Eat Better, Feel Better: My Recipes for Wellness and Healing, Inside and Out by Giada De Laurentiis

Eat Better, Feel Better: My Recipes for Wellness and Healing, Inside and Out Reviews

• 
  Kristin

  I have very loosely followed Giada since she appeared on Food Network, oh, so many many years ago. I have a handful of her early cookbooks that, I admit, are under utilized. And, as it happens when life becomes busy and one doesn't have cable, she slid off my radar. Then I heard an interview with her on Milk Street (it might have been Splendid Table...but I'm pretty sure it was Milk Street) highlighting her career and new book. I was intrigued. I requested the book from the library.
  
  This is part autobiography, part wellness, part cookbook.
  
  Let me say that again: this is part autobiography, part wellness, part cookbook.
  
  This is not a diet book, this is not how to loose weight, and Giada states this numerous times, this is what worked for HER but the audience may find aspects that work for them. This is Giada describing her journey on how eating affects one's digestive and immune system and ultimately, ones health.
  
  The issue Giada is going to face with this book is, she has inherited skinny genes and people are going to scoff and mock her for publishing a "diet" book. However, our digestive and immunity systems don't care if you are skinny, round, an athlete, a concert pianist, tall, short, average, brown eyed, green haired, whatever. We all have a digestive system.
  
  I picked up the book from the library and settled in for a quiet read. First several chapters are her autobiography journaling how she had digestive issues as a child, to launching her food show, and the resulting health issues she was experiencing over the ensuing years. The autobiography is inter-mixed with suggestions on how to get started on a lifestyle change: recommended foods to eat, suggested foods to avoid, and what to stock the pantry with. There is emphasis through-out that this is not a diet, this is a long-term wellness goal for improved digestive health AND, noting, while is what worked for HER, something else may work better for an individual. Also emphasized, this isn't about denying any food - enjoy your favorites, in moderation or on special occasions.
  
  The first third of the book felt very familiar to me. I have read similar suggestions in my Ayurvedic studies and other supporting documentation on digestive health. The second aspect I noted was the ingredients being recommended were predominantly Mediterranean. The Ayurvedic connection I was seeing was confirmed in the latter part of the book. This is definitely a melding of a Mediterranean style of eating with Ayurvedic components.
  
  Reiterating again that this is what worked for Giada, there are a handful of observations I have:
  
  -She presents a variety of recipes that could be family friendly without making a Big Deal it's [vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, minimal meat].
  
  -There are a wide a variety of gluten free recipes. A person would need access to a co-op or well stocked grocery store (or online) if opting for all-in. Bob's Red Mill might be your best option. I say this from the perspective of living in the North Central part of the States where I have difficulty finding ingredients. I have yet to find a store that carries pomegranate molasses...
  
  -While this is not a vegetarian or vegan cookbook, there are meat and dairy free recipes or the recipes have a small meat component. Some may need to swap meat or meat substitute, or increase protein for your dietary needs.
  
  I have flagged several recipes to try, but I may have to return the book to the library before I have a chance to make them. There's a wait list so it's non-renewable. If I'm able, I'll pop back and report on the recipes.
  
  Overall, an interesting book that brings attention to a very overlooked and dismissed aspect of our well being - out gut. It's one person's journey that they choose to share, and perhaps it will help to bring awareness to digestive issues people deal with. Is this for everyone? No. Is it a one-size-fits-all solution? No. Is it a perfect solution for everyone? No. But it starts the dialog, which is pretty cool and long overdue.
• 
  Laura

  My main problem with this book is the first 70 or so pages. It's tough to take diet advice from someone who admits they just hit the genetic jackpot. While I'm happy for her, and understand that diet also impacts the way people feel, it made me much less sympathetic to her plight. And some of the science here is a little goop-y - two stalks of celery in a blender are not going to be enough of a snack to tide anyone over. I could have done without the fasts.
  
