This past month, I’ve been focused on cutting ultra-processed foods from my diet, and my reading choices have strongly reflected this interest. But I’ve also explored a few other books—spanning a range of star ratings. Here’s what I’ve been reading in February.
My Rating: 5 Stars
For those seeking a better understanding of our modern food reality, this is a must-read.
In this detailed and highly compelling book, Chris van Tulleken discusses the hidden dangers of ultra-processed foods (UPFs)— industrially-made products packed with additives like stabilizers, emulsifiers, and artificial flavours. These foods prioritize corporate profit over health and environmental sustainability. He carefully explores the rise of UPFs, detailing how they harm our health, cause overeating, and contribute to our ecological crises.
Like many, I’ve often glanced at food labels, shrugged at ingredients like maltodextrin and xanthan gum, and assumed someone, somewhere, had deemed them safe. Van Tulleken challenges this confidence by revealing an uncomfortable truth–these foods are not only nutritionally inadequate, many of them are also damaging to our long-term health. More often than not, UPFs are designed to manipulate us into overeating and are often cleverly packaged as “virtuous food choices” (think many diet, low cal, low fat, non-dairy versions amongst other seemingly nutritious offerings).
The book offers practical advice, helping readers identify UPFs and make informed decisions. Van Tulleken highlights the harsh reality that healthy food alternatives are often unaffordable or inaccessible for those living in poverty, emphasizing the need for systemic change alongside individual action.
A fellow Goodreads reviewer aptly called ‘Ultraprocessed People’ “the horror book of the year.” It’s a chilling yet essential wake-up call to the manipulation deep within our food system. Ultimately, ‘Ultra-Processed People’ not only shocks but empowers readers to question what they eat, why they eat it and to weigh the trade-offs between cost, convenience, and health. Biggest takeaway? Read all food labels carefully and ensure that you understand what implications each ingredient has on our longterm health.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Unprocessed Made Easy by nutritionist Delicia Bale offers 75 recipes to help reduce ultra-processed foods (UPFs) while keeping meals quick, healthy, and family-friendly. With 75 approachable recipes, a handy weekday meal plan, and a clear breakdown of minimally processed alternatives, it’s an excellent resource for anyone trying to clean up their diet without losing their mind.
I tried the Mediterranean Vegetable Halloumi Traybake—delicious! I’m eager to make more, including Chicken Pad Thai and No-Knead Garlic Flatbreads. While some recipes are familiar, I appreciate the variety, convenience, and having UPF-free meals in one accessible guide.
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Quit Ultra-Processed Foods Now provides a structured six-week plan and practical tips for those looking to eliminate UPFs from their diet. Designed as a workbook, the emotional, social, financial, and physical aspects of food choices are presented alongside clear, science-based explanations.
I listened to the 2.5-hour audiobook, which included links to downloadable handouts. While helpful, I would opt for a physical or digital format next time, as the workbook structure seems better suited to those formats. Having already reduced my UPFs before beginning this audiobook, I found some material redundant. For anyone starting this journey or seeking additional support, this book offers valuable guidance.
My Rating: 4 Stars
A friend’s enthusiastic recommendation led me to The Good Women of Safe Harbour, and I’m grateful for it. Bobbi French’s debut tackles heavy themes—mental illness, adoption, abortion, cancer, and assisted dying—yet wraps these in warmth and resilience. The vividly drawn small-town setting and well-developed characters, especially Francis, made a lasting impression. French’s poignant writing has stayed with me. I especially enjoyed the ending and the clever twist that it confirmed. See my full review here.
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
Kate Quinn’s The Briar Club offers an intriguing premise—a 1950s historical fiction murder mystery set in a boarding house with a diverse cast of female tenants. While the novel starts strong, its multiple POVs eventually felt overwhelming. Inconsistencies, such as a significant historical error combined with a few implausible character actions, disrupted the story’s flow. While the ending tied things up, some resolutions felt too convenient. However, the boarding house’s personification added charm, and Quinn’s historical note provided valuable context, nudging my rating from 3 to 3.5 stars. An interesting story but uneven in execution. My full review is here.
My Rating: 2.5 Stars
Helen Ellis’ Southern Lady Code mixes humour, Southern charm, and blunt candor in a brief essay collection. While some essays shine with sharp wit, others feel awkward or unsettling. The humour was less consistent than expected, making for an uneven and, at times, disturbing read.
My full (but still short) review can be found here.
COHOSTS
Debbie, Deb’s World
Jo, And Anyways
Sue, Women Living Well After 50
Donna, RetirementReflections
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