In this edifying and accessible book, the authors offer a Buddhist perspective on weight control and well-being. Thich Nhat Hanh and Dr. Cheung present the Four Noble Truths as a new frame of reference for dealing with obesity: being overweight is suffering; you can identify the roots of your weight problem; reaching a healthy weight is possible; you can follow a mindful path to a healthy weight. To seal the deal of weight loss the authors share "A Mission Statement for Healthy Weight and Well-Being."

Next comes a mindfulness exercise from Thich Nhat Hanh on eating an apple so that we are truly present with it and aware of its connection with the natural world and our own life. They go on to examine the impact of the senses on our weight, our habits of eating and physical activity. This is followed by an emphasis on mindfulness as a tool that can be very helpful in assessing the challenges and obstacles that face us when we try to change our habit energies...

A very practical guide on how to incorporate mindful eating into a mindful living plan which will benefit the mind as well as general health and the waistline. The book examines the effects of unmindful consumption and food production on the delicate eco-systems of our planet and how we can change habitual patterns.

As a primary care physician, many of the patients I care for are struggling with their weight and have poor nutrition.  Taking the time to savor food and eat mindfully is often low on patients' agendas.  SAVOR provides a toolkit (to help patients to overcome this hurdle,) and for health care professionals to guide their patients along the path towards improved health.  Beyond mindful eating, Hanh and Cheung provide the reader with a mindful living plan (to  develop and maintain general well-being.)  SAVOR is well-referenced and provides great resources for further study including books, community resources, websites.  I highly recommend SAVOR to lay public and professionals alike.

With chapters like “Are you really savoring your apple? An apple meditation,” “Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life” (HarperOne, 2010, $25.99 hardcover, 304 pp.) is not your average healthy-eating guide. A hybrid of Buddhism and nutrition, “Savor” blends the Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings with research done by Dr. Lilian Cheung, the director of health promotion and communication at the Harvard School of Public Health’s Department of Nutrition. Divided into three sections, “A Buddhist Perspective on Weight Control,” “Mindful Action Plans,” and “Individual and Collective Effort,” the book introduces Buddhist ideology before delving into specific healthy living tools, including exercises for untying external (and internal) knots, a ten-week sample mindful-eating plan- even a breakdown of fats. ‘Savor’ may have us rethinking every bite, but maybe that’s just what we need.