Virginia Sole-Smith is an author and journalist whose work explores the intersections of food culture, body image, and parenting. She is the author of two critically acclaimed books: "The Eating Instinct: Food Culture, Body Image and Guilt in America" and "Fat Talk: Parenting In the Age of Diet Culture." Her reporting has appeared in prominent publications such as the New York Times Magazine, Harper’s, Elle, and Scientific American, establishing her as a leading voice on issues of diet culture and fatphobia.
Sole-Smith’s writing blends rigorous research with personal narrative, offering insightful critiques of societal norms around food and body image. Her Substack newsletter, Burnt Toast, and its companion podcast further amplify her work, fostering conversations about parenting, health, and systemic biases. A graduate of beauty school, her diverse background informs her unique perspective on cultural pressures and self-perception.
Residing in New York’s Hudson Valley with her family, Sole-Smith continues to write and advocate for a more inclusive understanding of health and well-being. Her work challenges conventional wisdom, encouraging readers to rethink their relationships with food and body image.