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One Plate at a Time: Recipes for Finding Freedom with Food

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INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From Grammy-nominated singer, actor, and advocate Demi Lovato, a deeply personal cookbook that celebrates finding joy in the kitchen


Demi Lovato's cooking journey started when she was almost thirty. After years of navigating a challenging relationship with food, she found that learning to cook—discovering how to truly nourish herself in mind, body, and spirit—was a revelation. It was in the kitchen, experimenting with flavors, connecting with loved ones, and channeling her creativity in a new way—that she truly began to appreciate and celebrate the joy of food.

Now, in One Plate at a Time, Demi welcomes everyone into the kitchen with a collection of more than eighty recipes, all created to emphasize enjoyment over perfection. You won't find overwhelming ingredient lists or tricky techniques, but instead a collection of simple yet memorable favorites anyone can make. Demi shares her "top five" favorite foolproof recipes in a range of categories, creating "capsule collections" for everything from breakfast to dinner, comfort foods to fast food-inspired favorites, soups to salads, and even go-to sweet treats.

Filled with beautiful food photography as well as snapshots that give fans a peek into Demi's home life, personal anecdotes, pantry tips, and cooking hacks, this is a cookbook for Demi Lovato fans, for people who struggle to enjoy food without guilt, and for anyone looking for a gentler, more grounded approach to cooking. One Plate at a Time is Demi’s set list for a delicious new way of thinking about food and how it fits into our lives.

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 17, 2026

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About the author

Demi Lovato

64 books963 followers
Demetria Devonne "Demi" Lovato (born August 20, 1992) is an American actor and singer-songwriter. She is best known for her role as Mitchie Torres in the Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock and Sonny Monroe in Sonny With A Chance. Besides acting, she is also a solo music artist and released her debut album Don't Forget on September 23, 2008. The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200 selling over 89,000 copies in the first week. Lovato released her second album, Here We Go Again, on July 21, 2009. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 selling over 108,000 copies in the first week.

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5 stars
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37 (29%)
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11 (8%)
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Ink_Drinker.
354 reviews596 followers
May 16, 2026
I love listening to Demi Lovato sing, but had no idea she could cook too!!!

This is more than a cookbook, it’s a gentle conversation about rebuilding a relationship with food, body, and self-worth. Demi’s voice makes the journey feel safe, real, and deeply relatable. She writes with honesty and makes the heavier moments feel safe, and the hopeful ones feel earned. Each chapter feels like a small invitation to slow down, breathe, and choose compassion over perfection.

It’s part memoir, part mindful guide, part easy & amazing recipes, and part quiet reminder that healing doesn’t happen in grand gestures but in everyday choices, one plate, one moment, one bit of grace at a time.

I've always had a love/hate relationship with food,
so Demi’s honesty about her journey really hit home. Her cookbook is a reminder to nourish yourself with simple, doable meals and to let go of perfection along the way.

While Demi sang in the background, the first recipe I tried was Lentil Soup with Sausage. It was super easy and definitely a repeat recipe. Next up is Chicken Nuggets with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce.
Profile Image for Kaitlyn Mueller.
32 reviews6 followers
March 19, 2026
I LOVE how this book was more than just recipes, but she also discussed body neutrality, intuitive eating, and ED recovery (including experts in the field was a great addition). She addresses the thoughts/feelings that a lot of people in recovery have when incorporating getting back into the kitchen, and it definitely made me feel less alone/crazy in the fact that I hate cooking. The recipes seem good, though, and I’ll definitely give them a try!
Profile Image for Danyka.
13 reviews
March 19, 2026
Anticipated this release! It’s hitting hard just like I knew it would, in the best way.

Demi and her journey has always been a huge inspiration to me, and seeing her write a book about finding freedom and joy in food? Incredible. I am so incredibly proud of her.

It's more than just a cookbook; I know that for Demi, myself and others who have also struggled, it’s about a healthy relationship with food.

I was also beyond lucky to get a signed copy.

