Books to help with New Year's (Food) Resolutions

It is the last day of January and so I better talk about New Year's resolutions, just in case yours are already starting to be broken (I know mine are). If you are like me, then almost every New Years you resolve to eat healthier. In part, this is just the result of excessive good food over the holidays, but it’s also because if you are not thinking about eating healthy, then it is really really easy to eat terribly. It takes work to train your brain to crave healthy food as a default (I haven’t mastered this), and even if you can train yourself, it is just as easily undone by a month of holiday parties. When I’m in my New Year’s resolution phase I have a few go-to books which help me re-motivate myself.

First up is Michael Pollan's, Food Rules, a tiny book consisting of 64 rules to help you eat healthier and more simply. The rules are based around Pollan's motto: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. Most of them are common sense, but some are funny and the best part about the book is that the rules stick in your head - on your next trip to the grocery store you’ll already find yourself thinking differently about what you buy.

The next book is not the best for any male readers (sorry), it is French Women Don’t Get Fat, by Mireille Guiliano. The book argues that through seasonal and balanced eating you can avoid traditional dieting with all of its restrictive eating, plus give yourself a break from crazy exercising. Mireille Guiliano used to be the CEO of Veuve Clicquot and her suggestions are definitely helpful for working women who can’t always make their own lunch or be in control of their meals because of business travel and meetings. I will admit that I picked it up because I’m something of a Francophile (who wouldn’t want to be a French woman?), but have found that I keep coming back to her advice. If you are looking for hard rules, then this isn’t the book for you, but if you are looking to be more mindful of what you eat, pick it up.