It’s mid-July and I’m finally settling into the rhythm of summer (which actually came in June this year, a fluke by Seattle weather standards).
I’m a regular at the Sunday farmers market. (In next week’s video post, I’ll take you to the market with me and share my tips for navigating all of the summer goodies!)
My workouts have shifted from indoor to outdoor (except for Flywheel).
And I’ve turned off the TV in favor of a little summer reading. (Really, what’s the point of TV without new episodes of Mad Men or Modern Family?)
Have you slowed down for summer yet?
Here are some of my healthy summer reading picks to get you started – from cooking to happiness to “required” nutrition reading to pure summer fun. I’ve also included a few of my favorite healthy websites and blogs, for those who prefer screens to paper.
Kick back with a glass of rosé and enjoy! 🙂
Paper
Some of these I’m reading for the first time; some I’m rediscovering. But they all feed my quest for living a happier, healthier life any way I can.
- For Fun: Where’d You Go, Bernadette. This laugh-out-loud novel by Maria Semple – about lovable and crazy intelligent Bernadette and her attempts to deal with the eccentricities of living in Seattle while preparing for a family trip to Antarctica – is seriously the funniest thing I’ve read in a while. And when I say “laugh out loud,” I’m not kidding…I had at least one person at a coffee shop ask me what I was reading when I couldn’t contain my giggling. I finished this book in a matter of hours, and savored every word.
- For Insight: The Happiness Project. I added this book to my list several years ago, when I first came across Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project blog; but it took seeing her speak at a recent event for me to finally pick up a copy. A chronicle of this NYC-based writer’s year-long attempt to be happier, The Happiness Project is filled with fascinating research about what really makes us happy; practical ideas for implementing new habits that have been proven to increase happiness; and thoughtful, often humorous, stories about Gretchen’s personal life and how her “Happiness Project” made it more fulfilling. Required reading for anyone who understands that how we feel is determined by how we act, not the other way around.
- Clean Eating: It’s All Good. Go ahead. Mock me all you want for buying a cookbook by Gwyneth Paltrow. Then, go pick up a copy and try Carrots with Black Sesame + Ginger (p. 161) or Cleo’s Afternoon Shake (p. 220) or Turkey Meatballs (p. 105) or Basic Brownies (p. 252). If you’re interested in cleaning up your diet without losing texture and flavor, this is the cookbook for you. While I haven’t tried every recipe yet, I love the overall philosophy and the pantry guide. Cooking from this book is my summer food project, so check back in with me in September to see what else I tried. 🙂
- Required Reading: Food Rules. A classic in modern nutrition at this point, Michael Pollan’s “eater’s manual” is required reading for my private coaching clients. Every once in a while, I pull out my copy for a refresher and am reminded of the elegance, simplicity, and timelessness of Mr. Pollan’s advice. If you live by even half of his guidelines, you’ll feel better.
- Inspiration: Sunset Magazine. Kind of a random addition to this list given that it’s a magazine, but I love every issue. Sunset is billed as a magazine for “western living,” so it covers only people, places, and things found on the West Coast of the U.S.; but it’s worth picking up (or checking out their website) for anyone interested in seasonal recipes and ideas for West Coast travel adventures.
Screen
These sites are the ones I visit most frequently when I want interesting and/or unique articles about food, health, and the science of healthy living.
- RodaleNews.com. The main online news hub for health, fitness, and wellness publisher Rodale (Women’s Health, Prevention, Runner’s World).
- Greatist.com. NYC-based website focused on how to improve your life through health, fitness, and happiness. Fun infographics, recipes, fitness tips, and other useful info.
- NY Times Well Blog. The wellness blog of the New York Times.
- NPR: The Salt. All things food from NPR.
- ScienceDaily.com. Just what it sounds like. 🙂 Check out their Health & Medicine vertical for all things health.
- FoodRepublic.com. A site for guys “who want to eat and drink well, and to live smart.” It just makes me laugh sometimes…and often has great recipes.
Tell me in the comments: What are you reading right now and loving – “healthy” or not? 🙂
xo,
