Valerie Bertinelli reveals how journaling and meditation helped her let go of long struggle with body shame

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Valerie Bertinelli serves more than just recipes in her latest cookbook 'Indulge' as she intertwines personal anecdotes of indulging in joy amid challenges.

Speaking to People, the actress reflected on her newfound approach to food as she said, "I don't deny myself anything anymore."

Valerie Bertinelli says she does not feel 'one ounce of guilt' about eating what she likes

Emphasizing her choices of prioritizing nourishment along with indulgence, Bertinelli said, "I think what do I want, as opposed to what am I going to eat because I need to be careful about calories."

"If I want pasta alle vongole, I'm going to make that. And I'm not going to feel one ounce of guilt about it. But I also don't crave things anymore that won't necessarily feed my body all the nutrition that it needs," she added.

Valerie Bertinelli says her new cookbook indulges in 'the joys of my life'

Bertinelli shared that her new cookbook delves into her culinary journey which evolved during a challenging period of time in her life.

"I wanted to write essays about forgiveness and finding the sweetness in life. And indulging in the joys of my life," said the 63-year-old.

The cookbook is a reflection of her personal growth and healing as it evolved following divorce from Tom Vitale in 2022, and the death of her first husband Eddie Van Halen who died of throat cancer in 2020.

"I was in the middle of growth and health and recovery and I found a way to be intentional with joy and I want to share that,” she said, adding, “For me, it’s through cooking.”

Valerie Bertinelli opens up on embracing her body after trying her 'fat clothes'

Bertinelli said she let go of the body shame that had long plagued her with the help of "more consistent therapy, more journaling, and meditation."

The television personality shared that she recently tried on her so-called "fat-clothes" she previously wore in 2008 for her Jenny Craig "before" pictures.

She said the "fat clothes" fit her "perfectly, and I didn't feel fat and I'm not fat."

"So what the hell is wrong with diet culture? I looked fine. I looked beautiful. And that was my before picture? It was a huge a-ha moment. They fit and I'm at the best place in my life," she added.

Speaking about being in love with a new man, Bertinelli said, "It feels incredibly right."

“I wanted to share my story because I have built up this amazing community online [she has 1.5 million Instagram followers] where so many people have watched me be super raw on camera and feel everything," she added.

"I wanted them to know, ‘Hey, I’ve gotten through this part. I swear it’s going to get better,’" she shared.