Lovatic since 2011! ♡
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,458 reviews10 followers
April 17, 2026
This is a basic cookbook with simple, non-complicated recipes that even beginners should be able to make. None of the recipes are new or original. Most recipes have a photo. If you’re a fan of Demi’s or need a very basic cookbook, this might be for you.
Profile Image for Emma.
30 reviews
October 7, 2026
Didn’t really expect this to be any good since it’s by a celebrity, but I really appreciate her emphasis on food neutrality. The recipes seem fine but the premise of the cookbook seems like it could be really helpful for people recovering from eating disorders
Profile Image for Rafaela Barboza Pacheco.
96 reviews21 followers
November 4, 2026
jamais imaginaria marcar tanto um livro de receitas estadunidense como marquei esse livro
eu nem sei como avaliar esse livro porque é um livro de receitas kkkkkkkkkk mas coloquei 4 estrelas por conta de me surpreender positivamente com a quantidade de informação presente nesse livro pra além das receitas, sabe?

a demi se preocupou muito em fazer um livro pra ajudar quem realmente está em um processo de cura com a comida, igual ela passou. então tem uma puta introdução enorme e várias dicas ao longo da leitura de coisas pra fazer e substituições que podem auxiliar quem é meio perdido na cozinha e tem problemas com transtornos alimentares e ta buscando a cura com a comida. eu particularmente, por se tratar de receitas estadunidenses, achei que não iria me interessar tanto com as receitas. mas calhou que me interessei em várias kkkkkkk gastei 2 cores de post it e metade de uma terceira marcando dicas e receitas pra fazer em casa, então acho que as 4 estrelas são dignas.

deu pra sentir o carinho também da demi e a preocupação dela em deixar tudo de uma forma muito palatável, simples e informativa. fiquei feliz demais por isso inclusive.
Profile Image for Debra.
724 reviews20 followers
June 6, 2026
Lovato begins honestly. She started down the cooking path after "spending five years in recovery from anorexia and bulimia" (2).

Because while I don't claim to be a superstar chef who can whip up a souffle at the drop of a hat, learning how to feed myself has saved my life. I found freedom with food in the kitchen, of all places. (2)


One Plate at a Time is almost a chapter book. "Food: A Love/Hate/Love Story" outlines her food memories, growing up in the south with huge family reunion type meals of mac 'n cheese, jello with mayo, fruit salad with lots of cool whip and sugar, and eating out. At home, her mom was on a budget so it was a lot of cheap processed foods. After she starts her career as a young actor, she then is forced to either rely on food on the road, in hotels, or from craft services. She has been dealing with EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) since she was twelve and been in and out of treatment. Today, she writes, food represents joy and fun and fellowship. She includes a refrigerator pickle recipe here because she was amazed the she could make one of her favorite foods herself (13). To finish out the chapter, she gives tips on how to broaden your palate, recognize and cope with trigger foods, and why you won't find any recipes with alcohol or wine as ingredients in her book. (It's because eating disorders often exist with addictions.)

Chapter 2, "Getting Started," deals with common myths about cooking: It's too time consuming, too costly, too hard, and even "I don't have the right ingredients." So, there's a pretty nifty substitution table on page 21. The rest of the chapter addresses issues like stocking the pantry, utilizing your freezer, shopping tips, avoiding kitchen waste, etc.

Chapter 3 starts the recipes and obviously starts with the first meal of the day, breakfast, with ten recipes. Five are "Grab-and-Go" and five are fun leisurely weekend recipes. Granola is one of the quick recipes and she includes a basic formula but also adds a "menu" of choices. Choose an oil, a sweetener, add-ins, spices, along with combos to try.

Chapter 4 is Midday Meals and Bites. The first section includes "Five Sandwich Stuffers." I love this idea because you can put these recipes between bread, in a wrap, topping some crackers, or just on top of some greens. Lovato also includes five salads and five soups. Her "stuffers" use hacks like rotisserie chicken (or leftovers), bottled sauces, and packaged slaw. The salads are simple as well and she includes tips on how to make them full meals (like adding protein). The soups are simple but homey, like Grandma's Chicken Noodle soup.

