Eat This–Not That Book Review

Posted on 20. Apr, 2010 by Becky in Feed Your Body, Fitness & Wellness Books

Yes, it’s another book review!  I guess you could say I’m on a roll, although this one hardly counts as heavy reading.

Eat This Not That! 2010: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution by David Zinczenko is more accurately described as a well-illustrated reference guide to making healthy food choices, particularly when eating out.
So, is this one worth adding to your home library?  I would say….NO…sorry, David.  While I found this book interesting, to me it was nothing more than a glorified and well-publicized calorie counter.  Here’s the breakdown of what I loved and what I didn’t:

Why I loved that this book:

• Had great pictures of all that food
• Compiled nutritional info from many of the popular restaurants that you probably frequent
• Compared apples to apples…or burgers to burgers, rather.  It was most helpful in this arena–when you feel like a greasy burger, now you know that a Big Mac will save you 200 calories over a Whopper.  Who knew?
• Gave some good nutritional reminders.  It was good to refresh myself on all the tricks to keeping eating out from being a health hazard:  omit the mayo, no cheese please, veggies on the side, watch what kind of bread you ask for, and for goodness sake, consider fries only on those special occasions when you can afford a huge empty calorie splurge.
• Took into account total nutrient density rather than simple caloric intake.  Zinczenko acknowledges the benefits of avocados and alike despite their high calorie counts.

Why I was ultimately disappointed:

• The fact that I felt this book did not live up to its hype.  For a clueless American eater, perhaps this was breakthrough content.  But if you have basic knowledge about nutrition, this book seems rather, well…obvious.  Choosing grilled fish with a side of veggies will save you calories over chicken smothered in cheese and sauce with tortilla strips on the side.  No, really?
• I didn’t feel he always had fair comparisons.  He would recommend one sandwich with a side salad over another sandwich with a side of fries.  Of course the salad combo gets much better numbers, but how much of it was the salad and how much was the sandwich?

What I took from this book:  I have always been one who feels a bit of anxiety about eating out.  All those…CALORIES!  Well, reading this book and seeing all those numbers in front of me actually reiterated that eating out does not have to sabotage your waistline, if you do it in moderation.  But I really think that your life will be much simpler and you will be slimmer if you just live by this one Aerobicmom cardinal rule: TAKE HOME HALF.

There you go!  Now just print those three word out onto a piece of paper, tuck it into your wallet and you’re good to go.  I don’t even care if you get the smothered burrito.  Just TAKE HOME HALF.  It’s a lot easier than carrying Eat This-Not That around with you on your lunch break.

My favorite tidbits from this book:

• Chic-Fil-A is your best bet for fast food (even above Subway)–not a single sandwich breaks the 500-calorie barrier.  Wow!
• A single Cinnabon cinnamon roll clocks in at 813 calories.  Split this occasional indulgence with a pal or bypass it altogether!
• The worst food in America…Outback’s Aussie Cheese Fries…a gooey 2,900 calorie mess.  When you consider the deep-fried starchy potatoes, gooey cheese and fatty bacon, can you really say you are surprised?
• One of the best quick breakfasts around is the old standard Egg McMuffin, with around 300 calories and a good balance of protein, fats, and carbs to keep you fueled.
• I was introduced to the In’N'Out Secret Lexicon:  I’ve only tried this very trendy burger joint once and left wondering what all the fuss was about.  I guess I’ll give it one more go and try my burger Animal & Protein Style.  I’m new at this…is that legal?

Click Here to Buy on Amazon