Diet books are a perennial favorite on best-seller lists, with new ones capturing the public's imagination every year. But with so many conflicting pieces of advice, how do you choose the right one? This article explores some of the best books about diet and nutrition, covering a range of topics from sustainable eating to intuitive eating and the impact of the food industry.
Why Read About Nutrition?
Reading about nutrition is a great way to improve your health. By reading, you can learn how to make meaningful changes to your diet. Reading can be especially beneficial if you have specific health concerns or fitness goals, as many books provide in-depth knowledge, tips, and resources from experts and professionals. Plus, many books offer recipes, meal ideas, and sample grocery lists to help you get started with healthy eating.
Furthermore, reading about nutrition can help you become a more conscious and informed consumer. For instance, you can learn what to look for when shopping for supplements, how government policies may affect your diet, and how the food industry alters your food choices.
What to Expect from a Nutrition Book
Nutrition books can cover a broad range of topics, from healthy eating and supplements to food policy, sports nutrition, and sustainability. Be sure to look for a book about the areas you’re most interested in and check the reviews from other readers before you buy.
Featured Books and Their Focus
Here's a look at some of the best books in the diet and nutrition category, each offering a unique perspective and approach to healthy eating:
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Best Overall: Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan
This book is simple, easy to read, and informative, making it ideal for nutrition beginners. It aims to help readers understand what and how much they should eat by providing clear and concise guidelines with evidence-based explanations. With 64 simple, common-sense principles outlined throughout, this book ditches the restrictive food rules and fad diets that dominate the nutrition industry and takes a totally different approach to healthy eating. Written by seven-time New York Times bestselling author Michael Pollan, “Food Rules” is our pick for the best overall book on healthy eating.
Best Cookbook: The Well Plated Cookbook: Fast, Healthy Recipes You’ll Want to Eat by Erin Clarke
This cookbook from healthy eating blogger Erin Clarke is a must-have for anyone looking for quick, healthy recipes that don’t require expensive or hard-to-find ingredients. Offering a variety of recipes, including Sticky Asian Cauliflower Wings and Ultimate Creamy Mac and Cheese (4 Ways), the book likely has a dish to please even the pickiest of eaters. While she’s not a nutrition expert, Clarke has been cooking up nutritious twists on family classics since 2012. Plus, her non-diet approach to healthier eating is one we can get behind - which is why this is our pick for the top healthy eating cookbook.
Best About Sustainable Food: Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do About It by Anna Lappé
Fifty years ago, author Frances Moore Lappé made history with “Diet for a Small Planet,” her bestselling book on the environmental impact of food production. Today, her daughter Anna Lappé is an author and educator on sustainable food systems. In “Diet for a Hot Planet,” Anna has sparked the conversation once again by examining the intricate relationship between diet and climate change. The book gets rave reviews for being one of the most informative reads about the issues surrounding food and sustainability. It also provides actionable steps for becoming a more sustainable eater.
Best for a Healthier Relationship with Food: Intuitive Eating for Every Day: 365 Daily Practices & Inspirations to Rediscover the Pleasures of Eating by Evelyn Tribole
“Intuitive Eating for Every Day” is well worth reading if you’re looking to build or develop a healthy mindset about eating. It aims to transform your relationship with your body, food, and health. Written by registered dietitian Evelyn Tribole, the book covers how to honor your hunger, make peace with food, and ditch the diet mentality. It also suggests daily exercises intended to help you reflect, practice self-compassion, and cultivate gratitude. If you’ve ever been interested in intuitive eating, this book is a great place to start.
Best Nutrition Book for Beginners: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Complete Food and Nutrition Guide
Hailed as the most trusted manual for healthy eating, the “Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Complete Food and Nutrition Guide” is a great book to have on hand if you’re a newbie to nutrition. The book lays out clear-cut, simple strategies for healthy living, along with practical, evidence-based advice for every stage of life. Unlike other options on this list, the book isn’t designed to be read cover to cover. Instead, it acts as a resource for all your basic nutrition-related questions.
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Best for Nutrition and Fitness: Not a Diet Book: Take Control. Gain Confidence. Change Your Life by James Smith
Personal trainer James Smith is known for his blunt approach to fitness and nutrition. In the bestselling “Not a Diet Book,” he offers refreshingly straightforward advice on how to adopt healthier habits, boost your training routine, and improve your life. The book also explores a variety of other complex topics, including metabolism, fitness fallacies, supplements, fat loss, and muscle growth. This book has more than 5,000 mostly 5-star ratings and gets rave reviews from readers who appreciate Smith’s evidence-based and uncomplicated advice on weight loss and exercise.
