Eating well should be easy. But so often it is not. How to Eat Well at Every Age provides practical tips based on psychological theory and evidence to enable people of every age to eat well and build a good relationship with food.
Eating well is key to how we interact with others, manage our emotions and our sense of wellbeing. The book describes how we can help others and ourselves to eat well across the lifespan, from good food parenting as our children are growing up, to eating well as an adult when the food environment can seem to be against us, to caring for the needs of people as they age. It describes how we learn what food we like and how our eating habits develop. It explores how parents can help their child eat well through good food parenting and the key pillars of being a good role model, saying the right things and managing their environment. It then covers how to eat well as an adult in terms of eating less to lose weight (without doing harm) or changing engrained habits to eat more healthily in general. Finally, it explores how eating well can be key to looking after ourselves or others as they age when living independently or in residential care.
This book is for anyone who wants a healthy relationship with food, for themselves or those they care for. It is also valuable reading for students studying child development, nutrition, dietetics, catering, physical health, social care, nursing and psychology.
Table of Contents:
Who Am I and Why Am I Giving You This Advice? Introduction Section 1: Setting the scene for eating well at every age Chapter 1. What is eating well? Chapter 2. Why do we eat what we eat? Section 2: Childhood – giving your child the best start Chapter 3. How can I be a good food parent? Chapter 4. What should I do if my child eats too much or too little? Chapter 5. What should I do if my child has poor body image and spends too much time of their phone? Section 3: Adulthood – having a good relationship with food Chapter 6. Why is losing weight so hard? Chapter 7. How can I change what I eat? Chapter 8. How do I eat well as an adult? Section 4: Eating well to promote wellbeing in later life Chapter 9. How does the role of food change in later life? Chapter 10. How can we ensure people eat well as they age? Concluding Comments Recipes Resources and Connections
About the Author :
Jane Ogden is a Professor in Health Psychology at the University of Surrey, UK. She has published over 280 research papers and 9 books, including 4 specifically on eating behaviour. She has taught modules of eating behaviour for over 35 years to psychology, medical, nutrition, dietetic and vet students.
Review :
'I’ve found this book by Jane Ogden incredibly insightful. She draws on years of experience and solid research to create an easy-to-read, genuinely accessible guide to eating well—whether you’re feeding a family, looking after your own health, or supporting older relatives. I loved how practical it is, with tips on what to say and do, and even some super-simple recipes that work in real life. It’s a brilliant resource, especially for those of us trying to stay well in a world that often pushes us in the opposite direction.'
Kitty Dimbleby, author, journalist, communications professional, and mum of two fussy eaters
'Jane Ogden has drawn upon a wealth of evidence on psychology of food and eating behaviours, to produce an easy-to-read resource to help all of us across the lifespan live in a world that is often designed to make us unhealthy. I particularly liked the tips for eating well as we age and using food to promote wellbeing whether we are living independently or in residential care.'
Julienne Meyer, Professor Emerita of Nursing: Care for Older People
'A fascinating look at one of the most important and frequently dysfunctional relationships of our lives, with what we eat. Eating well is key to a long and healthy life so understanding why we often don’t is essential!'
Mariella Frostrup
'Using her years of experience Jane Ogden has produced a very accessible guide to eating well for children, adults and in older age. Full of useful tips on what to say and do for yourself or for others - even some very easy recipes! A great resource to help us live in a world that is often designed to make us unhealthy. I will definitely recommend it to my patients as an additional tool as they learn to manage their emotional eating and for those supporting others.'
Denise Ratcliffe, Consultant Clinical psychologist
'Jane Ogden has drawn upon years of academic experience and a wealth of scientific evidence to create an easy-to-read and accessible guide to eating well for any age. A brilliant and much-needed resource to help us all live in a world that seems to be designed to make us unhealthy.'
Alice Smellie, writer and women’s health campaigner
'Something that affects us all daily and yet is increasingly difficult in a world designed to drive unhealthy choices and maximum profit. Jane Ogden expertly combines her many years of experience with the wealth of available evidence to produce an easy to read and very accessible guide to eating well for everyone; children, adults and those in their older ages alike. Full of useful tips on what to say and do for yourself or for others - even some very easy recipes! A great resource to help us live well and make choices for a healthy life.'
Lucy Jones, Chief Clinical Officer, Oviva
'Jane has an exceptional ability to make the complex world of health psychology engaging and deeply relevant to everyday life. This book explores how our relationships with food and eating behaviours evolve over time and the profound impact it can have on wellbeing. In a world where eating healthily can often be challenging, this book offers both transformational insights and practical tips to help support ourselves and those we care for to eat well and stay well.'
Jenna Mosimann and David Titman, Directors of RaisingNutrition Ltd
'People living with obesity often struggle with a food environment that makes it hard to eat well. Jane uses her many years of experience to provide a wealth of top tips and practical advice for eating well from childhood through to older age to help people look after themselves and care for those around them. All of Janes previous books have proven to be valuable resources, I have no doubt this be another in that series.'
Ken Clare Executive Director UKCPO and patient advocate
