Lynne M Dorner

A health coach shares tips on living well in this debut self-help guide.

As the single mom of an infant with a variety of health problems, Dorner decided to use diet and nutrition as a way to help her child thrive. She started with experiments in gluten- and dairy-free eating, which eventually led her to enroll at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City, and ultimately start a new career as a certified holistic health coach. She shares what she has learned in a book that’s packed with bite-sized advice, offering the “promise of a fulfilling and healthful life founded on the informed choices you make.” The secrets she reveals run the gamut from the straightforward and sensible (“Exercise. Now. Period”) to the more touchy-feely (“Hug a tree until you embrace nature”). Clever illustrations accompany each secret, which the author briefly explains in a fun, chatty way. This approach makes the book easily digestible; it can be effectively read in small chunks, which will allow readers to easily skim or skip over some of the less revelatory sections. For example, the book explains that cooking an entire week’s worth of meals on Sunday will save time and encourage healthier eating—a “secret” that anyone who’s ever picked up a cooking or health magazine will likely already know. But other pieces of advice are more useful, as when Dorner cautions against relying too much on confusing and potentially deceptive food labels, or discusses the emotions that drive food cravings. Despite the book’s titular reference to nutrition, however, a number of its “secrets” have little to do with diet, including exhortations to recycle more and to use planners to better manage one’s time. Overall, though, this book’s uplifting, positive tone may inspire readers who are looking to make a change.

A fun, easy-to-read guide for those seeking basic advice on living a more balanced life.