Playful, exuberant, irreverent, manic, passionate, and definitely full of personality! This cookbook was as fun to read as it was full of knowledge.

The author, Susan Jane White, writes:

“Smarter people pay the grocer, not the doctor”

Which I do agree with – I think that many health issues are caused or exacerbated by unhealthy eating. This book is an approachable, light-hearted book all about how to eat healthily and naturally, and even includes some recipes!

The first part of the book is full of information, written in an entertainingly straightforward way.

Natural sweeteners are explained thoroughly, including glycemic loads information and photographs. These range from agave to yacon syrup, with about a dozen in between, some of which I have never heard of, much less used. (Hello jaggery and barley malt syrup). Cinnamon is listed as a natural source of sweetness.

She also explains some of the reasons why people exclude dairy products from their diet; with health, ethical and philosophical justifications for doing so. AND she lists alternatives for milk and butter, if you want to try going dairy free.

Next up, fats and flours, what are they really, which are healthiest, and what do they look like?

The recipes seem a bit challenging, with ingredients that you might need to intently search for in the grocery store. I liked the informational section more than I liked the recipes. That was due to the recipe ingredients, and probably would not bother those who were extremely interested in healthy cooking.

Thinks I did not like: the text that the eARC used was uncomfortable to read and reminiscent of old timey typewrites! Also, a quip about chefs (even naming one) resembling the shape of butternut squash was a bit confusing. Is that body-shaming in this otherwise light-hearted read? Is that a crack about the weight of chefs? Is it flattering to compare someone to a butternut squash? I have no idea – perhaps it is some great compliment chefs offer each other. If both issues were fixed before publication, the book would be vastly improved.

Because of those two issues, and the irreverent nature of the book, I would carefully recommend this to the more advanced home chefs with an aggressive sense of humor.


**eARC Netgalley** ( )