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Real Food Heals: Eat to Feel Younger and Stronger Every Day: A Cookbook
Healthy cooking reinvented by top chef Seamus Mullen, with over 125 Paleo-inspired recipes designed to revitalize your health every day.
In the high-end food world, “healthy cooking” has long been taboo. But as one of the only high-profile chefs today guided by the understanding that the food we eat has a deep impact on our health, Seamus Mullen has rewritten the old rule that healthy can’t be delicious. Seamus’s powerful transformation came out of his own health crisis—after a near-death experience brought on by autoimmune disease he’d struggled with for years, he radically changed the way he cooked, both at his restaurants and at home. As a result, the biomarkers of disease disappeared and the constant trips to the ER he experienced while he was sick have come to an end.
But what Seamus has been surprised to discover is that this new way of eating—dishes starring real, whole foods such as vegetables and fruits, meats used as garnishes, whole grains, fermented foods, and no refined sugar or gluten—has not only controlled his disease but has also made his body feel younger, stronger, and more energized every day. It is his mission to share his brand of cooking with readers everywhere to inspire them to shift their diets and truly redefine what “healthy eating” can and should be.
A powerful manifesto with Seamus’s moving journey at its heart, Real Food Heals is packed with 125 easy-to-prepare, Paleo-inspired, and nourishing recipes packed with delicious whole food ingredients, including Kefir Scrambled Eggs with Grated Garlic; Nori Rolls with Olive Oil, Tuna, Avocado, and Sprouts; and Fig Almond Cacao Nib bars. Complete with a 21-day jump-start meal plan, this unique cookbook will help everyone prepare healthy, irresistible food with big flavors every day and put them on the path to total wellness.
In the high-end food world, “healthy cooking” has long been taboo. But as one of the only high-profile chefs today guided by the understanding that the food we eat has a deep impact on our health, Seamus Mullen has rewritten the old rule that healthy can’t be delicious. Seamus’s powerful transformation came out of his own health crisis—after a near-death experience brought on by autoimmune disease he’d struggled with for years, he radically changed the way he cooked, both at his restaurants and at home. As a result, the biomarkers of disease disappeared and the constant trips to the ER he experienced while he was sick have come to an end.
But what Seamus has been surprised to discover is that this new way of eating—dishes starring real, whole foods such as vegetables and fruits, meats used as garnishes, whole grains, fermented foods, and no refined sugar or gluten—has not only controlled his disease but has also made his body feel younger, stronger, and more energized every day. It is his mission to share his brand of cooking with readers everywhere to inspire them to shift their diets and truly redefine what “healthy eating” can and should be.
A powerful manifesto with Seamus’s moving journey at its heart, Real Food Heals is packed with 125 easy-to-prepare, Paleo-inspired, and nourishing recipes packed with delicious whole food ingredients, including Kefir Scrambled Eggs with Grated Garlic; Nori Rolls with Olive Oil, Tuna, Avocado, and Sprouts; and Fig Almond Cacao Nib bars. Complete with a 21-day jump-start meal plan, this unique cookbook will help everyone prepare healthy, irresistible food with big flavors every day and put them on the path to total wellness.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published August 22, 2017
65 people are currently reading
598 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 30, 2023
The very short introduction talks about how the author came to what is essentially an anti-inflammatory-style diet after being ill. He mentions the Wahls protocol (The Wahls Protocol : How I Beat Progressive MS Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine) and several other researchers he talked with, but it isn't enough information for someone thinking about a diet change; it's more appropriate to comfort someone, who has read about anti-inflammatory diets elsewhere, where the author started from when he designed his diet.
Only about half the recipes, or maybe even fewer, have photos. Since many of these dishes are gourmet-ish, I'm not sure how the finished product is supposed to look. What's a caponata? Or carpaccio? Although there are no beans or gluten, and most of the inclusion of dairy seems optional or can be substituted, this book is primarily appropriate for people who like to cook a la froo-froo. I did see a number of ingredients that seemed extremely specific that I might have difficult in purchasing locally: watermelon radishes, specific types of mushrooms and chiles I haven't ever seen before, something called gochujang, and that yuzu stuff again, as examples.
