EAT THIS, NOT THAT: THE BEST (& WORST!) FOODS IN AMERICA! By David Zinczenko with Matt Goulding

EAT THIS, NOT THAT publishes an update seemingly every six months, but you can check with their web site at EatThis.com to get the latest nutritional information. The premise behind this series of books is that you can lose weight and eat healthier if you know your options. The book’s format is basically showing you the “Good” foods on one side and the “Bad” foods on the other side. For example: the “Worst Breakfast in America” goes to the Bob Evans Stacked & Stuffed Carmel Banana Pecan Hotcakes. These artery-clogging babies weigh in at 1,543 calories, 77 grams of fat, and 198 grams of carbs! This has the sugar equivalent of 7 Twinkies! And the caloric equivalent of 8 Dunkin’ Donuts glazed doughnuts! EAT THIS, NOT THAT points out healthy alternatives. For example, the Best Popcorn is Orville Redenbacher’s Natural Buttery Salt & Cracked Pepper Popcorn and the Best Dessert is Breyers All Natural Vanilla & Chocolate Ice Cream. If you eat out a lot, this book is essential! If you want to eat healthier, this is a great place to start. GRADE: A

22 thoughts on “EAT THIS, NOT THAT: THE BEST (& WORST!) FOODS IN AMERICA! By David Zinczenko with Matt Goulding

  1. Patti Abbott

    In New York a few weeks ago, it was shocking to see the calories on many menus and I guess they will all have it soon. Something that looked fairly innocuous–like a chicken sandwich was often 800 calories because of the fixings. It was hard to find choices that weren’t.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Restaurants pile on the fat, sodium, and carbs, Patti. EAT THIS, NOT THAT shows the “safer” choices. I found the book fascinating.

      Reply
    1. george Post author

      You only have to feel guilty if you choose one of the BAD choices, Bill. EAT THIS, NOT THAT presents many healthy alternatives.

      Reply
  2. Jeff Meyerson

    Patti, it’s true. It started here with fast food places but now a lot of sit down restaurants have calorie (and sometimes fat) info too. As George pointed out in the review, you’d be surprised at how much effect that can have on your eating habits.

    We eat out nearly every day and it has definitely had an impact on what we order. Check out a small deep dish pizza from Pizzeria Uno for example – minimum 1,700 calories. Starbucks & Dunkin Donuts also have counts that have put us off ordering pretty much anything but coffee.

    And for the whiners who complain – just don’t look at it. Order your usual way, tubby.

    😉

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Plenty of the restaurant foods EAT THIS, NOT THAT compares are eye-popping in the number of calories they contain, Jeff. EAT THIS, NOT THAT also grades restaurants. Starbucks received a B+ grade. I basically order their coffees, but I’ll cheat once in a while and have a Doubleshot.

      Reply
  3. Jeff Meyerson

    It’s actually amazing how much this affects what we eat.

    We do eat that orville Redenbacher popcorn regularly, though the one without butter ’cause Jackie doesn’t like butter. We used to eat a cup of Edy’s Slow-Churned ice cream every day but have now pretty much cut ice cream out of our diet, except on rare occasions.

    Hey, when you get old you need to take better care of yourself, right?

    Reply
  4. Richard R.

    The truth is:

    EAT THIS: celery and other raw green vegetables, tofu, a small bite of steamed chicken breast meat
    NOT THAT: everything else.

    Even supposedly healthy eating choices are loaded with fat, cholesterol, sodium and sugar. It’s almost impossible to find anything that doesn’t have at least two of those four killers. For every THIS choice in the book, there is another even better but far less tasteful choice out there. Example: have THIS salad dressing it may say, but raw spinach with no dressing is better for you.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      You’re right, Rick. But if you’re eating out, as we do frequently, it’s good to be armed with some healthy alternatives.

      Reply
  5. Jeff Meyerson

    Besides calories, sodium and fat we’ve added one more thing to check for: fiber.

    Our doctor told us to have 30-35 grams of fiber a day (most people need about 25 but not many get it) and it’s worked great, digestively (without going into graphic details).

    Besides keeping track of points for Weight Watchers, Jackie also keeps track of fiber grams every day.

    It makes you more aware of what you’re eating and helps keep you on track.

    Of course, occasionally you go off track – for instance, a week in New Orleans starting next Wednesday for Jazzfest – but you try and minimize the damage and get back on the horse when you get home.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Good eating habits tend to go out the window when we’re traveling, Jeff. You’re right about fiber. Very important. I actually eat raw fiber from the health food store to supplement the Kashi high fiber granola bars I like.

      Reply
  6. Jeff Meyerson

    We get Fiber One and Kellogg’s bars (at WalMart for $2 a box), which have 9 grams of fiber each, and chocolate!

    Reply
  7. Jeff Meyerson

    I just checked: it is Kellogg’s Fiber Plus bars, which comes in Chocolate Chip, Dark Chocolate Almond and Chocolate Peanut Butter.

    The other is South Beach Living’s Fiber Fit: our preferred flavor is Mocha.

    Reply
  8. Jeff Meyerson

    No such thing as a bad meal in New Orleans, Rick. We already have our first day’s meals planned.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      You’re right, Simon. EAT THIS, NOT THAT! promotes healthier choices for foods high in fat, sugar, and salt. And, by switching to foods lower in carbs, fat, and salt health benefits follow.

      Reply

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