My go-to Cookbooks

​I have been asked a lot lately by clients and over social media what my preferred/go to cooking resources and books are, to be honest it isn’t something I spend a lot of time thinking about.  I spend a lot of time in the kitchen playing around with recipes, trying to “healthy” things up for clients/myself/my family but it has been some time that I have relied on a set of cooking resources.   That said 100% go through waves of seriously not wanting to be responsible for figuring out how to make a meal or I am in a rut in serious need of inspiration and when that happens, I have some go-to’s 

I feel like it is important that I point out that I am in no way affiliated with any of these books and don’t get any type of kickback (although I am not opposed if they want to send me thank you cards LOL).  These books have all either been introduced to me by family and friends, other healthcare practitioners or have just been item’s I have stumbled upon.  They each have their strengths and weaknesses and I will walk you through all of them.
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Here are some of my most used cookbooks in no particular order:

Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook by Mickey Trescott NTP – I LOVE this book because I can make each and every one of the recipes inside of it.  I am allergic to nuts and always roll my eyes when I get a book that is 80% nut based, it bums me out and means I have to figure out how to sub things out so I can eat it, which let’s be honest means I am less likely to rely on the book.   

​It’s All Good by Gwyneth Paltrow – Yes, I know insert eye roll Gwyneth Paltrow isn’t everyone’s favourite but my sister introduced me to this book 5+ years ago and I am not looking back!  One year a girlfriend and myself cooked our way through this book, real Julie and Julia style and at no point were we disappoint, except for maybe the vegan shepherds pie, it was just so incredibly sweet. 

Thug Kitchen, Eat Like you Give a F**K by Thug Kitchen  - I had been following these creators online [add weblink] for some time.  Not only are their recipes delicious but they are HILARIOUS!  If you are not one for swearing and vulgarity this isn’t your cookbook.  If you are new to cooking and hoping to eat more plant-based meals and get a kick out of people using the F-word in a recipe this book is right up your alley! Also, they have a website if you want to test the waters out first. 

It’s All Easy by Gwyneth Paltrow – Don’t shoot me, yes it’s Gwynie (as I like to call her) again!  I’m sorry but she works with incredible chefs and recipe developers and her books haven’t disappointed me.  These recipes are a little less ridiculous when it comes to sourcing out your groceries and less likely to take you a whole afternoon to make and are still super tasty.  Full disclosure: “It’s all Good” is still probably where I would drop my money if I had to buy only buy one of these books.

Oh She Glows by Angela Liddon – Heck, any of Angela Liddon’s books would be awesome.  My issue with these books and any vegan cookbook for that matter is the amount of nuts used in them.  Like I said earlier I am severely allergic to nuts, so it means a lot of subbing out and crossing my fingers that my super expensive nut free pumpkin seeds will do the trick, but not everyone is allergic to nuts and everyone should eat more plants.   This books is a great resource for anyone without nut allergies or for those who are just trying to eat more plants. 

These are probably the books that I refer to the most.  I also use other resources like runner’s world, paleo magazine, clean eating magazine and a whole slue more.   Honestly, most of the time I am eating partially failed experiments as meals and snacks as I go through trying to creating meal plans and recipes for clients.  But when I am feeling fancy or like I just can’t eat another “almost okay” meal these are my fall backs.
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If you end up trying some of these out or have already let me know what you think.  I would love to hear about some of your favourite cookbooks I am always looking for new inspiration.