Lovato loves the number five so in Chapter 5 she presents her "Classics": Five Almost Instant Snacks, Five Fast Food Favorites, and Five Surefire Comfort Foods. I'm not sure I consider a smoothie a snack, but her Green Smoothie (pineapple, spinach, ginger, yogurt) does sound great. Nachos Now! is a very basic recipe with black beans. I did think her Peanut Better & Jelly Yogurt might be genius! Her Fast Food Faves are also pretty basic with canned dough pizza rolls, basic tacos, and a classic cheeseburger. The spice on her Honey-Glazed Lemon Pepper Wings sounds delicious. I was also intrigued by her Chicken Nuggets made with ground meat. She rounds out her classics with roast chicken, beef stew, meatloaf, chili, and mac 'n cheese.

Dinner Plans, Chapter 6, are more adult-like recipes including pastas (and one risotto), chicken dinners, and 15-minute recipes. She morphs the standby "Marry Me Chicken" into her version of Honeymoon Chicken by adding orzo and broccoli for a one dish meal. The rest of the dishes are more comfort food but perhaps dinner party worthy.

The Essentials make up Chapter 7. She teaches how to make the perfect proteins: Steakhouse Steak, Citrus Salmon, chicken breasts, pulled pork, and easy shrimp. She adds condiments and "flavor builders" like vinaigrette, salsa verde, pico de gallo, marinara, and savory breadcrumbs. She rounds out the chapter with more easy meals like a cheese omelette, Buddha Bowls, fried rice, quesadillas, and sesame noodles.

"Something Sweet" is the final chapter separated into small-batch desserts and desserts that wow! I have always loved that chocolate avocado pudding that was making the rounds about ten years ago. Her version includes a bit of espresso powder. Most of recipes are pretty basic: a chocolate chip cookie, an oatmeal cookie, and a fudge brownie. There are also a cupcake, crumble, crostata, and two cake recipes.

My favorite section and what I utilized most was the Midday Meal one. I am making all of the sandwich stuffers. (But, I am also making that peanut butter & jelly yogurt!)

In her opening, Lovato states that "This is the cookbook I wish I'd had when I took those first tentative steps at the stove.... I just wanted a manageable selection of recipes I could have in my back pocket..... I wanted comfort, not stress; ease, not anxiety" (3). I think she achieved this goal and I feel like this book is definitely for a beginner. Lovato includes enough hacks to make most of her recipes doable for the anyone. If you're an accomplished cook, I'm not sure you would enjoy this book, unless you are a Lovato fan. It's not a terrible cookbook; but I am glad I checked it out of the library and didn't purchase it.

Since food and cooking were her salvation though, I hate to diminish her project here
Profile Image for Shannon Sullivan.
26 reviews1 follower
May 25, 2026
So proud of Demi for creating a cookbook that shares personal stories and cool recipes! Looking forward to trying them :)
Profile Image for Caitlyn.
440 reviews9 followers
August 14, 2026
This is the first time I've ever rated a cookbook on Goodreads, and honestly it's the first time I've ever really explored a cookbook. I was in a cooking rut and I've been a Demi Lovato fan since I was 15, so when I saw she was coming out with a cookbook specifically designed to help people recovering from disordered eating, I was intrigued.

I've tried about a dozen recipes so far - a mix of side dishes, mains, and desserts - and I have yet to dislike anything I've made. The recipes are easy to follow, do not require a lot of time, and they use ingredients I'm familiar with. Some of the recipes have pushed me to experiment with ingredients I've never used before, like polenta and baker's chocolate, and I like that more foods are becoming familiar to me.

There are sections where Demi talks about her history with eating disorders and her recovery process and how cooking has helped her heal. I appreciate the candid honesty in the book. A thing to note: None of the recipes include nutrition facts, for obvious reasons. They are designed to create 1-2 servings, so if you want to cook for more people, you can easily double or triple the recipes.

My only critiques are that I wish they would include total cook times for the recipes, and I wish the table of contents included page numbers for each recipe so that I don't have to flip through the whole book looking for a particular one. ("Pasta alla Nada" is my fave one by far.) Otherwise, this book will be a staple in my kitchen for the foreseeable future.
Profile Image for Cole.
268 reviews79 followers
April 6, 2026
Thank you Flatiron Books for the #gifted book!

