Eat This Not That: Thousands of Simple Food Swaps That Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds-or More!

by David Zinczenko

book data

679 ratings, 3.86 average rating, 223 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		29%
4		35%
3		27%
2		5%
1		1%

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published

December 10th 2007 by Rodale Books

binding

Paperback, 304 pages

isbn

1594868549 (isbn13: 9781594868542)

description

The smartest eating choices--made simple! The secret to looking, feeling, and living better than ever is not by depriving yourself of the foods you lo...more

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2009 ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

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01/22/09

Tammy rated it:

bookshelves: 2009-reads

Read in January, 2009

Do you like McDonald's Caesar Salad with crispy chicken?

You probably shouldn't. At 410 calories and 19 grams of fat, a Quarter Pounder (minus the cheese) weighs in healthier than said chicken salad that contains 550 calories and 32.5 grams of fat.

I suppose you could always dump the special Paul Newman salad dressing and toss the cheese, cutting the calories almost in half.

When I'm not following Weight Watchers, I will occasionally pick up Jack-in-the Box's S...more

Like this review? yes (5 people liked it)

9 comments

08/21/08

Valerie rated it:

bookshelves: cooking

Read in September, 2008

I came to this book by way of Eat This Not That! for Kids: Raise a Lean, Healthy, Happy Child!. I was pretty riveted by that book, mainly because the amount of horrible things in fast food and pre-packaged foods for kids is practically indecent. So when my library emailed me to let me know that Eat This Not That: Thousands of Simple Food Swaps That Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds-or More! was waiting for me, I quickly washed down my Big Mac with my super-sized coke and rushed right over.

...more

Like this review? yes (4 people liked it)

6 comments

01/26/08

Dani rated it:

bookshelves: non-fiction

Read in January, 2008

This book is terrible. I read this book during a slow day at the bookstore where I work, and I was disgusted. A book that suggests you can lose weight by making the giant lifestyle decision to eat a Big Mac instead of a Whopper is mostly likely authored by Satan. It also offers genius advice on which entree at Chipotle packs the least calories, as well as the healthiest menu item at TGI Friday's.

Honestly, if you eat fast food everyday, switching from the fillet o'fish to white meat ...more

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02/27/09

Erin rated it:

Read in February, 2009

I've read lots of diet books over the years. I can spout the downfalls of Atkins and South Beach Diet in my sleep, and there was a two-month period in my early 20s that I ate pretty much nothing but rice and steamed vegetables. But diets like that aren't practical, especially when you're a working mother also trying to sneak healthful foods in on two preschoolers, and trying to omit food dyes and boost omega 3 foods for the kiddo with ADHD.

So forgive me for a minute as I do a happy d...more

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07/05/08

Carm rated it:

Read in May, 2008

As I strive to alter my eating habits and head toward a healthier lifestyle, I find myself more and more attracted to things like this book. It features eight chapters of full color, info packed pages--each chapter, with a different emphasis.

The first identifies 8 foods you should eat every day and 20 to avoid at all costs. Yes to yogurt and black beans (probably not together! blech!). No to a Burger King Triple Whopper with Cheese, Fries, and a King size Coke. (2200 calories)
...more

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06/18/08

Emily rated it:

Read in July, 2008

This book was good and bad. Here’s why:

GOOD: If this guy was writing as a secret advocate of the fast food industry, it totally worked on me. All I want to eat is fries and ice cream and pasta and burgers and taco salads. The pictures in the book were very tempting. Hmm...maybe this should not be listed under the “good” part of my review.

I liked it the most that it does not tell you what NOT to eat, but what to eat instead. And it breaks down meals from so fre...more This book was good and bad. Here’s why:

GOOD: If this guy was writing as a secret advocate of the fast food industry, it totally worked on me. All I want to eat is fries and ice cream and pasta and burgers and taco salads. The pictures in the book were very tempting. Hmm...maybe this should not be listed under the “good” part of my review.

I liked it the most that it does not tell you what NOT to eat, but what to eat instead. And it breaks down meals from so freakin’ mant restaurants you would not believe it. So let’s say you don’t want to go totally with the “healthy” food at McDonalds. You can pick and choose because it gives you good and bad choices that actually correspond with each other. I hate it when they (whoever) suggest that instead of the fries that you are craving that you should eat 1/3 of a baked eggplant and dink 3 glasses of water with lemon. HELLO? When I want some fries I either need fries or something SIMILAR. I don’t care if the eggplant and water fill me up. I am not interested in that. I am interesting in feeling some hot, crispy, salty fries in my mouth. My stomach will just have to deal with it, filling or not. So anyways, this book subs in healthy stuff that is actually close-ish to the unhealthy.

