One of my favorite things to do on a Sunday afternoon is cook. When I have the time, I love to spend a few hours making a healthy meal and prepping food for the week ahead. I tend to go big on Sunday dinners so we can enjoy leftovers on weekdays when we’re too busy to cook. By washing and slicing produce, making salad dressing and soups and roasting vegetables, we’re set up for a great tasting and nutritious week of eating.
Although I like to experiment with my own recipes, I have a few go-to cookbooks and blogs that provide inspiration. I lean toward pescatarian, which means heavy on the plants, with fish being my protein of choice. I’m not a fan of diets, which bring back childhood memories of my Mom moving from one diet to the next in search of the silver bullet. They were always temporary and never managed to produce the results she was looking for. Instead, I focus on adopting a healthy way of eating that works for my lifestyle. I feel best eating whole foods and lots of plants, so that’s what I try to do ninety percent of the time.
Below are some of the best whole food cookbooks that I’ve found. Check out some of my favorite recipes in each one. Most are not time consuming, yet packed with flavor and nutrition. I hope you love them as much as I do!
The Skinnytaste Cookbook: Light on Calories, Big on Flavor by Gina Homolka
Out of the cookbooks listed here, this is the one I’ve had the longest and have yet to tire of. I started following Gina’s blog many years ago, which focuses on fast and easy, healthy recipes. Although I’m not one to count calories, the book was published in 2014 when calories were trending in the world of health and nutrition, but this book is about more than low calorie. As a registered dietitian and mom of young kids, Gina’s recipes focus on flavors that all ages enjoy with the added benefit of being full of nutrients. It’s a great book for those who don’t have the luxury of spending a lot of time in the kitchen. I love the cookbook even after all these years and make the salmon at least twice a month. You can check out recipes on the Skinnytaste blog and in one of her many, newer cookbooks.
Favorite recipes: Orecchiette with Sausage, Baby Kale, and Bell Pepper p.181 | Sweet ‘n’ Spicy Sriracha-Glazed Salmon p. 215
Eat Clean Play Dirty: Recipes for a Body and Life you Love by Whitney Tingle & Danielle Duboise
Whitney and Danielle are the duo behind the Sakara brand, a nutritional meal delivery service that also offers supplements, snacks and more on their website. I started purchasing their Beauty Water and Detox Water Drops years ago and was very excited when their first cookbook was published in 2019. The title references their philosophy: “Use food to build a body you feel really good in, then make sure you go out and really enjoy it.”
The book is beautiful and offers 100 plant-based, gluten-free recipes. Some recipes have esoteric ingredients and are time consuming, but they are unique, incredibly nutritious, and offer delicious flavors. The muesli is one of my go-to breakfast recipes. Don’t be scared off by the long list of ingredients. Once your cupboard is stocked, this one comes together in 30 min, start to finish. I always feel like I just ate a spa meal when I gift myself one of these recipes.
Favorite Recipes: Superseed Muesli p. 76 | Sweet Potato Tartines with Walnut Gremolata p. 129
Love Real Food by Katheryne Tate, Cookie + Kate
If you favor vegetarian cooking, you’re likely familiar with Cookie + Kate. Kate Tate (Cookie is her cute dog) started a blog back in 2010 focused on vegetarian recipes. Her book was published in 2017 and was given to me by a friend as a gift. I have tried nearly every one of the 100 recipes and they are delicious! As a fan of roasted veggies, her combination of roasted vegetables and greens as a way to make hearty salads opened up a whole new world for me. Today, I add roasted vegetables to my salads weekly. I love her soups, salads and dressings. When my Dad was diagnosed with cancer and wanted to increase his vegetable intake, I sent him this cookbook immediately.
Favorite Recipes: Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies p. 26 | Roasted Cauliflower, Farro, and Arugula Salad with Lemony Tahini Dressing p. 76
Ottolenghi: The Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi
This gorgeous book was also a gift from the friend mentioned above. We used to exchange cookbooks on birthdays and holidays, which was a great way to learn about other cooks, cuisines and techniques! Yotam Ottolenghi, a famous London-based chef, restaurateur and food writer who was born in Israel. He has seven bestselling cookbooks including this one, Plenty and Simple. This book offers elegant recipes that are heavy on fresh produce, but also featuring fish and meat. This is a great book to reach for when you’re planning a dinner party or special occasion. That said, there’s no need to wait! Many are simple, offering familiar ingredients combined in fresh ways that can elevate any meal. You can find online recipes here.
Favorite Recipes: Grilled Eggplant and Lemon Soup p. 91 | Buttered Prawns with Tomato, Olives, and Arak p. 150
2 Responses
I just ordered Love Real Food! Looks perfect. Great advice.
Great to hear! You’ll love it.