  However, the 'real' recipes are actually very useful and weeknight friendly. The ingredients are probably in your pantry; most of the cooking times are about a 1/2 hour or less. These are definitely meals you could feed your family and have minimal complaints. I especially liked the pasta chapter and the chapter on every day sweets. It's rare to find good pasta recipes in a healthy eating book, and these don't feel like 'clean eating' meals.
  
  I was also not wild about her enthusiasm for 'fake meat' - but it's only in a handful of recipes. If you're looking for appealing recipes that are healthy and quick to pull together, this is worth checking out. Not every recipe will appeal to everyone (except for die hard Giada fans), but a lot of these are family - and even budget - friendly. If you're looking for heathy weeknight meal ideas, this book has quite a few.
• 
  Sara

  5 stars for the recipes, zero stars for the pseudoscience!
• 
  Jessica

  I think most people who have watched Giada on TV would assume she just has an amazing metabolism because she's an Italian chef who stays slim and in shape. And while I'm sure genetics do play a role, in the first half of this book she shares her decade long struggle with health issues. She had a very busy career so she was often traveling and not always getting enough sleep or exercise. But, she was also struggling to eat the right things as well. Once she decided to make a change she reorganized her priorities around rest and exercise, but also changed her eating habits as well - recognizing (with her doctor's help) which foods her body was struggling to process and eliminating or limiting those foods. While this isn't a vegan or extreme diet book, she does recommend doing a certain type of food cleanse a few times a year. The second half of the book is recipes which highlight her new way of eating more veggies, leafy greens, and lean protein. While I didn't find a ton of recipes I wanted to try, there were a few that I want to try out. I was also very impressed with how open she was about all of her health issues and it just further highlights that what you see on TV (or online) with celebrities is not the whole story.
• 
  Joy

  I liked this cookbook but I actually only made one of the recipes. I’m not much of a cook but I keep looking at cookbooks! I renewed this several times at the library but I will return it soon.
• 
  Briel

  I appreciate how vulnerable and honest Giada is with her personal health journey. About half the cookbook is her story and an explanation of different tactics and health practices that have worked for her. As for the recipes, while they all look good, there were only a handful that I felt were innovative. I’ve read a lot of plant based, low inflammation cookbooks so maybe I’m bias here. Mainly, eat a lot of vegetables and here are various ways to cook them. I got this out of the library and while I think I’ll try a few recipes, I’m not in a rush to purchase this to add to my collection.
• 
  Karen

  This is a weird choice for me, but I was looking for new ideas for using our CSA vegetables, especially all the greens we get this time of year. The recipe section of the book definitely delivered there and I’m excited to now know more than one to prepare broccoli rabe, escarole, and arugula. The first half, however, with its pseudoscientific approach to health and the incredibly privileged descriptions of how de Laurentiis stays healthy (Multiple “doctors”! Personalized supplements! Three day wellness retreats!) was definitely something you could - and maybe should - skip.
• 
  Sonia

  This book helps how to tune into how food makes us feel. Too often foods we eat affect digestion, energy and causes bloat and then we just don't feel good! Some very good recipes about how to incorporate superfoods into our diets. I like that she isn't saying not to give up the foods we love, she loves her pasta for example as an Italian!
  
• 
  Pamela

  I was really excited to get Giada's take on healthy eating and while the personal journey and anecdotes were nice to read, the recipes are bland and nothing that I haven't read in many fitness/wellness books.
• 
  SheAintGotNoShoes

  Meh.
  
  Recipes are filled with meat, fish, poultry, seafood and dairy - all the things I've eliminated from my life.
  
  Just a quick overview of her supposed gut problems, nothing in depth or substantial.
• 
  Andrea Engfer

  I have loved and followed Giada for years, but many of her meals were pretty heavy, and I was usually looking for healthier options.
  
  I love her newest book because it talked in depth about her wellness journey over the last ten years, and how she changed the way she cooks and eats because she was struggling with inflammation issues and other health problems. She talks about which foods she limits, and healthy foods that she recommends and consumes. I also enjoyed her tips on how to eat healthy when traveling or away from home.
  
