cover image The Enlightened Diet: 7 Weight-Loss Solutions That Nourish Body, Mind, and Soul

The Enlightened Diet: 7 Weight-Loss Solutions That Nourish Body, Mind, and Soul

Deborah Kesten, Larry Scherwitz. Celestial Arts, $15.95 (214pp) ISBN 978-1-58761-311-1

Taking cues from the Kabbalah, Buddhism, Tibetan medicine and psychotherapy, nutrition specialist Kesten and research scientist Scherwitz have compiled a menu of tricks to motivate and inspire the anxious dieter, abutting weight loss strategies with techniques for making sure ""'all of you' will be nourished each time you eat."" Less patient dieters might be frustrated by the authors' wide-ranging, holistic approach; rather than the promised seven solutions, Kesten and Scherwitz offer up a multitude of suggestions, hints and lifestyle adjustments for seven distinct categories of eaters (Food Fretters, Task Snackers, Emotional Eaters, etc.). The authors emphasize self-awareness and relaxation techniques such as meditation, as well as cooking clubs and al fresco dining (both good methods for eating more mindfully), and discourage tedious calorie-counting and self-denial. Quizzes, lists and a helpful guide to mastering life changes round out the book. For those who like their diets with a heaping side-order of spirituality, this book will be a pleasure.