I haven’t read Amelia Freer’s first book, Eat. Nourish. Glow. However, apparently due to demand for recipes to accompany her first book, she has written this companion cook book – helping readers to cook themselves healthy. All about adapting eating habits to be healthier despite busy lifestyles, Amelia has written 120 recipes without sugar, mostly without refined carbs and with a lot of veges.
I’m liking
At this time of year, I think a lot of people wish there was one giant step that does it. We’ve made and broken our resolutions; we wish it was about the sometimes rather than the majority. But – this book proclaims the fact that it is really about lots of little steps.
Freer doesn’t overtly label the style of eating portrayed by the recipes, but when you look at the source books listed in the back, this is definitely inspired by a high fat, low carb way of eating (with the exception of the inclusion of some legumes and a small amount of starchy veg, which she does state won’t help if you’re trying to lose weight). This way of controlling our blood sugar levels (and overcoming high insulin release as the result of many health problems) is gaining more and more momentum, and if you’re jumping on this bandwagon it’s certainly useful to have some easy recipes at your fingertips, and you’ll find many of them here. One particularly useful chapter is ‘On The Go’ – as almost all readily available, pre-prepared food can’t fit into a HFLC lifestyle. Here are recipes that are all designed to be taken with you that won’t spike your blood sugar levels.
Explanations of FODMAPs and fermented foods supplement the recipes, so you can read about and understand the benefits changes in your diet have in your body.
Things that made me go hmmmm
In her introduction to the book, Ms Freer writes ‘I am evangelical about the difference eating well can make to your mind, body and health…” and that is obvious when you pick up this book. You really get the healthy = happy message and sometimes, just sometimes, it’s too much.
I’m not sure what kind of persuasive power Boy George has, but apparently some – as he features (along with his salsa verde) in one or two places, as a figurehead for Amelia’s way of cooking.
Unfortunately chapter 5 has been titled ‘The Naughty Chapter’. It’s actually just healthy versions of more decadent food. Labelling food as naughty is just plain annoying.
The conclusion
I think if you really want to benefit from this recipe book, you’ll need to have committed to making changes to your diet that get you away from the food pyramid. Otherwise, you’re going to pick this up and wonder about its use (you’d have your toast over ‘green wake me up broth’ any day). If you’re wanting to put more vegetables and healthy fats into your diet, and you’re wanting some new inspiration, this book is nicely laid out. It has a lot of background information and the recipes, though not mouth-watering in some instances, will set you on the path to better health.
