Brought to you by Penguin.

Changing your diet may not change your life.
But changing how you think about what you eat will.

From dopamine hacks to meal-replacement 'protocols,' optimisation culture promises peak health, but leaves us burnt out, disconnected and at war with our own bodies. Amid the noise of macros, hormones, cold plunges and dopamine detoxes, we've skipped the one step that makes any of it matter.

In this groundbreaking guide, leading nutritionist Sarah Ann Macklin fuses the latest science of nutrition, gut health and neuroplasticity to reveal a radical truth: self-compassion is the foundation of lasting health and happiness. Far from being indulgent, her research shows that how you speak to yourself directly alters your stress hormones, digestion and even your ability to absorb nutrients.

Through a personalised three-phase plan of rituals, perspective shifts and recipes, she encourages us to develop this physiological skill, revealing:





- why indulgent treats might not be so bad, if we just learn to think about them differently,
- why dancing while we cook will improve digestion,
- how journalling could be more effective than calorie counting, and
- how to make better choices for the right reasons, free from fear, shame or judgment.




Here, at last, is a transformative approach for healthy eating habits for life.

© Sarah Ann Macklin 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026