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Food Bullying: How to Avoid Buying B.S. The PCOS Workbook: Your Guide to Complete
By Michele Payn Physical & Emotional Health, Second Edition
2020, Morgan James Publishing By Angela Grassi, MS, RDN, LDN, and Stephanie Mattei, PsyD
Paperback, 236 pages, $11.99 2019, Luca Publishing
Paperback, 225 pages, $24.95
Food Bullying: How to Avoid Buying B.S. is written by
Michele Payn, an expert on farm and food and an award- Angela Grassi, MS, RDN, LDN, is a leading nutrition author-
winning author of two other books, Food Truths From Farm ity on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). She’s written
to Table: 25 Surprising Ways to Shop & Eat Without Guilt, several books on the topic and is the founder of the PCOS
which won a bronze medal in the 2018 Independent Pub- Nutrition Center, where she provides nutrition counseling
lisher Book Awards, and No More Food Fights!: Growing a and information to women with PCOS.
Productive Farm & Food Conversation. Stephanie Mattei, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist and an
Payn is a speaking professional and founder of AgChat instructor at La Salle University in Philadelphia. She’s also
and FoodChat, virtual communities connecting more than a practicing psychologist at the Center for Acceptance and
20,000 farmers, RDs, chefs, foodies, agribusinesses, and Change in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, specializing in both
ranchers from 20 countries. She received Bachelor of Sci- cognitive and dialectical behavior therapies.
ence degrees in agricultural communications and animal The first edition of The PCOS Workbook was released
science from Michigan State University and has worked almost 10 years ago and has been a best-selling book for
with farmers in 25 countries. women with PCOS around the world. The second edition
Food Bullying is a thought-provoking and revealing look provides a nondiet approach for those living with PCOS to
at the way we communicate with each other about food. improve health and well-being. The workbook includes 10
It’s well written in a consumer-friendly way that’s relatable comprehensive chapters covering PCOS basics, nutrition,
to what it seems many people are thinking. Those who fre- mindfulness, sleep, exercise, stress, body image, mental
quent the internet news cycle or social media channels may health, infertility, and support. It also includes seven
have witnessed or been subject to food bullying behavior, appendices with helpful tools, including a lab tracking
wherein marketing and misinformation are used to demon- form, food servings list, sample menus, meal planner, mind-
ize eating choices. It can be as simple as moms judging ful eating scale, food journal, and sleep diary.
what other moms pack for their children’s lunch or consum- I especially appreciated the attention the authors
ers hearing from coworkers that a food they’re eating con- pay to unique situations, such as transgender men with
tains chemicals that will poison them. PCOS; Grassi and Mattei make a point of affirming those
This science-based account of the misrepresentation reading the book who were assigned female at birth but
of food sheds light on bogus nutrition and environmen- identify as men. The authors also tackle common nutrition
tal claims to help clients recognize bullies and defend misconceptions in a thoughtful, evidence-based manner.
their own choices. One of my favorite items is a chart of Such topics include gluten, soy, nutritional supplements,
Food Bullying Levels including Zealot, Judge, Evangelist, and low-carb diets.
Taunter, Shamer, and Bully. The book provides a six-step The PCOS Workbook is a lovely resource for those who
action plan to overcome bullying around the plate, simplify desire to improve their symptoms, health, and understand-
food choices, and save time in the grocery store. ing of this condition. It’s a useful tool for those unable to
As a private practice RD and nutrition communications meet individually with an RD or therapist; however, it also
specialist, I think this book is a highly valuable tool to use can be an excellent adjunct to individual therapy. As a dieti-
with clients and readers who seek reliable information to tian, I appreciate workbooks as tools to use with clients and
address the internet propaganda we’re bombarded with as will surely incorporate certain activities within this work-
professionals and consumers. I feel it’s a must-read to eval- book into my own one-on-one counseling sessions. If you
uate the language we use on a regular basis when speaking, work with clients with PCOS in your practice, I’d suggest
writing, and counseling. having this workbook on your shelf.

Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, is a speaker, author of The Janice H. Dada, MPH, RDN, CDE, is a lover of books who
Protein-Packed Breakfast Club, and owner of Nutrition maintains a Newport Beach, California, private practice and
Starring YOU, LLC, in New Jersey, where she specializes in consulting business (SoCal Nutrition & Wellness, www.socalnw.
weight management and prediabetes. Follow her on Twitter, com). Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @SoCalRD and
Instagram, and Pinterest @LaurenPincusRD and at www. Facebook @SoCalNW.
NutritionStarringYOU.com.

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