Naturally Thin

March 2, 2009
Best known from reality TV (The Real Housewives of New York City), "natural foods chef" and entrepreneur Frankel wants unhappy dieters to know that everyone is "naturally thin," they've simply got to change some habits and learn "to think like a naturally thin person." The bulk of this self-help is devoted to ten rules, each outlined in a friendly but no-nonsense chapter. Rooted in Frankel's own struggles ("twenty years suffering through diet hell"), her rules include some familiar ideas smartly recast ("Your diet is a bank account" is a personal-finance gloss on "you are what you eat") and each has a couple recipes attached (Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms). Much of her advice, however, boils down to eating less: other chapters look at moderation, mindful eating and portion size, with some helpful guides to measuring and eyeballing (though it's hard to see why "Downsize Now!" and "Cancel Your Membership in the Clean Plate Club" require separate chapters). A detailed 7-day starter plan fills out the volume. Fans of Frankel's televised adventures will likely be charmed by her strong, direct voice, and her brassy self-regard is nicely tempered by a we're-in-this-together camaraderie.

February 15, 2009
Frankel, best known as a star of Bravo's "Real Housewives of New York City", is also the founder of the natural foods company BethennyBakes and a columnist for "Health" magazine. Here, she explores the mind-set of "naturally thin" people and extrapolates principles that anyone can use to get off the dieting roller coaster. Naturally thin people eat whatever they want but in small portions and don't obsess over food. They don't eat anything artificially sweetened, and they eat food that they have prepared themselves, not fast food that's junked up with extra salt, fat, and sugar. Her principles are all scientifically proven, and she presents them well, interspersed with little pearls of wisdom for the casual browser, "Natually Thin Thoughts" and "Bethenny Bytes." She also includes diet plans to get you started on the road to thinking thin. A thoughtful alternative to the gimmicky diets that never work; recommended.Susan B. Hagloch, formerly with Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, OH

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