Special Sauce with Ed Levine Food Critic on a Diet, Part One: The NYT's Pete Wells
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Feb 13, 2026 
Pete Wells, longtime New York Times restaurant critic turned health-focused eater. He shares a medical wake-up call that led him to cut added sugar, favor whole grains, and rethink travel and kitchen habits. Conversation covers mindful eating, food environment hacks, why refined carbs trigger hunger, and choosing diet changes over medication.
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Health Wake-Up Call And Big Weight Loss
- Pete Wells describes frightening doctor results that revealed prediabetes, fatty liver, metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea, acid reflux, and obesity.
- He lost 55 pounds and dramatically improved his health after changing his eating habits.
Chose Diet Before Medication
- Pete says he chose dietary changes first and did not pursue GLP-1 medications initially.
- He and his doctor would have considered medication only if lifestyle changes failed.
Cut Restaurants And Track Labs
- After cutting back on restaurants and almost stopping drinking, Pete lost weight and improved blood markers within months.
- Get periodic lab tests to track blood sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol progress.