Also, the book is not exclusively for certain diets, like no-carbs. It is a general guide to making better choices. It compares sodium where sodium is a problem, for example. So it is a little bit of everything for everyone. And because seriously, a diet has got to accommodate eating out. This one says, “Hey..you are going to do damage. Such is life. Here’s how to do a little less damage.”

Oh! And in addition to the restaurant stuff it does comparisons of stuff like salad dressing, breads, cookies, etc. Cool.

BAD: I am craving fries. And curly fries. And a Slurpee, which is weird because Slurpees were not even in this book.

It would be nice to have a pamphlet version of the book or something to take with me wherever I go. A lot of the stuff that was a bad choice surprised me a lot. I’m not sure if I can remember it all on my own.

Also, toward the back of the book where it does product comparisons, there were a few products that were repeated. Ok, except they were not repeated exclusively as good or bad choices. Like Kraft Zesty Italian. In comparison to the other items on the page it was either better/good or worse/bad, but I can’t remember which is which.
(less)

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12/04/08

Suzanne rated it:

Was really good. A lot of the tips I already knew (a salad isn't really the best choice covered with cheese and full fat ranch dressing) but the advice was solid. I'd definitely recommend taking along to dinner out or to the grocery store.

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03/16/09

Kevin rated it:

Read in March, 2009

this book should be re-titled as "don't eat this OR that."

seriously.

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

1 comment

04/02/08

Evan rated it:

bookshelves: domestics

recommended to Evan by: Rhonda

This was a cute, brief, little book that helps you to fully understand what you're putting in your mouth when out to eat. I liked how it spelled out 3 or 4 healthier options per restaurant featured, and that it featured restaurant chains at both ends of the price spectrum.

However, what I enjoyed reading most were the last few pages that gave suggestions on what to eat when you're in a particular scenario, such as "When you wanna get in the mood, eat this..." and "When ...more

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03/01/09

Kristen rated it:

Read in February, 2009

Some interesting stuff in here. And one premise is sound: swapping out total crap for items that aren't quite as crappy for you will help you feel better and probably help you lose weight (or at least not gain weight so quickly.) Frankly, if the bulk of what you are eating is mentioned in this book on either side (the Eat This side OR the Not That side), you're probably struggling.

I did learn some interesting things about some healthy foods - like how quinoa could be a much better ...more

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01/19/09

Sara rated it:

bookshelves: 2009, challenge-winter-2008, nonfiction, self-help

Read in January, 2009

Dude, I'm sorry, but when a diet book tells you that Krispy Kreme donuts are on the "eat this" list, it gets an automatic 5 stars. Hands down. :)

But seriously, it was really interesting. They go through restaurants one by one and tell you the things on the menu that have the fewest calories and lowest fat or whatever. AND, they tell you what the WORST foods on the menu are. Some of them are PRETTY SURPRISING. For instance: Macaroni Grill's Chicken Portobello... whic...more Dude, I'm sorry, but when a diet book tells you that Krispy Kreme donuts are on the "eat this" list, it gets an automatic 5 stars. Hands down. :)

But seriously, it was really interesting. They go through restaurants one by one and tell you the things on the menu that have the fewest calories and lowest fat or whatever. AND, they tell you what the WORST foods on the menu are. Some of them are PRETTY SURPRISING. For instance: Macaroni Grill's Chicken Portobello... which is THE thing I get at Macaroni Grill... apparently if you eat the entire plateful of food (which I invariably do), it's a whopping 1020 calories, with 66 grams of fat, 11 of which are saturated... AND 7,300 mg of sodium. *cough* Pain... that's just painful. That doesn't even include the 3 loaves of bread dipped in pure olive oil....... *sigh*

Anyway... it also talks about when you go grocery shopping, which foods are better alternatives to the ones you usually buy. Also, some surprises. They say buy regular bacon instead of turkey bacon! Turns out they have the same amount of calories, same amount of fat... but the turkey bacon has more sodium in it! PLUS, the regular bacon TASTES better!

Some of them are close enough in calories that I'll sacrifice for the bad thing... For example, I'm taking the pecan pie, at 678 calories a slice over the pumpkin at 465 calories a slice. In fact, I'll take TWO slices of pecan, thanks. :)

Anyway, great tips. I thought it was fascinating. And it really did say that about Krispy Kreme... it said that if you want to eat donuts, eat a Krispy Kreme regular glazed donut, not a Dunkin' Donuts glazed cake donut. But I think that has more to do with the regular vs cake more than anything. But whatever!

