Fix it with food by Kavita Devgan - Book Review

The author Kavita Devgan is a nutritionist and her books are not mere some textual content, but properly designed training material. I have read and reviewed both of her past books "Ultimate Grandmother's Hack" and "Don't Diet". She preaches healthy habits and nutritional food and strongly opposes dieting and other harsh measures. Her books are like a pedagogy where she covers every aspect of a said topic using only food. Starting from the selection of food to prepare and schedules etc. In our home, many of her suggested recipes are taken under regular food items. So when I saw the book, "Fix it with Food" I didn't wait for a moment and I selected it.

As usual, Kavita has divided the book into segments. There are three segments in this book

1. 40 superfoods to get super insights. List of superfoods, their nutrition level, benefits, and usage. Not just the myth of fasting, in this part author, has also explained myth around these foods. These chapters cover more than 75% of the book. The good part is "fun facts" and "at glance" pointers. If you feel lazy to read the whole book, you may point down these pointers and that's also enough. This segment also contains mini-chapters and covering 100 fixing tips for various conditions.

2. 10 Tools - I would say confusing titled but cleared with the subtitle "foods to become healthier" Again eye-opening section for me.

3. 40 quick and healthy recipes that you should add in your daily diet plan. This section will be found in most of Kavita's books and one for which I look forward the most.

Not just physical ailment that Kavita has covered, but problems related to mood swings, mental stress, hormonal imbalance, fighting pollution, and the hottest topic immunity boosting. Read the book to know more.

The ingredients covered in this book don't burn your pocket instead most of the ingredients are available to the majority of the population with minimal cost. The language is simple and straights. Advice is practical and easy to use. The structure of the book will make you engaged until the last page, rarely a self-help book deliver such content.

I will give 5 out of 5 to this book.

Book links - Goodreads & Amazon

Discussion with Kavita Devgan - an Expert Dietician & a Best-selling Author

It was a pleasure for us to host an interview with Kavita Devgan a celebrity dietician & the best selling author on our blog. We have reviewed both of her books on our blog "Ultimate Grandmother Hacks" & "Don't Diet". She has delivered the most complex topics in the least boring manner. So without wasting time let us have a round of Q&A for which you all are waiting.

When did you start a career as Dietician? Did you have thought about working in this line from your teenage?

Well, my dad wanted me to become a doctor and I even took up bio in plus two because of that (and also because i enjoyed the subject). He was really really keen but by the time i finished my 12th class I had made up my mind not to study medicine. I wasn't very clear about what I really wanted to pursue but somehow I was totally clear that i did not see myself as a doctor. So even though dad tried to convince me, i resisted and finally got my way. Luckily i am like this: once i make up my mind I stick to it. So then I decided to study HomeScience (hons) with specialisation in nutrition in Delhi University as I found that more interesting than other science streams like botony or zoology. And thank God for that as it was love at first lesson for me. I realised the potential of prevention, and was sure this is what i wanted to practice and teach. What also helped was that I was naturally / maybe genetically a healthy eater (thanks to mom's efforts), so i was a good fit. I followed up my graduation with a specialisation in Dietitics and Public health nutrition an then an internship at Safdarjung Hospital later I was a qualified Dietician, ready to practice. And now I have been practising for almost 25 years and been writing on health for 20.

When did you think of coming into writing as well? Any specific incident which made you write?

I was always writing, ever since I remember. But earlier it was mostly fiction (short stories, poetry etc). When my son was born, I took a break from practice for a year and began writing more regularly. As by then I had subject matter expertise plus lots and lots of practical experience via the people I had counselled for health gain and weight loss, I started writing in the health genre and luckily found many takers in the media for it. Then on, for many years writing took front seat and my clinical practice was put on the back foot. Now I practice a healthy balance of both, and like it like this.The fact that I can through my writing take my idea and the rules of healthy living (that I believe work) and also the latest researches in the field to thousands of people at  one go is a huge motivator, and this is precisely why I began writing. Also the thrill of seeming my byline… that is unparalleled. Yes even after so many years of writing.

The recipes mentioned in books tell us your expertise for cooking as well. So tell us how do you manage work (at home & office/clinic) & writing both. We feel writing requires a good amount of effort, what about you?

Yes there’s a lot to juggle, but I like it like this. The best part is that this way I don’t have a typical day. It changes depending on whether its my writing day, clinic practice day, or a day when I have a speaking assignment penciled in. It usually begins the same way every day though: with lots of water first thing in the morning and then a cup of ginger (lots of) and pepper tea. Another constant is that on most days I manage to sneak in some writing too - as that’s almost a soul necessity for me.

So tell us about your book "Don't Diet"&"Ultimate Grandmother Hacks”?

My first book Don’t Diet! 50 habits of thin people grew out of my interactions during my weight management practice. It is a compilation of lessons I learnt (what works and what doesn’t) from my clients. I believe that the only sustainable way to gain health and prevent Illness is by changing our habits. So I have listed the ones I believe (and have seen) work.

Ultimate Grandmother hacks is a compilation of habits that I have grown up with and consider super healthy. The book compiles time-tested food habits to help us develop a cohesive healthy lifestyle and rediscover the joy in eating. It lists the many nuggets of wisdom and discusses the various foods and habits that our parents and grandparents followed that are still relevant today. I basically did not want us and the next generations to forget them, hence the book. That was the motivation behind the book.