Only about half the recipes, or maybe even fewer, have photos. Since many of these dishes are gourmet-ish, I'm not sure how the finished product is supposed to look. What's a caponata? Or carpaccio? Although there are no beans or gluten, and most of the inclusion of dairy seems optional or can be substituted, this book is primarily appropriate for people who like to cook a la froo-froo. I did see a number of ingredients that seemed extremely specific that I might have difficult in purchasing locally: watermelon radishes, specific types of mushrooms and chiles I haven't ever seen before, something called gochujang, and that yuzu stuff again, as examples.
September 11, 2017
I knew who Seamus Mullen was from the Food Network and I had read an article a few years ago about how he overhauled his diet and basically healed his rheumatoid arthritis. So, I was excited to check out this book. The first chapter of the book tells his story with health and how he was able to really overhaul his whole life through diet. He also goes over the tenants he follows with this diet and how he made some major changes. Then it gets into the recipes. At the very end there is a 21 day diet challenge to help jump start or incorporate his eating suggestions. Basically the eating "plan" is paleo, but he does still eat cheese and some dairy. There were definitely some recipes I want to try and his story is definitely very inspiring. While I don't want to cut out carbs completely, he has obviously had really good results eating this way. Overall, definitely one to check out.
January 26, 2019
Overall the recipes are sound and written well and easy to understand. However the reason I marked this book down is because many of the ingredients are specialized or unknown so you would need to be in an area with a lot of health food stores or the money to special order online. Most people can't afford to eat this way so many of the recipes would be hard to complete shopping at their local supermarkets. Much of what he says in sound, he talks a lot about healthy eating and cutting out sugar and processed foods. I would only recommend this book if you are a health nut, love all kinds of veggies or have the money to special order the various types of foods to try that will be needed.
March 20, 2018
Wow! The photographs are beautiful. Some of recipes are very appealing - especially the Vietnamese BLT wraps. The recipe makes 4 servings but in all honesty you'd need all 4 servings for a single meal. Some of the ingredients are not available in most markets - unless they have at least a few really good health food stores and/or upscale grocery stores. And to eat like this daily is not feasible for most people's budgets. I will be making the switchel to drink as it looks to be a no caffeine, no scoby, no fermentation kumbucha like beverage.
February 22, 2020
We used this for our Cookbook Book Club this month and I must say that everyone was surprised at the depth of flavors and the enjoyment we got out of this healthy meal. Some of the highlights were the Carrot Hummus, Watermelon and Heirloom Tomato Salad, Tropical Energy Bars, Grilled Skirt Steak Salad, Roasted Chicken and Heirloom Tomato "Panzanella", Ras el Hanout Roasted Kabocha Squash, Harissa Roasted Spaghetti Squash, Sweet Potatoes with Date Butter and the Switchel Drink. Everything tasted clean and bright!
July 9, 2017
GOODREADS GIVEAWAY
Well done! Instructions are clear and relatively uncomplicated. There are a large variety of menus to choose from.
A brief introduction explains the author's motivation for writing the book, which is compelling but not preachy in motivating readers to try at least some of the recipes.
Well done! Instructions are clear and relatively uncomplicated. There are a large variety of menus to choose from.
A brief introduction explains the author's motivation for writing the book, which is compelling but not preachy in motivating readers to try at least some of the recipes.
March 13, 2018
I saw Seamus on CBS Saturday morning, as the featured chef. While he was promoting a different book, he mentioned this one and told his story of how changing what he put in his mouth changed his life and addressed serious health issues he had been dealing with. I found the book easy to read, chock full of tidbits and beautiful photography.
I started amping up my green salads with pepitas and dried berries - work colleagues notice how yummy my salad looks. This is a book I'll buy, use as a recipe book and reference and build a shopping list based on some of the items I discovered. I'll get my mandonline out more often, perhaps; it may also inspire me to try other kitchen tools that are recommended to make food prep easier. Thank you, Seamus!