  The last half of the book has so many great, healthy recipes that I can’t wait to try!
• 
  Shannon Pifher

  Very interesting read. Giada spends over 100 pages (not including tidbits on each recipe) explaining how she used food to improve her overall health. While I do not think her exact 21 day meal plan is for me, there are a lot of great recipes and ideas I will be incorporating into my diet and overall day to day life.
  
  One of my favorite things she says over and over is that she essentially only eats healthy M-F. On weekends, vacations, and holidays she allows herself to indulge in whatever foods she wants. Its okay to have cheat days and stick to a diet the other days.
• 
  Ally Millmaker

  I really enjoy the recipes, everything is delicious! I also enjoyed all of the tips for those anti-bloat type of foods we don't always realize we are eating. The thing was a little annoying is that I bought all of the groceries but I did not feel that the grocery list was accurate to the meals for that week. For instance, week one you are supposed to buy sea bass when this fish is not mentioned in the recipes as far as I could find. I also double checked the index and found no mention of this fish either in S or F. I just felt that I ended up overspending on groceries that first week and then quite a few of those ingredients weren't used. After learning from that week, I went through the recipes to make my own lists which again weren't accurate to the recipes. When comparing my list to the shopping lists for those weeks, they were also not completely accurate and if I hadn't double checked I would have over spent again.
• 
  Kim

  Absolutely loved this book!!
• 
  Kristin Gentile

  Really excited to try some of these recipes!!
  
• 
  Valerie

  I picked up some helpful information. It gave me a better understanding of how some can be more sensitive to certain foods and to recognize my own sensitivities. I can tell Giada put a lot of effort into this and I appreciate she shared her personal story.
• 
  Savannah Hendricks

  I found this book to have a well-rounded approach to eating and some great notes and points at the begging of the book, explaining the recipes, as well as nutrition. I liked that there was a menu guide and shopping list as well. However, I felt it lacked in the recipe section. And, unfortunately, most recipes contain almond flour and or almond milk, which I have a sensitivity to, so modifying them may or may not work for me.
• 
  Liv

  Some good staple recipes that I will try but most of the mains I won’t. Not my choice of ingredients.
• 
  Kelley Blair

  I think at some point or another we reach a milestone in our lives. One that causes us to step back and re-evaluate. Mine came in the form of food choices and all that entails. So the journey began. In the many years since, I’ve been looking into ways food can nourish you. Devouring cookbooks by the tons. Giada’s approach is fresh. Her newest book is part personal, part eating cleaner because of ongoing health concerns. She provides simple recipes that cater to a variety of “diets”. Vegan, gluten free etc. there is something for everyone in the pages of this delightful amalgamation of meals, veggies and sweets. The added bonus, her blurbs before each recipe. After all who doesn’t want to eat better and feel better.
• 
  Rebecca

  This really should be reviewed in two parts -- one for the journey toward better health that the author went on, and the other for the recipes. Some of the journey will be unrelateable, but I used the time for a bit of self reflection which is always good. The meal ideas and menu plans were more interesting, although I'm doubtful I'd convince my family to go along with these plans. My kids would definitely boycott.
• 
  Jenn.

  Borrowed this from the library after spending months on the wait list. Discovered after listening to Giada on several podcasts and it sounded like a doable plan. After skimming the book... it's yet another plan that I would give up on too quickly because it will not integrate easily into my everyday family life. My kids wouldn't eat any of the recipes and I'd end up making 2 meals at each meal to accommodate them and the diet.
• 
  Justin Minsk

  Has some good recipes and ideas around limiting some of the less healthy dishes. Parts of it are a little to LA for me.
• 
  MKLM

  The nutritional info is nothing new, but the recipes look good.
• 
  Seeker

  I'm sure this book would work for some people. Not so much for me. I want to stay healthy, but not quite so extreme.
• 
  Kristen Marie

  Still trying to Google all of the foods I didn’t know existed.