Best for Athletes: Peak: The New Science of Athletic Performance That Is Revolutionizing Sports by Dr. Marc Bubbs
“Peak” is a must-have for athletes looking to upgrade their performance and maximize their potential. Written by performance nutritionist Dr. Marc Bubbs, “Peak” takes a deep dive into the science behind sports nutrition and training techniques. Bubbs also addresses the importance of other factors that can affect performance, such as gut health, recovery, sleep, and hormone levels.
Best About Food Policy: Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health by Marion Nestle
Author and professor of nutrition and public health Marion Nestle tackles all things food policy in her prize-winning exposé “Food Politics.” The book covers how politics and economics have long been driving food and nutrition policies. It also explains how you can make a difference by voting with your fork. It’s thorough, eye-opening, and informative - a great choice for those interested in delving into the world of food policy.
Best for Science Lovers: Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine by Dr. Robert Lustig
Pediatric neuroendocrinologist and bestselling author Dr. Robert Lustig presents a well-researched critique of modern medicine in “Metabolical.” The book investigates the connection among diet, health, and chronic disease. With plenty of research and years of experience to back up his claims, Lustig offers a science-based look at how changing what we put on our plates can affect our health and the planet. Because this book is quite thorough and research-heavy, it is an especially great read for science lovers and health enthusiasts.
Best for New Parents: The Pediatrician’s Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers
Written by a pair of pediatricians and parents, “The Pediatrician’s Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers” takes the guesswork out of feeding your child. It provides information on everything you need to know, from food allergies to baby-led weaning and beyond. What’s more, it includes a variety of recipes and nutritional information to make mealtime a breeze. This book, which many reviewers call the ultimate resource for parents, could make a great gift for any soon-to-be parent in your life.
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Best Easy-Read Nutrition Book: How to Be Well: The 6 Keys to a Happy and Healthy Life by Dr. Frank Lipman
“How to Be Well” includes a variety of simple everyday habits that can support health and well-being. It’s written by Dr. Frank Lipman, who is frequently referred to as a leader of functional medicine. The book gets high ratings from reviewers who appreciate that it breaks down complex nutrition research topics and presents them in an easy-to-understand format. It also includes helpful illustrations, sample menus, and meal ideas.
Best About Supplements: Fortify Your Life: Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, and More by Dr. Tieraona Low Dog
Shopping for supplements can be overwhelming. In “Fortify Your Life,” supplement expert Dr. Tieraona Low Dog aims to clear up the confusion around supplements and empower consumers to take control of their health. This book is our pick for the best book about supplements because it’s thorough, easy to read, and informative. The author covers label reading and how to shop for vitamins and minerals. She also explores research on the connection between supplements and diet, as well as how you can use supplements to feel your best.
Best About the Food Industry: In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan
In this book, author and journalist Michael Pollan takes an in-depth look at the food industry. “In Defense of Food” includes an examination of how the industry has changed over the years, as well as the role of ultra-processed foods. It’s our pick for the best read about the food industry because it’s one of the most detailed and well-written books on the topic. In addition to taking a deep dive into nutrition science, food politics, and the modern diet, the book explores how to make thoughtful food choices and redefine what healthy eating means.
Why is Good Nutrition Important?
Following a nutritious, well-rounded diet ensures that you provide your body with the nutrients it needs to function and thrive. Good nutrition also plays a key role in many aspects of health, such as preventing chronic disease and improving athletic performance (1).
Getting Started with Healthy Eating
One of the easiest ways to start eating healthier is to slowly increase your intake of whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. At the same time, cut back on products that have been heavily processed or refined. Many of the books listed above, including “Food Rules” and “How to Be Well,” offer simple, straightforward guidance on how to start eating healthier.
Tips for Choosing the Right Book
There are a few things to consider when you’re shopping for books about nutrition. Here are our top tips:
- Consider the source. Check the author’s credentials and look for books written by experts in their fields. For instance, prioritize material from dietitians, physicians, or personal trainers whenever possible.
- Be wary of outlandish health claims. Steer clear of books that make exaggerated claims that seem too good to be true. Instead, look for authors who back up their statements with studies and references from credible sources.
- Look for realistic approaches to nutrition. We recommend avoiding books that promote fad diets, unhealthy habits, or overly restrictive eating patterns. Instead, look for books with a more realistic and sustainable approach to healthy eating.
- Read customer reviews. Customer reviews can provide insights to help you decide before you buy. Reading reviews is also a great way to assess whether a book is a good fit for your level of nutrition knowledge.
- Make sure the recipes align with your health needs and goals. When purchasing a cookbook, it’s important to make sure that the recipes and advice cater to your dietary needs and preferences.