Demi Lovato has been very open about her challenges with an eating disorder, and learning to cook after an eating disorder was, in some ways, even more challenging. Demi writes this cookbook for anyone who has struggled with disordered eating, or really anyone who is new to cooking. Working with world class experts in eating disorders and intuitive eating (including the folks at Monte Nido), Demi is gentle in her approach to reframing food as nourishing the body. A special shout out to the care she provides, particularly in the dessert section, where she has “small batch” options for those still at the very beginning of their recovery.

This cookbook is more than just the recipes it contains; it’s a love letter to nourishing the body and particularly to those in eating disorder recovery. With compelling insights, personal anecdotes, and expert opinion, One Plate at a Time belongs on every shelf.

Read this book if you:
🍳 are new to cooking, in eating disorder recovery, or just looking for thoughtful insights
💅🏼 hit the dance floor any time “Sorry Not Sorry” comes over the speakers
🎤 self-identify as a Lovatic

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Profile Image for Abi .
17 reviews
March 17, 2026
Love this cookbook, the care and thoughtfulness of how you can learn to love cooking and make cooking stress free was phenomenal. Perfect for a new cook or an experienced cook that wants some consistent , easy, everyday meals. A variety of recipes for all of your cravings, but still simple and if you want to spice it up or adjust anything, Demi includes some suggestions and leaves room for you to decide. I love the fact that she substitutes any alcohol that is commonly found in certain recipes. Her story is so genuine and it reflects in the care she put in this book.
Profile Image for Bridgit Daniel.
304 reviews1 follower
March 24, 2026
I love Demi’s vulnerability in this book about her past struggles with food, her body image and how she’s overcome it in time, it’s so inspiring for me.
I also love how REAL her recipes are, there’s no weird expensive ingredients, it’s not an almond mom vibe, there’s butter, mayo, flour and sugar, the recipes are easy to follow AND she purposely made the recipes 1-2 servings so people who want to cook for just themselves can!
Profile Image for Ellie.
48 reviews7 followers
May 3, 2026
I was pleasantly surprised by this cookbook! It seems that every celebrity has a cookbook out these days, and Demi seemed to have joined in on the fun! I have enjoyed seeing her as an adult, married and happy/sober/healthy, as I've grown up watching her! The recipes are pretty a-typical for cookbooks, but they all look delicious nonetheless. I was able to get inspired by her recipes - added my favs to my recipe collection. Overall rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars!🖤
Profile Image for Amber.
37 reviews
March 22, 2026
As someone who had disordered eating around food, Demi's book really spoke to me. Luckily, my relationship with food is so much better now, but if anyone is struggling with food, I highly highly recommend this book 💙
Profile Image for Kristen Barenthaler.
Author 81 books11 followers
August 11, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Demi Lovato’s One Plate at a Time is pure comfort and creativity. Every recipe feels like a hug — approachable, vibrant, and full of heart. The storytelling between the dishes makes it more than a cookbook; it’s a little journey of joy and healing. Absolutely obsessed. 🍽️✨
Profile Image for Hailey.
385 reviews6 followers
October 16, 2026
I appreciate the intention of this book, but I think these recipes are for people juuuuust trying out cooking for the first time and/or people who don't wanna spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I hope they continue to recover and heal! <3
Profile Image for Melinda Keen.
540 reviews4 followers
March 24, 2026
I love cookbooks!!! And Demi has come so far!! Check this one out ya all!!
29 reviews
April 19, 2026
Easy and delicious recipes with good information for beginner cooks
Profile Image for Janet Clark.
615 reviews1 follower
April 26, 2026
Several decent recipes buried in an embarrassing number of fashion shots of the the author. Honestly don't think this qualifies in the "cookbook" category.
Profile Image for Christine.
77 reviews
June 10, 2026
If you regularly cook at home, these are the most basic of basic recipes. Doesn’t really add to your collection if you’re an avid book collector. Meh.
17 reviews1 follower
June 25, 2026
Recipes were limited and basic but great for essential everyday. Enjoyed reading about Demi's journey with food and health as a casual fan. Makes a good coffee table book I guess.
Profile Image for Erin.
Author 3 books20 followers
July 26, 2026
It's fine. A good basic cookbook. But where are pages 184 and 185? My copy was missing them. Oops.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews