I have an addiction. It’s not sugar, it’s not alcohol, it’s not chocolate. It’s cookbooks! I love cookbooks. I am sure many of you have the same addiction! Foodie heaven. Many years ago, I passed on most of my cookbooks and decided to concentrate on healthy cookbooks. These are my favourites for healthy family cooking.
♥ Let’s Party Additive Free. This is a wonderful book by Melanie Avery, a mum from country NSW. Melanie goes through information about additives, gives us lots of basic, additive free party recipes and some fun party games and information as well. Get the book here.
♥ Cut out the Crap. Collette White is the popular author the Cut out the Crap book series. The recipes are very family-friendly and my kids have liked all of them. All Collette’s recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free and additive-free. Fantastic for those with special dietary needs. Lots of healthy, tasty food without pretension. Get the book here.
♥ The 80/20 Diet. I don’t really like to buy books with ‘diet’ in the title, but in this case, I make an exception. Teresa Cutter has legendary status around healthy foodie circles as The Healthy Chef. Her recipes are absolutely beautiful and nobody could possibly say that eating healthy is tasteless after trying her recipes. She also includes nutrition and exercise information which is quite interesting as well. Get the book here.
♥ Feeding Fussy Kids. I am a long time fan of Julie-Maree Wood, a Sydney naturopath and nutritionist. Her book is full of amazing recipes that are wonderful for the whole family. You don’t have to have fussy kids to enjoy this book. Although if you do, Julie also provides a lot of information on how to go about getting nutrients into your fussy one’s diet. I love her recipe for Iron Booster Balls (apricoty bliss balls). Get the book here.
♥ Wholefood for Children. Jude Blereau is another legend in foodie circles. This book is a fantastic, basic cookbook for parents wanting to feed their children whole, real food. Jude tells us how to set up a wholefood kitchen and then shares her nourishing recipes from baby food through to lunchbox snacks. Get the book here.
♥ Supercharged Food. This is a new book for me, but I love it. Lee Holmes creates recipes that are free from gluten, wheat, dairy, yeast and sugar! There are lots of interesting recipes, some with gourmet ingredients. There are still plenty of things that are suitable for families though. I am looking forward to her kid’s cookbook too! Get the book here.
♥ Vegie Smugglers 2. Well I have to say I prefer number 2 over number 1, because I was a recipe tester for number 2! I have been a long time fan of Wendy Blume and Vegie Smugglers. Wendy makes it really easy for families to make nourishing, real food at home. This book is a fabulous starting point for people who want to learn how to cook healthy meals. All recipes have a good portion of vegetables or fruit in them. We adore the basil and white bean pesto pasta! Get the books here.
♥ Jamie’s 30 Minute Meals. Obviously my cookbook collection contains several of my hero’s cookbooks, but this one I think is the best for healthy family meals. Jamie Oliver’s approach in this cookbook is good food, fast. Some of the recipes might be a little exotic for young tastebuds, but you can leave out the spices or make the meals a little simpler. Although we might take a little longer than the 30 minutes, he shows you how easy it really is to whip up a restaurant quality meal at home. Jamie’s recipes are perfect for easy entertaining. Pukka! Get the book here.
♥ Nourishing Traditions. Sally Fallon’s cookbook ‘challenges politically correct nutrition and the diet dictocrats’! Nutrition researcher and founder of the Weston A Price Foundation, Sally has really been instrumental in the way we look at food. She tells us to eat real, whole food like animal fats and avoid processed food. Her recipes are American and there are some unusual foods that we may not have access too. It is however fantastic for anyone who wants to learn about ‘real’ nutrition and is a great reference book. Get the book here.
But wait, I also love ebooks! Find some fabulous ones here.
What are you favourite healthy cookbooks? Are you addicted too?
I love them too! I have so many and I love reading through them over a glass of wine dreaming of what I will cook…before going ahead and cooking the same things I always do!
Okay Kris – you and I need to have a challenge to cook from our cookbooks more often!! one a week? deal ?
Hi! Have found your blog recently and loving it. Some of my favourites in there. Another awesome healthy cookbook is from The Golden Health retreat. Beautiful, fresh flavours. It’s a really practical cookbook. Natalie x
Tahnks Natalie ! I will track that one down 🙂
Great collection there Sonia! X
thanks hun xx
i have a cookbook addiction too, but most of mine are not so healthy! Definitely delicious to look at though.
Yes I know! too tempting for me 🙂
I love them too. Even if I don’t actually read them, I take great comfort in knowing they are actually there.
True! 🙂
Hi, I also love getting inspiration from cookbooks and try not to buy too many! Have you come across the Leon cookbooks? They are a restaurant chain in the UK based on healthy, real food and the books are beautiful. I recommend the two I have, Leon Naturally Fast Food and Leon, Recipes & Ingredients.
Thanks for your healthy inspiration!
No I haven’t heard of them Alice – are you in the UK?
Hi, no I’m in Melbourne but have family in the UK who send me cookbooks for birthdays!
oh you are lucky!!!!
I’m trying to stem my addiction!! But one I think I’ll have to buy is Jude Blereau’s “Wholefood Baking”. Love a good wholefood cookbook especially by someone who loves their thermomix!!
I have that one too 🙂
Thank you! xxx
it’s a pleasure 🙂
I love Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food & Annette Sym’s Symply Too Good series. Looking to add some new wholefood options so thank you for sharing!!
my pleasure Elissa 🙂
I do love all of Jude Blereau’s books and have all of them (even Wholefood for Children and I don’t have any kids!) I do love Nigella’s books and have some of Jamie Olivers books too.
Another cookery writer that I just love is Belinda Jeffery, all her books are just wonderful and she is one of my very favorite cookery writers, her books are beautifully photographed and written.
I don’t like Maggie Beer and have had her books previously only to sell them and exchange for something else, I am now curbing my cookbook collecting, as I have SO many, like you I like books that have interesting stories, one of these books that come to mind is Claudia Roden’s ‘Book of Jewish Food’.
I have seen a little of Belinda’s work, will have to track her down. I love Maggie Beer!! 😀
Hi Sonia
We sold our house a couple of years ago and moved into a caravan to travel. Space & weight are an issue in a van so I had to sell and giveaway all my cookbooks that would not fit into a 50L tub… about 20 cartons. That tub is still sitting in my son’s garage waiting to find its way into the van. My books are the one thing I miss, especially Nourishing Traditions and Cyndi O’Meara’s cookbook.
I get most of my inspiration now from The Healthy Chef, Quirky Cooking, yourself and Cyndi. Oh, and the occasional e-book I manage to get from Amazon.
Feeling sad, missing my books.
Deb
Oh you poor thing 🙁 I know what you mean – I like the internet, but nothing beats holding a cookbook! Did you know Quirky Jo is bringing out a cookbook very soon?