Eight Books to Read When Entering Your Intuitive Eating Era
At some point, you realize it’s not you that’s broken—it’s the system.
The diets, the “wellness hacks,” the shame disguised as health advice… it’s exhausting. Maybe you’re done chasing smaller. Maybe you’re questioning everything you’ve been taught about food, weight, and health. If that sounds like where you are right now, welcome. You’re not alone and you’re in exactly the right place.
So if you’re building a bookshelf that reflects the life you’re creating; these eight titles are a great place to start.
1. The Wellness Trap by Christy Harrison
This book is a must-read if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the ever-changing rules of wellness culture. Christy Harrison exposes the hidden harms of pseudoscience and fear-based “health” advice, guiding you back to evidence-based care and true well-being. Expect to rethink everything you’ve been told about what it means to be “healthy” in all the best ways.
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2. THICK: And Other Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom
In this bold and brilliant collection, Cottom blends personal narrative with cultural critique, exploring the intersections of race, gender, beauty, and class. Her sharp wit and insight will expand your understanding of body politics; especially how they play out for Black women navigating systems not built with them in mind.
3. The Body Is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
Sonya Renee Taylor offers a powerful invitation to practice radical self-love. More than a self-help book, this is a manifesto for embracing the body you’re in, rejecting shame, and healing from the violence of body hierarchies. It’s one you’ll want to highlight, dog-ear, and revisit often.
4. Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West
Funny, fierce, and deeply relatable, Lindy West’s memoir tackles everything from body image and sexism to pop culture and trolls on the internet. Through humor and honesty, Shrill shows what it’s like to take up space in a world that wants you to shrink literally and figuratively.
5. Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison
If you’re ready to let go of dieting for good, Anti-Diet is your compass. Harrison (yes, again!) dismantles the lies of diet culture and explains how it harms not just our bodies, but our time, energy, and mental health. It’s a fantastic primer on Health at Every Size® and intuitive eating.
6. What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon
Aubrey Gordon (aka Your Fat Friend) pulls back the curtain on fatphobia and the daily realities of living in a larger body. With insight and compassion, she urges us to confront weight stigma not just in institutions, but in our own beliefs and conversations.
7. "You Just Need to Lose Weight" by Aubrey Gordon
In this myth-busting book, Gordon debunks common assumptions about fatness; like the idea that weight automatically equals health risks. Backed by research and delivered with Gordon’s signature clarity, this book is a powerful tool for unlearning anti-fat bias and advocating for yourself and others.
8. Fearing the Black Body by Dr. Sabrina Strings
This essential book traces the origins of fatphobia and shows how racism and body shame have been deeply intertwined for centuries. Dr. Strings makes a compelling case: concern about fatness has always been about power, not health. A game-changer for anyone ready to understand how history shapes our body ideals.
What Now?
There’s no right way to move through your intuitive eating or body liberation journey.
Maybe one of these books will challenge you. Maybe one will feel like a warm hug. Maybe one will crack something open that needed light. That’s the beauty of this kind of reading: it doesn’t demand perfection but it invites reflection.
We hope these books help meet you where you are and keep moving toward a version of health that actually includes you.
Already read one of these? Got a favorite that changed everything for you? We’d love to hear what’s on your shelf.
Incase you didn’t know Food Ease Co hosts frequent book clubs both virtually and in person. This book club isn’t just about reading; it’s about creating a safe and welcoming space for our community to explore weight stigma, healthism, mental health, and more. Follow us on Instagram so you don’t miss our next book club.
Ready for support that goes beyond the page? Book a discovery call with us today!
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