Any specific thing that you would like to share with us?

Never think short term, always keep the long term goal of health in focus. You only get one body (like one life), so don’t be responsible with it. Focus on nutrition and the weight loss will happen naturally. And yes please go back to the traditional way of eating.

 

Follow Kavita Devgan on 

• Twitter - https://twitter.com/Kavitadevgan
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Kavitadevgan
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/Kavitadevgan
• Ultimate Grandmother Hacks https://amzn.to/2AlLFas  
• Don't Diet! 50 Habits Of Thin People https://amzn.to/2BxQtcs

50 Habits of Thin People - Don't Diet by Kavita Devgan - A Book Review

We rarely take self-help and cooking mix books, but when we find gems from well-known Dietrician, Nutrition or Chefs we don't say no. Because with the level of their expertise & exposure, they can share many interesting ingredients & recipes. Kavita Devgan's last book that we read was "Ultimate Grandmother's Hack". We learned many quick & try-able recipes. So our bar of expectations was pretty high for "Don't Diet".

Book Blurb

"50 HABITS OF THIN PEOPLE GENERIC DIET PLANS DON'T WORK! Long-lasting weight loss can be achieved only by changing the way you eat. To reach your ideal weight, you must move away from diets to eating right. Move away from fads to healthy habits. Thin people stay thin because these habits are embedded in their subconscious and are a part of their daily routine. Don't Diet will help you identify 50 STAY-THIN habits - spread across MIND, BODY and LIFESTYLE - and give you workable cues to adopt them easily. With the help of these cues, you too can stay fit and happy. And of course, thin. DON'T WAIT. BEGIN NOW! Kavita Devgan has many avatars: she is a writer, nutritionist and weight management consultant who has transformed the lives of hundreds of clients seeking weight loss. She is a feted speaker and a popular health columnist with premier media groups. She has been writing extensively and sharing her ideas with lakhs of people for the last 15 years."

I think "Don't Diet" is Kavita's first book. I found content preparation wonderful. Instead of delivering a slow paced boring self-help manual, she has used interactive approach. She has divided content in 2 chunks. The first chunk of 50 habits takes 80% of the portion. Kavita has wonderfully compiled 50 healthy habits into 3 sections in the first chunk. Mental/Mind related habits. Dietary related habits. Lifestyle-related habits. Out of 50 habits, 30 are dedicated to dietary. Though the second chunk is divided into 3 parts, I have clubbed them under one group due to the nature of sections. That section helps us to make our daily journal & keep track of our progress.

In short, consider this book as your consultant. Get 2 diaries and start your journey of getting fit (not slim). Things that I liked about the book

• Nice content preparation
• Short chapters. Author has mentioned you can skip a chapter if you don't like it.
• Illustrations to increase interest portion
• Not at all looks like a self-help book

Ratings

1. Cover - 4/5
2. Content - 4.5/5
3. Overall - 4/5

The book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart

Reviews from other readers can be found at GoodReads

Review of Kavita Devgan's Latest Book - Ultimate Grandmother Hacks: 50 kickass traditional habits for a fitter you

Consider yourself lucky that you get this kind of book to review. Self-help books usually are less preferred on top of that if it's on food and fitness. People avoid such books as long as they are forced to read due to deteriorating health. Kavita Devgan has given us the opportunity to read it when we are hale and healthy. And starting these habits can make our healthy sprint longer. Coming back to my earlier statement why this health book would be interesting? To know the reason reach our review further.

Book Blurb

Traditional eating habits are a delicious roadmap to a happier, healthier, kinder you. Our ancestors have a lot to teach us about hearty eating habits that not only focus on health but also the pleasure that food can bring to our lives.

This book is an amalgamation of many of those old-school ideas that modern nutrition is now trying to catch up with. It is an enticing guide to inculcate time-tested food habits so we can develop a healthy lifestyle and even more importantly, rediscover the enjoyment of food.

Most healthy food books focus more on what not to do and less what to do? (Which is usually against our daily habit.) And frankly speaking, our mind is a devil, when it encounters something with which it is not comfortable it will make it boring. Kavita has brought out what to do more which we might be doing consciously or unconsciously because of habit set by our parents/grandparents. Within those activities which can affect us diversly, Kavita has shown the way how to alter it to our benefits with minimum discomfort. For example, she has insisted to select a better option among, sweets (usually dietician blindly forbade it)

The book contains mini-stories, not actually stories, but some advice that won't take much of our time but can help us tremendously. If you don't have time to read the whole book you can read them along with section discussed next.

Easiest and quickest recipes were given at the end of the book. I have added many of them to my "To-Try" list of recipes, will surely try and add to my regular diet.

Having said that it is a self-help book, so it must insist us to unlearn some of our bad habits and if we want to have a healthy life. We should at least give them a try. A must read and must have book for households & health freaks.

Ratings

1. Cover - 4.5/5
2. Content - 4.5/5
3. Concept - 5/5
4. Overall - 5/5

The book can be found at Amazon and Flipkart

Reviews from other readers can be found at GoodReads