Author’s words on healthy eating ring true

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Francesca Radcliffe of Lockport holds a copy of Beth Aldrich’s book “Real Moms Love to Eat.” Radcliffe persuaded Barnes & Noble in Joliet to host a book signing after hearing Aldrich’s inspiring message of healthy eating through fun and delicious food. | SUBMITTED PHOTO

Updated: March 3, 2012 8:37AM

JOLIET — Beth Aldrich, a Chicago-area author and former host and producer of PBS’s “For Her Information,” will come to Barnes & Noble on Tuesday. It’s all because one Lockport resident believed in her message of dieting through healthy, but indulgent, eating.

Francesca Radcliffe had heard Aldrich speak at an event last fall. Aldrich’s stunning appearance and friendly delivery style impressed Radcliffe, who was disappointed to learn Aldrich’s book, “Real Moms Love to Eat,” was not yet released.

Radcliffe not only purchased the book the moment it became available, she initiated a correspondence with Aldrich and contacted several books stores in the area until one agreed to host a book signing with Aldrich.

Radcliffe has also assembled a club of women determined to lose weight and gain health using Aldrich’s principles.

“I felt a kindred spirit with her right away,” said Radcliffe, the mother of five children. “She’s pretty and much thinner than I am. That’s rare to see in a middle-age woman with several children. She was someone I wanted to emulate.”

Aldrich’s story fascinated Radcliffe as much as the author herself did.

In 2007, Aldrich’s face was significantly damaged in a car accident. While recovering, Aldrich re-evaluated her priorities and found solace in life’s simple pleasures.

Soon afterward, Aldrich studied integrated nutrition and became a certified health counselor. Her mission now is to help women attain a healthy lifestyle while remaining nutrition conscious and enjoying one’s favorite foods.

This is something Aldrich feels cannot be achieved with a lifetime of comfort food deprivation. So when Radcliffe contacted Aldrich with her plans, Aldrich quickly picked up Radcliffe’s momentum.

“She was really excited about bringing my book to the gals she interacted with on a regular basis,” Aldrich said. “She wanted more moms to grasp this concept and I agreed with her.”

Spurred on by Aldrich’s openness to a Joliet-area event, Radcliffe contacted Barnes & Noble.

Molly O’Sullivan, the community relations manager for Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Joliet, said scheduling a book signing can be tricky. The book must be in stock and available through Barnes & Noble channels, be returnable if it does not sell and appeal to the clientele and demographic a particular store serves.

Once those qualifications checked out for Radcliffe’s book, O’Sullivan scheduled the signing.

“I’m sure it will be a great event,” O’Sullivan said.

Once Radcliffe had a confirmed date, she quadrupled her efforts to promote Aldrich. Radcliffe created brochures, which she distributed to the other wrestling mothers on her son’s team, neighborhood women and even to fast-food customers.

Moreover, those attending the book signing will have the opportunity to sign up for the Real Moms Love to Eat Club, a 10-week journey and playful competition hosted by Radcliffe to see who can lose the most weight in that time period by following Aldrich’s plan.

In the meantime, Radcliffe is experimenting with the family-friendly recipes in Aldrich’s book. Radcliffe’s children loved Aldrich’s grandmother’s pancake recipe, but Aldrich has been eyeing the goat cheese and pear salad.

“This week, we’re going to try the baked chicken with honey and apples,” Radcliffe said.