I recently read a new study that discussed all about the health benefits of consuming unprocessed foods, over processed. It stated that the average American, consumes 500 extra calories per day, if their diet consists of mainly processed foods.
This is crazy to me! But really, haven’t we known this all along? Cooking and eating meals as a family is something that is often abandoned with the hustle and bustle of life. Yet, it’s so important for so many different reasons, even beyond the 500 extra calories a day.
I’ve found a good cookbook can make a world of a difference in encouraging me to cook, and I happen to be a cookbook fanatic. I check out at least one cookbook every time I go to the library. I don’t always make any of the recipes, especially if they look too complicated or involve obscure ingredients. But when I find a cookbook with great photography and even better tasting food, I’m all in.
These two below have been inspiring me so much over the last year to make tasty, healthy food for my family. I hope you find some gems from them too.
Feeding a Family: Simple and Healthy Weeknight Meals the Whole Family Will Love by Sarah Waldman (same cookbook as shown above, just the paperback version!)
We cook from this cookbook at least once a week. Sarah is a nutritionist, so the recipes are all healthful, but beyond that they are also delicious and family friendly. What’s even more golden about it, is the strategies it gives in the beginning of the book for feeding a family. One of my favorite tips she has is to cook 3 or 4 meals a week, and then the other days eat quick pantry dinners (like breakfast for dinner, roasted vegetable pasta, or egg sandwiches), or leftovers. No one has time to cook a big meal 7 times a week. At least no one I’ve ever met.
Favorites: Slow Cooker Greek Chicken Gyros, Oven Baked Falafel, Slurpee Noodle Bowls, Creamy Tomato and Spinach Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons, Blender Chocolate Raspberry Mousse.
Smitten Kitchen Every Day: Triumphant and Unfussy New Favorites by Deb Perelman
This is my favorite “special” cookbook. We sometimes make the recipes in here for the everyday, but often save them for something special like when we are having guests over or a Saturday morning breakfast for the family. These recipes are seriously mouthwatering.
Favorites: Everything Drop Biscuits with Cream Cheese, Kale Caesar with Broken Eggs and Crushed Croutons, Spaghetti Pangrattato with Crispy Eggs
Do you have any cookbooks that get you excited about cooking? I’d love to hear!