Special thanks to the publishers of YumUniverse for providing a review copy of this book.
Heather Crosby has a passion for real food, gluten-free, plant-based living. While she once dined on a more traditional diet that included meat and dairy, her health lead her on a different journey. It was a journey filled with discovery and learning. She transformed her diet into one that no longer included dairy, gluten, or meat. She is now living a plant-strong life and loving it. YumUniverse takes readers along on her journey in a way that explores the whys of how this works without any judgement for those who chose a different path. It’s way more than just a cookbook. It’s a story, a journey, a learning experience all paired with some delicious, plant-powerful, whole-food recipes.
We’re not a vegetarian/vegan family, but we’re gluten-free and eat a lot of veggies. I’m always looking for more whole food, gluten-free recipes that allow me to utilize all the beautiful veggies that we pick up every week in our CSA box. I love how Heather tells her story and explains why adding more fruits and veggies to our diets is so important. She has the attitude that labels aren’t important, but eating a healthy, whole-food diet is extremely important. I completely agree with this even though we approach it slightly differently.
YumUniverse takes readers through the basics of eating a plant-strong, gluten-free diet. It covers setting up the kitchen and goes over important tools for the kitchen. Don’t worry. This isn’t about boring lists or a preachy style of writing. It’s about Heather welcoming you into her life and shares her journey. She learned what worked and what didn’t work through trial and error.
After the ground work is laid, Heather then dives into all the recipes with gorgeous, full-color images. The recipes are broken down into 11 sections:
- Breakfast & Brunch
- Baked Goodness
- Sides & Small Plates
- Toppings, Spices & Sauces
- Soups, Stew & Chili
- Salads & Dressings
- Lunch & Dinner
- Snacks
- Spreads, Dips & Condiments
- Beverages
- Desserts & Treats
Whether or not you’re vegetarian/vegan, these recipes are sure to please. We weren’t disappointed in any of the recipes that we tried. YumUniverse is great for those who are transitioning from a traditional American diet to a plant-based diet, those who want to add more fruits/veggies to their diet, and/or those who are interested in a whole-food diet. Not only is YumUniverse fun to read, but it’s written in a way that sets you up for success on this journey to a healthier lifestyle.
Stop back tomorrow as I’ll be sharing the recipe for the Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies from YumUniverse.
Book Description:
YumUniverse: Infinite Possibilities for a Gluten-Free, Plant-Powerful, Whole-Food Lifestyle offers a creative collection of more than 150 craveable recipes without meat, dairy, gluten, or soy. But this is more than just a cookbook—it’s a treasure chest that will help you build health-promoting habits and recipes of your own for a lifetime. As a former veggie-phobe, Heather knows firsthand how overwhelming yet rewarding the transition toward a plant-powerful diet can be, so she offers expert advice for folks seeking to adopt and maintain a whole-food approach to what they eat.
About the Author:
Heather Crosby is a T. Colin Campbell Foundation certified plant-powerful wellness coach who has developed a unique and well-loved collection of over 500 gluten-free, plant-based recipes on her popular website YumUniverse.com. In an effort to kick medication and heal naturally from disease, she’s been fine-tuning the maintenance of this lifestyle for almost a decade, and sharing what she’s learned for years with thousands of folks all over the world.
She’s not interested in labeling you. Instead, she’s dedicated to helping folks incorporate more health-boosting whole, plant-based foods into their lives so we can all say “goodbye” to dieting and “hello” to building a healthful, inspired lifestyle for the long haul.
Book Details:
- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: BenBella Books (October 28, 2014)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1940363241
- ISBN-13: 978-1940363240
- Product Dimensions: 1 x 7 x 9 inches
- Retail Price: $19.95
- Electronic version also available
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher to help facilitate the writing of a frank and honest review. A positive review is not required nor guaranteed. All opinions are my own.
