To Save His Life, Our Food Critic Reset His Appetite
7Digest
This podcast chronicles Pete Wells's profound health transformation, initiated by a health scare that revealed pre-diabetes and high cholesterol. As a former restaurant critic, his demanding job led to excessive eating and drinking. Wells embarked on a self-designed journey, focusing on mindful eating, eliminating simple carbohydrates and sugar, and reducing alcohol. He shifted to home cooking, plant-based foods, and mindful grocery shopping, ultimately reversing his health issues and finding renewed pleasure in food and life. The narrative emphasizes the power of behavioral and attitudinal changes in achieving lasting well-being.
Outlines
Introduction to Mindful Eating and Pete Wells's Transformation
The New York Times subscription is introduced as a gift, followed by Pete Wells's explanation of the raisin exercise for mindfulness. Wells, a former restaurant critic, shares his mission to transform his relationship with food, moving from indulgence to austerity after a health crisis.
Health Crisis and Dietary Overhaul
A doctor's concern and alarming blood test results revealed Pete Wells's serious health issues, including pre-diabetes and high cholesterol. This prompted him to leave his demanding critic role and overhaul his diet, eliminating simple carbohydrates and sugar, and reducing animal products.
Shifting Habits: Grocery Shopping to Kitchen Organization
Wells details changes in his grocery shopping, favoring his food co-op for fresh produce and whole foods. He also strategically organized his kitchen to promote mindful eating and healthier choices.
Redefining Pleasure: Mindful Eating and Reduced Alcohol Intake
Wells describes his new, simple dinners and how mindful eating allows him to appreciate subtle flavors. He also discusses significantly reducing alcohol consumption, finding it less traumatic than expected and now a choice for specific social occasions.
Achieving Health and Well-being
Pete Wells confirms he has averted a health crisis, reversed pre-diabetes, and is no longer obese. He highlights that this self-directed transformation, achieved through learned behavioral and attitudinal changes, has led to him feeling significantly better physically and mentally.
Finding Joy in Home Cooking and Gratitude
Wells expresses finding joy and active fulfillment in home cooking, which grounds him in the present moment. He concludes by expressing gratitude for his journey and the lasting impact of his mindful approach to food and life.
Keywords
Mindfulness
The practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment, applied to eating and all aspects of life.
Raisin Exercise
A mindfulness technique involving slow, sensory-focused eating of a raisin to cultivate present-moment awareness.
Pete Wells
Former New York Times restaurant critic who underwent a significant health and lifestyle transformation.
Health Transformation
A profound change in physical and mental well-being through lifestyle shifts, dietary changes, and new habits.
Mindful Eating
Paying full attention to the experience of eating, including sensory details and body cues, to foster a healthier relationship with food.
Simple Carbohydrates
Sugars and starches that rapidly affect blood sugar; examples include white bread and pasta, which Wells eliminated.
Food Noise
Constant internal food-related chatter and cravings, which Wells reduced by cutting out simple carbs and sugar.
Cholesterol
A waxy substance in the body; Wells reduced his intake of animal products to manage high cholesterol levels.
Pre-diabetic
A condition of elevated blood sugar levels, indicating increased risk for diabetes; Wells reversed this status.
Austerity
Self-discipline and reduction in indulgence, particularly in food and drink, adopted by Wells for health reasons.
Q&A
What is the "raisin exercise" and why is it significant?
The raisin exercise is a mindfulness practice where one slowly eats a raisin, focusing intently on its sensory details. It's significant as it teaches mindful eating, appreciation for the present moment, and serves as a foundation for transforming one's relationship with food.
What prompted Pete Wells's drastic lifestyle change?
Pete Wells experienced a health scare after a doctor's concern about his physical appearance, leading to alarming blood test results indicating pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, and triglycerides, prompting a life-or-death realization.
How did Pete Wells's role as a restaurant critic impact his health?
His job demanded constant indulgence in rich foods and drinks, often leading to excessive consumption, especially when working on lists like "100 Greatest Restaurants," which exacerbated his poor health.
What dietary changes did Pete Wells implement?
He eliminated simple carbohydrates like white bread and pasta, drastically reduced sugar intake, focused on whole foods like fruits and vegetables, and significantly cut down on animal products to manage cholesterol.
How did giving up sugar and simple carbs affect Pete Wells mentally?
He experienced a significant clearing of his mind, reduced cravings, and a quieting of "food noise," leading to greater mental clarity and a less confused, groggy state.
What was Pete Wells's approach to alcohol consumption?
He significantly reduced his alcohol intake, moving from nightly drinking to rare consumption, primarily in social settings like restaurants or when hosting guests, rather than as a daily habit.
How did Pete Wells's shopping habits change?
He shifted from impulsive supermarket shopping to more mindful trips to his food co-op, focusing on fresh produce and whole ingredients, and strategically organizing his kitchen to promote healthier choices.
What does Pete Wells consider the most important outcome of his transformation?
The most important outcome is feeling significantly better, both physically and mentally, with a brighter, more alert mind, which he values more than physical appearance or weight loss.
Did Pete Wells use any medications or formal programs for his health transformation?
No, Pete Wells achieved his transformation through self-designed changes in diet, behavior, and attitude, without resorting to formal programs or weight-loss medications.
How does Pete Wells apply mindfulness to his current life?
He applies mindfulness not only to healthy eating but also to occasional indulgences like martinis and pastries, savoring them in specific settings and appreciating the present moment, even with less healthy choices.
Show Notes
For 12 years, Pete Wells had his dream job: working as the chief restaurant critic for The New York Times. The job’s journalistic mission required Wells to eat out most nights and taste nearly everything on any given restaurant’s menu. He didn’t realize it at the time, but the excessive eating had taken a toll on his body.
Then came a health crisis, followed by his doctor’s advice to “stop doing what you’re doing right now.”
In 2024, Wells gave up his post as restaurant critic and set out to remake his entire relationship with food.
On today’s episode, Michael Barbaro speaks with Wells about the realities of life as a restaurant critic, and what he’s learning about the joys of home cooking, mindful eating and grocery shopping for the diet he intends to follow.
On Today’s Episode:
Pete Wells is a reporter covering food for The New York Times. He was formerly The Times’s restaurant critic.
Background Reading:
After 12 Years of Reviewing Restaurants, I’m Leaving the Table
Our Former Restaurant Critic Changed His Eating Habits. You Can, Too.
To Eat Healthier, Our Critic Went to the Source: His Kitchen
To Tune Out Food Noise, Our Critic Listened to His Hunger
To Improve How He Ate, Our Critic Looked at What He Drank
Photo Credit: Rachel Vanni for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Spencer Richards.
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