If the Buddha Came to Dinner: How to Nourish Your Body to Awaken Your Spirit [Paperback]

Hale Sofia Schatz (Author), Shira Shaiman (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 17, 2004

any people don't realize that the simple daily act of eating can be a profound catalyst for spiritual growth, from experiencing a renewed sense of vitality to living a richer and more satisfying life. That's because each time we eat we have the opportunity to pay attention, care for ourselves, and feed the real source of our hunger: our spirit. Nourishment isn't a fad diet but a lifelong journey, and Hal Sofia Schatz is the ideal guide. Gentle, wise, and humorous, she shows us how to feed our Buddha within. A perfect blend of inspirational guidance and practical suggestions, If the Buddha Came to Dinner includes guidelines for selecting vital foods, tips for keeping your energy balanced throughout the day, a cleansing program, and recipes to awaken your palate.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Nourishment consultant" Schatz convincingly urges readers to eschew refined and processed foods and replace them with organic fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. Her "transformational nourishment" incorporates Japanese and Chinese medicine with philosophy, naturopathic nutrition and herbal medicine. The book's first section sets the mood, counseling readers on "coming home to your spirit" and explaining the semantic difference between "Eating" and "Feeding," leading into the more practical and enticing sections. Part two, "Nourishment as Daily Practice," explains the benefits of "vital essence foods": foods that are as close to the source as possible. Schatz advises readers to eat seasonal produce, since not adhering to nature's rhythms can throw a body out of balance. She describes in detail how to flush toxins out of the body by eating the right foods rather than fasting. Part three, "Awakening Your Spirit," lays out predictable advice on being conscious of what foods one introduces into the body and making eating a pleasant ritual. The final section presents healthy, simple, Asian-influenced recipes. Throughout the book, Schatz shares accounts from clients who changed their lives drastically just by changing their diets. There is an important, useful message at this book's core, and Schatz does offer a unique approach to nutrition. Unfortunately, readers must sort through a great deal of filler in order to get to it.
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Review

" . . . powerful way of bringing mindfulness and sensitivity to our relationship to food, to what's cooking, and to who's eating." -- Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., author of Wherever You Go, There You Are

"Hale Sofia Schatz has developed a truly unique approach to nourishment." -- Lama Surya Das, author of Awakening the Buddhist Heart and Awakening the Buddha Within

"Hale Sofia Schatz translates the wisdom of the oldest cultures on earth to our modern lives . . ." -- David S. Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D., director, Obesity Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School

"Hale changed my life. I never have dinner without her." -- Andre Gregory, director, actor, playwright, star of My Dinner With Andre

"Hale inspires us to see our dinner plate in a new yet ancient light, leading us back to the sensual . . ." -- Mollie Katzen, author of Moosewood Cookbook and Sunlight Cafe

"This book will change the way you think about eating forever." -- Cheryl Richardson, author of Stand Up for Your Life, Take Time for your Life, and Life Makeovers

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (March 17, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078686883X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786868834
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.9 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If The Buddha Came To Dinner is a realization April 30, 2004

By William W. of Chicago

Format:Paperback

This is an eminently practical and yet authentically spiritual guide to the vital subject of how we nourish ourselves on every level. The author touches us with stories of transformation from her practice and from her personal life.

She gives specific suggestions without pushing the line into dogma. She knows the subtlety of her subject, and she approaches it with a gentle, graceful, but sure hand.

I am greatly inspired by her chapter on Transformational Nourishment. Even the title says it all. We stand with our arms outstretched, reaching for the horizon yet it comes down to the simple day-to-day act of feeding our bodies, hearts, minds and souls.

I have had years of experience trying different diets and I am pleased to say that this book takes all that I know to be true and puts it in clear, useful and inspirational form. It is subtle: you feed yourself in everything you do and think and say and feel. Each breath you take provides further nourishment. Now, which aspect of yourself do you choose to feed, to support, to give life to?

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a realization.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars NOT counting calories---yeah! March 19, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Finally-- a book about food that has absolutely nothing to do with obessing over calories or counting carbs... this is a great book for real people, who think and feel and care deeply about how to take care of themselves on all levels. I think people who have burned out on "diet" books will find this heartfelt approach to food, and to life, extremely refreshing and useful.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Food for thought? May 10, 2004

By K-lulu

Format:Paperback

If The Buddha Came to Dinner is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the entire wholeness of food and feel great. This book illustrates that, as people, we often eat in our busy lives without connecting to the food. This is easily evident in everything fast these days. The book shows us how to take an opportunity we all have several times a day to connect with food and the spirituality that it feeds.

The book takes you through a very manageable cleanse with many great healthy happy and delicious recipes. Looking at food in this manner has guided me to more clarity, energy, focus, and curiosity in ways to eat refreshingly.

I am grateful to Hale for pointing out a simple and fun way to understand the importance of to whom we feed and how we feed it. This has shown us a way to access a stronger and vivid connection just by looking into what we eat to make us thrive.

I hope there will be more books by this author to come.