Book Review - Practical Paleo: A Customized Approach to Health and a Whole-Foods Lifestyle

Practical Paleo: A Customized Approach to Health and a Whole-Foods Lifestyle

By Diane Sanfilippo

 

Rating **** 1/2 (4 1/2 stars)

This review is for the Kindle version of Practical Paleo: A Customized Approach to Health and a Whole-Foods Lifestyle. While I do not usually make a distinction there is no tear out guides, and it may be missing some charts. I am not thrilled when there is a drastic difference from a print copy and a kindle copy. However, I have never seen the book in print, so the difference is only hearsay at this point.

This is a three part book. The first part of the book is paleo non fiction nutrition information. The information is amazing. I learned so much, I can completely understand why Practical Paleo: A Customized Approach to Health and a Whole-Foods Lifestyleis held up as one of the gold standards of paleo nutrition books. One of the biggest things I took away from this section was an appreciation for the types of oils I am consuming when I do eat food not prepared in my home. This is just a small part of the information included in this section. I my opinion this is worth the price of the book alone.

The middle part of the book is a collection of 30 day meal plans. There are plans for autoimmune conditions, diabetes, sugar cravings, weight loss, general paleo, cancer, and several others. I like how she broke it down for each concern and helps the reader to focus their diet. I do see myself coming back to this section to help my body further heal. At this point I am just happy I eat vegetables.

The third section is for the recipes. This is where the book lost a half a point in the rating. Do not get me wrong, all of the recipes are amazing. There is a wide variety of main courses, vegetable sides, dips, and even desserts. The problem is that to fully implement these recipes you would need to take off work, and postpone family obligations, so that you can actually learn to cook like this. While almost all the recipes had me hungry and longing, the sad reality is that they would be way too time consuming for most of them. I do not see how anyone could hold down a job and eat like this for thirty days. That is not taking into account kids - or other stressors. It would be even harder if you did not cook before eating paleo.

Makes me wish that I had a nanny/cook and I could come home to one of these meals already prepared.

Book Review - Kickass Paleo Freezer Meals

Kickass Paleo Freezer Meals

by Lisa Ujka

 

Rating **** (4 stars)

This cookbook is good, and considering the price you should totally add it to your collection. Why? I already have two or three items on my meal plan from this book. The grain free waffles look delicious. Who would not love the Crock-Pot Jambalaya?  I suppose this is when I should warn you that I spent some time in Louisiana and fell in love with Cajon food.

Three is meatballs, chili, sorbet, ice cream sandwiches, and bacon sweet potatoes - you know food people will actually eat! This has been added to my list of go to cookbooks.

The absolute only reason that this book did not get five stars is because the formatting is not as great as it could have been. Do not worry, there is nothing that will interfere in your cooking. It is just not as tied together as it could have been. It also advertises itself as a book for freezer meals. I do think it would be better served without that since it was not included in the book - at all. There is the whole title not matching the content thing again. That being said, you should still get this book!

Book Review - Beginner Paleo Cookbook

Beginner Paleo Cookbook

by Scarlett Aphra

Rating ***** (5 stars)

It is rare for me to pick up a cookbook and want to make even half of the recipes inside. My children are picky. I can tell from the recipe how big of a panic attack it will produce in L. While I want my children to be healthy - I want to have some sanity left when (if) they move out of the house. 

This is a double gem cookbook. It is a cookbook that I will not only cook more then half of the recipes - it leaves me wanting to try a few of the more adventurous ones as well. 

This book has my children's current favorite recipe - Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes. These pancakes are great with some syrup on top with a side of fruit. They are also great as hamburger buns and sandwich bread. Yes these are our current bread replacer. L was so happy to have a "normal" lunch of PB&Honey. 

There are plenty more recipes to find as well. I can not wait to try the blueberry muffin recipe. The banana walnut bread recipe is on the breakfast menu for next month. The lunch selection is a bit slim, consisting of mostly soup or salad. There are some good looking, and simple, recipes for dinner. I can see us coming back to them in a few more months. By then we will probably have already tried every desert recipe in the book. It includes ice cream, chocolate mousse, brownies, cupcakes, and even chocolate chip cookies. I know my kids will eat those.

The second major bonus of this book is the value. This is not a high priced publication by a big name paleo blogger. It does have the quality of a high priced publication. So you get great recipes for a fraction of a cost - hence the double gem part.