Grilled cheese, hot dogs and chicken nuggets are staples in the American child’s diet, while mom and dad prepare something more age appropriate for themselves.

Although, when did food become age appropriate? That’s exactly what author Nancy Tringali Piho is asking and arguing in her newly released book My Two-Year-Old Eats Octopus: Raising Children who Love to Eat Everything.

I positively loved this book, and as an expectant mom, thought it should become a must-read for every expecting parent. The book introduced ideas that I hadn’t yet thought of, made me think about issues that I hadn’t paid too much attention to, and even justified some of the expectations I have for feeding my child-to-be. (more…)

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Natalie K

Biggest Loser Simple Swaps Book Review

biggest loser simple swapsAs a dietitian, I am well aware of where people get their health information. By and large, people search the Internet, read blogs (like this one), watch the news, and read books and magazines. There is no shortage of information available and books especially seem to carry a layer of credibility. That’s why I think it is crucial that when I find a book I love, I need to shout it from the rooftops! The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps, by the show’s dietitian and chef Cheryl Forberg, is one such book. In this post, I’ll share why you should run (not walk) to pick up your copy today. (more…)

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Rebecca

Born Round: The Secret History of a Full-Time Eater by Frank Bruni

born round frank bruniWhen most of us think of eating disorders, an image of a teen-aged girl or young woman enters into our minds: Sallow complexion, hollowed eyes, noodle-like arms, stick legs. We’ve all “seen” her. But what about closing your eyes and envisioning a  grown man, and not a gangly and lanky one, but rather an overweight gentleman who has battled bulimia, binge-eating disorder, laxative abuse, nighttime eating and an almost dangerous inherited love of food.

In fact, it was precisely the excess pounds and passion for food that landed author of Born Round: The Secret History of a Full-Time Eater, Frank Bruni, a job as the restaurant critic for The New York Times. In his nakedly honest memoir, Bruni chronicles his life as not just one of the most respected (and feared) food critics in the country, but also as a voracious eater whose relationship with food rendered him powerless over anything from convenience store eats to Chinese food delivery. (more…)

Posted on September 28, 2023 by heather

Interview with Nine Steps to Happiness and Health Authors

happiness and health bookHow many times have we said this to ourselves: “If only I could lose 10 pounds, then I would be happy,” or “I can never be truly happy as long as my back continues to hurt.”

What it takes to be happy may not be a consequent of losing weight or having a pain-free lumbar spine, but rather, making the choice to be a happy person irrespective of weight or pain may determine just how healthy we can be.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Rick Foster, one of the co-authors of Happiness & Health. Rick and fellow author Greg Hicks discuss their breakthrough research and findings on what it takes to find the two things we covet most in life: Happiness and Health. Rick and Greg are also the authors of the bestselling and international sensation How We Choose to Be Happy.

Continue reading to see the interview. (more…)

Posted on September 9, 2023 by heather