I started amping up my green salads with pepitas and dried berries - work colleagues notice how yummy my salad looks. This is a book I'll buy, use as a recipe book and reference and build a shopping list based on some of the items I discovered. I'll get my mandonline out more often, perhaps; it may also inspire me to try other kitchen tools that are recommended to make food prep easier. Thank you, Seamus!
October 22, 2017
I preordered this book because I too have RA and hoped for some really good advice. I understand that people react differently to treatments and food. I was disappointed with the amount of recipes and the eating schedule at the end. I think a week by week list would have been nice. Most books with this type of information have a format at the end to help people like me make lists and find it easier to follow. It was just ok for me.
June 12, 2017
This book showcases the fact that eating well and eating healthy are synonymous. Our bodies respond quickly to what we give them, and like Hippocrates said, "Let food be your medicine."
Great photos and the recopies make me want to sit down for a meal with Mr. Mullen.
This was received through Goodreads.
Great photos and the recopies make me want to sit down for a meal with Mr. Mullen.
This was received through Goodreads.
November 9, 2017
I really enjoyed the beginning of this cookbook, seems like it matches my eating philosophy. I do eat meat, but trying to be more plant- based. This book talks about that, but then still seemed like more meat than I would otherwise have thought from the beginning. Will try some of the recipes for sure though...
January 9, 2018
You're never really finished reading a cookbook but I wanted to put out there that this one is a keeper. I found a recipe that I'll try this week, Kale, Lamb and Feta Frittata and Spicy grilled carrots. Right up my alley!
March 24, 2018
A beautiful cookbook that could use a few more photographs with a lot of very good sensible advice. But unless you have a lot of time to cook and live next door to a very good market this is not very feasible. But the idea is...eat better food, move more.
February 5, 2019
My mother-in-law sent me this with the hope that it would aid in my arthritis (specifically hand) diagnosis. The story behind Mullen's food transformation is inspiring. The food photography is beautiful and the recipes sound good. Ready to try something!
August 31, 2017
Good book but I would have appreciated it more if he had been vegan. Healthy eating = healthy living but I just cannot eat animals.
October 2, 2017
So many healthy and creative recipes.
November 29, 2017
This is one of my favorite cookbooks to come out recently. I am really into the food and health connection...you are what you eat!
August 8, 2019
I got some awesome veggie recipes out of this book and some great inspiration for new ways to prepare old favorites.
September 7, 2019
Great recipes and love the readings in the whole book very descriptive and understandable.
February 25, 2020
Good book. More recipes than expected. Didn’t really give me anything that I did know but it was interesting to read about his journey back to health.
January 31, 2022
His story is inspiring. I have always believed that food is medicine. There are some awesome recipes in here as well. I definitely recommend this book to everyone!
August 1, 2023
Perfectly Pan-Roasted Salmon starts in the pan, but finishes in the oven. Grass fed unsalted butter, avocado oil? What am I, made of money? Meh.
November 30, 2017
I truly believe the food we choose to put into our bodies has a direct effect on our health. The overall message of the book as well as Seamus' story resonated with me but a large portion of recipes were a little too funky for my tastes.
August 28, 2023
Through cookbook with lovely photography. I would love if someone would make me meals from this cookbook as they are very beautiful and healthy looking. I gave it four stars instead of five because they feel a bit complicated and time consuming for every day, with ingredients that might be a bit hard to find for many people.
November 27, 2022
Lsoz
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2023
Great book of recipes to try out!
Now I just need to cook :)
Now I just need to cook :)
October 9, 2017
This will become one of my favorite cookbooks. Very valuable information on nutrition and the recipes are easy to use and healthy! A great story to inspire all of us to eat healthy and rid out lives of additives from the food industry. I highly recommend this book!
November 23, 2017
Excellent and I plan to put it on my holiday wish.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews