Rebalance Your Relationship with Food: Reassuring recipes and nutritional support for positive, confident eating

Emma has written Rebalance Your Relationship with Food with considerable empathy and understanding. The book is thoughtfully and beautifully presented with nutritional facts and a variety of recipes which are clearly explained. These range from the basic to the more ambitious meals, yet all are simple to prepare. Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, sugars, vitamins and minerals are explained with clarity and brevity. It is particularly impressive in the way that the photos of the meals have a caption to show the health benefits
of the various ingredients. It is wonderful to see how the reader is supported in their struggle by so many positive messages to live a healthy and balanced life. It includes a helpful tool kit section as a motivator and a check of progress. Our daughter has been recovering from anorexia for many years and we can honestly say that this is the first ever recipe book we have seen to approach eating disorders in such a practical and supportive way. It will be invaluable to both the person challenged by disordered eating and their supporters. We are deeply grateful to Emma for the extraordinary effort in undertaking this inspirational book.

Wow....what an amazing book! Over the twenty years of fighting an eating disorder I have been given many nutritional booklets, handouts and diet plans from Eating Disorder specialists trying their hardest to help me in my recovery. Sadly, despite my determination and desire that these would help, many of them didn't and instead I was left feeling hopeless and alone. Whereas I can honestly say that Emma's book has helped me and continues to do so. Emma has managed to achieve the incredibly hard and delicate task of producing a book that provides both practical and emotional support. Most people are aware that someone with an eating disorder finds eating difficult. However before the actual 'eating' bit, there are many stages that one needs to get through, such as deciding what to eat, then the shopping, preparation and cooking. I often found that I got overwhelmed at one of these stages and subsequently abandoned everything before getting to the eating stage! Eating disorders can over complicate even the simplest of tasks! This is where Emma's book has really helped as it breaks everything down into calm, simple steps. Throughout the book there is a strong sense of realism and empathy which is balanced beautifully with hope and encouragement that life can improve. For example every recipe has an empathetic quote which has been written by someone challenged by their relationship with food. I find these quotes both motivating and reassuring, all of which help me to feel less alone in the battle against my eating disorder. In addition to these quotes each recipe has nutritional facts about the key ingredients. These have provided me with great ammunition against the negative thoughts. I am now able to use this knowledge to reassure myself that what I am eating is natural, real, nutritious food. At the back of the book is the doodle page; I love this page! When my head is spinning with negative thoughts I often need something quick and simple to stop this cycle. The positive affirmations on the doodle page do just this! I have at times been eating my meal and reading one of the affirmations over
and over! It is nice that there is space for people to write their own personal affirmations. This simple exercise demonstrates Emma's sensitivity and refreshing awareness that although people share common concerns, everyone is different and their individuality must be respected. In many ways I find that this book takes on the role of a positive mentor that is available when ever needed and at the times most needed, such as when cooking or eating. It gently nudges me in the right direction, enabling me to challenge myself kindly, responsibly and sensibly. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! I am confident that it will be an invaluable resource for anyone wanting to improve their relationship with food and body image. Thank you Emma for creating it!

For families familiar with the roller coaster ride of supporting a loved one with an eating disorder, this book is a true gift. Instead of the plethora of diet plans, calorie counts, food diaries/charts, which services often advise, this book is complete in approach.
It is written from the perspective of understanding what life is like for the person with the eating disorder and for those trying to support them to encourage recovery. This insight has enabled the book to be structured with the intention to abate the ED voice whenever it rears it`s ugly head. The quotes throughout the book and the section on Key Ingredients for a Powerful Life are very helpful and support positive thinking. Similarly, often misguided understanding about different food types is addressed with clear, sound advice.
This is a book for families to use together and re-build trust on the journey to recovery.