PS - The 3 worst foods in America:

3. On the Border Stacked Border Nachos (2,740 calores, 166g fat, 191g carbs, 5,280mg sodium)

2. Chili's Awesome Blossom (2,710 calories, 230g fat, 194g carbs, 6,360mg sodium)

1. Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cheese Fries with Ranch Dressing (2,900 calories, 182g fat, 240g carbs) No stats on the sodium. I assume they're at a lethal level. (less)

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05/25/09

Chad rated it:

Read in May, 2009

I didn't read this book as its authors (Men's Health editors) intended. I read it cover-to-cover, and it's meant to be a reference guide that you carry with you to restaurants and the supermarket. Still, I was able to find plenty of good information that I noted for later use.

The diet presented in this book doesn't require you to become vegetarian or eat tofu. Instead, it tells you how to choose healthier alternatives to the food you already eat and love. Many people fail at diets be...more

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04/21/09

Kristen rated it:

bookshelves: food, fromlibrary, nonfiction

Read in April, 2009

This didn't really work as a library book because the details won't stick in my head. And they're useful details. If you're sometimes going to end up with fast food and other junk food regardless, it's useful data. It's even more useful (ie, news) for my boyfriend, who hasn't been reading about calorie counts in magazines his whole life but is now unhappy with his weight. I was pleasantly surprised to see emphasis on more than just fat and calories. If something was slightly higher in one of tho...more

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05/25/09

Emily rated it:

Read in May, 2009

Very visual format was interesting and eye-catching. The bite-sized (groan!) snippets of information were easily digestible (oh, dear, there's another one) without being overwhelming. Some new information, some I've read in other sources as well; as a quick reference/compilation it works fairly well. I particularly liked the fresh produce section with the easy-to-read chart on when fruits and veggies are freshest and how to best keep them at home.

Some of the "better" foo...more

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11/29/08

Chrissy rated it:

Read in November, 2008

recommended to Chrissy by: The Biggest Loser
recommends it for: everyone

This simple little book is something you could read in an hour, but the information in it is priceless. David Zinczenko has reviewed hundreds of restaurants and rated their burgers, salads abd sandwiches for nutritional content and calories, then tells you the best bang for your buck. His simple substitutions can save you hundreds of calories a week and leave you scratching your head, thinking, "how is this burger THAT much fattier than that one when they have all the same ingredients?"...more

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04/14/09

Lucy rated it:

Read in March, 2009

During my junior year of college, the new Cougareat opened and I found myself buying a plate of Chicken Alfredo several times a week. I have never liked marinara sauce with its chunky tomatoes and enjoyed the option of a creamy, white sauce that tasted so much better. I honestly never thought about what ingredients might make it taste so good.

Then, somebody (I can't remember who) told me that a serving of alfredo sauce was equal to eating thirteen pieces of bacon. While I have never ...more

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03/28/09

Penny Ziegler rated it:

bookshelves: kent-ya-class

Quick Pick ~ Nonfiction

VOYA's Book Review Codes ~ Quality 5Q; Popularity 2P; Grade Level Interest M, J, S, A/Ya

40 Developmental Assets: 0

How many of you enjoy eating potato chips? Did you know that the FDA allows 6% of the potatoes used in a bag to be rotten? Did you know that food companies pay the American Heart Association to have their logo on its food? This and lots of other information can be found in this colorful book. Food products are divid...more

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01/15/08

Meg rated it:

bookshelves: non-fiction

Read in January, 2008

Got this from a woman in the locker room of my gym. At first I thought she was trying to tell me something, but apparently she works at the publishing company and had multiple copies. It's actually a pretty interesting comparison of chain food restaurants and a good dissection of restaurant menus.

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09/21/08

Michelle rated it:

Do you intuitively pick the most unhealthy dish on the restaurant menu?
Take this visual tour through most of the fast food and chain restaurants in America and learn to pick the lesser of two evils (menu choices) that are presented on each two page spread. If you eat out, get this book today!

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02/08/09

jennie E. rated it:

bookshelves: to-read

I have seen this author on Ellen Degeneres, he several books out now like this one and I want to get a couple of them. I couldnt believe some of the things he has in here. I was totally shocked at what you can eat when eating out and here I thought I was selecting the right food choices, so much for that. I highly recommend this book and the series. He even has one for supermarket shopping I want to get and be sure to visit the web site I have that in my favorites. I have started eating healthie...more

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