Eating is not just a physical activity but an experience that should further the connection between mind, body and soul, writes wellness coach and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Lee Cotton in A Nourishing Perspective.

Cotton offers examples from her younger self’s disordered eating and lack of self-worth to show how it shaped her relationship to food. She describes her journey toward wellness, one that incorporated a mindful, non-diet take on eating. She rejects the need to be “the perfect body shape” society often demands of females and focuses on how readers can create an individualized approach to healthy nourishment throughout life.

Cotton’s practical guidance avoids the traditional calorie or body weight charts, extensive exercise routines or food pyramids that one might expect. It begins, instead, with her advising readers to examine their childhoods and adolescent food beliefs. She encourages readers to challenge their negativity about eating, exercise and body shape, which often creates shame and fear.

An encouraging narrative throughout offers practical techniques, including being realistic about goals, choosing nutrients that are healthy for your lifestyle, and getting professional help with eating disorders. The author’s approach also delves into mindful connections that can better harmonize the body’s nutritional needs: heeding internal hunger cues, mindful eating check-ins to understand how your body feels before and after meals, and meditative affirmations – mantras to repeat when feeling negative around food and body issues.

The author’s compassionate tone is appealing. Unfortunately, the narrative feels repetitious as she delves into mindfulness with a similarity on each topic. Readers might find it helpful to slowly immerse themselves in the initial content and practice strategies before moving on—or to choose specific chapters that are relevant to their situation.

Overall, however, this holistic approach offers relatable techniques and actionable steps for nourishing body and mind and creating a more sustainable connection to life-long nutritional well-being.