Foodwise A fresh approach to nutrition with 100 delicious recipes

Nutritionist Rigden (The Well Journal) challenges traditional notions of dieting in this wise plan for healthier eating. As she writes, "There is no such thing as the perfect body or diet; instead, each of us has a way of eating and living that will feel right." Rigden's method involves "align our taste buds with what our body truly needs," beginning with a three-week reset that calls for eliminating gluten, dairy, alcohol, and sugar, and then slowly reintroducing them to "monitor how they make you feel" and modify one's diet accordingly. Lunch is the biggest meal of each day, while breakfasts should be protein-focused and dinners "light and nourishing." Rigden also offers 100 recipes that aim to introduce readers to new flavors: there's a sesame-cardamom smoothie for breakfast and a warm chicory salad for lunch, as well as Mediterranean lamb meatball lettuce wraps, harissa-spiced acorn squash soup, and salted caramel chocolate fudge sweetened with dates. Rigden's personal stories add to the book's supportive, no-shame approach: "Trust me, I get it. For the better part of a decade, I was in constant pursuit of losing ten pounds. I felt tired and anxious all the time, my skin blemished and my clothes too tight." The result is an encouraging, inventive take on eating and living well. Agent: Rica Allannic, David Black Literary. (Jan.)

This book is more than meets the eye. It is a cookbook, but it has much more to offer, especially for readers concerned with food addictions, healthy eating, weight loss, and health issues. Rigden, a nutritionist and chef, doesn't shy away from difficult topics but embraces them by sharing her own passions and struggles with food and healthy eating. The first half of her debut offering helps readers consider their relationship with food. Then, over six concise chapters, she outlines health issues connected to the types of food one eats and highlights food choices that are healthier options. The second half of the book presents recipes that reinforce these healthy choices. For each recipe, Rigden writes a short personal reflection on why she included it. VERDICT A good mix of guidance and recipes. Rigden's expertise and compassion may make readers feel that they are in her kitchen and have a friend who supports them.--Laura Ellis

Chapter 1: Your Happiest, Healthiest Self Is Already in You! CHAPTER 1 Your Happiest, Healthiest Self Is Already in You! Excerpted from Foodwise: A Fresh Approach to Nutrition with 100 Delicious Recipes: a Cookbook by Mia Rigden All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.