Melissa, a food critic, eats out almost every night. She is a size two. Robin, who was not a size two asked Melissa how she does it. How can she eat out every night, make tons of new foods and have to taste them for her cookbooks and remain a size two? Melissa then introduced Robin to life on the Skinny.
There are four basic rules to living on the skinny. Here is a very basic overview.
- Eat what you like. It is that simple. No food is forbidden. The catch here is you have to ask yourself, “what do I really like?”
- Do not eat what you don't like. Another simple rule that builds on the first one. Food is so complex. It is not always eaten just because you like it. Sometimes people eat food because it is the most convenient, it is low in calories, we have always eaten it or maybe we think it is healthy. These reasons can cloud the true propose for eating and sometimes make you feel deprived.
- How to build a skinny meal. A basic skinny meal is mostly fruits and vegetables. Then you add other foods you like. A little protein, some cheese, or a roll. Fill up on fruits and vegetables. Have a side or two of other food you love.
- Do not eat to please someone else. This is important. Often friends, family, or spouses, can try to get you to eat things that you know you do not really want or need. Do not be pressured. Do what is right for you.
The Skinny also includes recipes, tips and personal anecdotes. There is a wonderful section on eating mindfully. It is described in a very down to earth, non-new agey way that most people can relate too. Melissa and Robin include sound advice on nutrition that will give the lay person some good basic nutrition knowledge. There are tips on how to pack a lunch for work, how to order in restaurants, and how to manage a sweet tooth. They stress portion control and give advice on how listen to you body to cue you when to stop eating and not when the plate is empty. They have also included a two week meal plan, not necessarily to follow but, to give an example of how the Skinny works. Dessert is included everyday!
The Skinny is a well written, simple plan that most people could stick with. While most readers will probably refer to this book often (for the recipes), it is easy to read and could be read in a day or two.
