Fermented Foods

Friday Favourites - Healthy Living Cookbooks

Here at The Amazing Blog, we do our best to live the healthiest lifestyles possible. Since a large part of doing so involves our eating habits, it’s important to fuel your body with nutritious foods. We have chosen our favourite healthy eating cookbooks from Ryland Peters & Small so you can join us on the journey of healthy eating.

When you eat fermented foods, you help to increase the health of your digestive and immune systems. With the help of the Fermented Foods for Vitality and Health cookbook by Dunja Gulin, you can learn how to incorporate more of these types of foods into your daily diet to benefit your body from the inside out. These types of food contain healthy probiotics, boost your energy and improve the natural radiance of your complexion. You most likely have enjoyed a few fermented foods in your lifetime, such as pickled cucumbers or sauerkraut. The book is divided into various sections so you can make foods according to the meal you’re preparing, such as breakfast, lunch and dinner, side salads and snacks, breads, sweets and drinks. Each recipe includes beautiful food photographs taken by Toby Scott, all of the proper ingredients and a small introduction of the recipe with its health benefits included. Our favourite recipes from the book are the Beet and Quinoa bowl, Vegan Greek Salad with Tofu Feta and the Probiotic Pumpkin Popsicles. Pick up your own copy here for £14.99.

Models and celebrities alike have been seen professing their love for kale and healthy eating on social media recently, so it’s no surprise that green drinks have been all the rage as part of this movement. With so many different bases to choose from – spinach, kale, basil, parsley and mint to name a few – there are endless possibilities for juice and smoothie creations. To get us started on our own green drinks, we got the Green Drinks recipe book by Nicola Graimes for inspiration and ideas for our juicing adventures. The book features smoothies, juices, shakes and lemonades including the benefits of greens, plus additional fruits and vegetables for extra flavour and taste. The beginning section even includes information about green superfood powders which can be added to smoothies and juices for added nutrients, including spirulina, chlorella and wheatgrass. The rest of the book is divided into sections of smoothie and juice recipes based on your health concerns or needs, such as detoxifiers, weight loss aiders, energisers and beauty boosters. A few of our favourite drink recipes from the book were the Super Green Detox, Mint Lemonade, Skin Detox, Green Goddess and Basil Limeade. We’ve never been so happy to have our greens! Pick up the book here for £9.99.

Paleo is the newest fad in healthful dieting, and a great way to get started is with Plant-Based Paleo by Jenna Zoe. She is the founder of Foods to Love, an online health food supplier specializing in products free from wheat, gluten, refined sugar, dairy and eggs. She believes that fresh plant foods – fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds – are the optimal health foods. This book is a must-read for those who want to understand the paleo approach to living and eating healthy. The book is full of great recipes featuring vibrant and colourful photos by Clare Winfield. The beginning of the book features an incredibly helpful list of essential ingredients, including chia seeds, spirulina, and coconut oil. The book features recipes for every meal, and with so many pages of recipes, you won’t know where to start. We loved trying the Green-A-Colada recipe, since it was healthy and yummy. Check out the book for yourself here and get it for £14.99.

We all love our sweet treats, but many people have been concerned about the health hazards of white sugar. Thankfully, there are many natural alternatives to sugar that are much better for our bodies. Sugar-Free Snacks & Treats by Ryland Peters & Small is full of recipes you can enjoy without worrying about the negative health effects associated with white sugar. The natural alternatives to sugar the book recommends include agave syrup, xylitol, coconut palm sugar, dark chocolate, brown rice syrup and honey. Even though alternative sweeteners have been criticized for not being as healthy as they claim, when eaten in moderation they are far better for your health than traditional sugar. It’s important to remember that a treat is a treat! The book offers loads of recipes, including everything from salsa to mini doughnuts. Everyone is sure to find something delightful to suit their taste. We can’t wait to try these sweet and savoury recipes! Pick up your own copy here for £14.99.