One Bite at a Time: Nourishing Recipes for Cancer Survivors and Their Friends

by Rebecca Katz, Marsha Tomassi, Mat Edelson

Through The Inner Cook, her San Francisco Bay Area practice, chef Rebecca Katz teaches creative culinary solutions to peple navigating the aftereffects of cancer treatments. For those whose appetites have been turned off by illness, Rebecca's ONE BITE AT A TIME is an instant turn-on to good, nourishing food. In this comprehensive cookbook, Rebecca shares delicious, immune-boosting recipes for people living with cancer, their caregivers, and the ever-growing number of cancer survivors. ONE BITE AT A TIME features more than 85 simple-to-prepare, sumptuous recipes. From little nibbles to satisfying entrees Rebecca's flexible approach is designed for both the individual and the entire family to enjoy. Dishes such as Poached Coconut-Ginger Salmon, Spinach Orzo with Pine Nuts and Feta, Taxicab Yellow Tomato soup and Magic Mineral Broth reinvigorate the appetite with ingredients that help bolster the body's immune system. To accompany the recipes, Rebecca offers down-to-earth information and helpful advice for those dealing with the culinary ups and downs often experienced during treatment. Learn what friends and family can do to best pitch in; discover easy substitutes for "forbidden" foods; look up "nutrition-at-a-glance" information for each recipe; and see how to wake up taste buds in any dish by using just a few basic staples from the pantry. Rebecca's caring, humor-filled recipe notes will warm your heart and remind you that, along with a good meal, laughter can truly be the best medicine. Throughout the book's pages, Rebecca's clients attest to this fact, as they share anecdotes of the joyous impact these recipes have had on their lives. At a time when you may feel that nothing is under your control, something as simple as creating a nutritious, healing dish for yourself or a loved one can be a reaffimation of your humanity and a tangible way to nurture someone you care about.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Reference, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2004

About the author

As the senior chef-in-residence and nutritional educator at one of the country's leading cancer wellness centers, REBECCA KATZ, MS, is the culinary link bringing together physicians and patients with a common goal: eating well to maximize cancer treatments, minimize side effects, and improve outcomes. She is the founder of the Inner Cook, a Bay Area culinary practice that specializes in meeting the specific nutritional and appetite needs of cancer patients, and a senior chef at Commonweal Cancer Help Program in Marin County, California. Katz has been a guest chef and lecturer at top academic medical centers throughout the country, including the annual Food As Medicine conference.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best cookbook I've ever used. I love it. I am it's biggest fan.

I bought this book for a friend of mine going through chemo, but the reviews made it sound so good, I also got one for myself. The recipes are generally very simple to make without being based solely on garlic and soy sauce (I can come up with that stir-fry recipe myself!). Nor are they simple like Alice Waters' recipes which are, yes, very simple in terms of ingredients, but very complicated in terms of skills and equipment required.

Here are some of my favorites from the book:

- Lemony Chicken with Capers and Kalamata Olives
(this one is baked in OJ!)

- Chicken Patties with Apple and Arugula

- Mixed Greens with Roasted Beets and Avocado and Orange-Shallot Vinaigrette

- Spinach Orzo with Pine Nuts and Feta

- Chicken... Roasted All the Way to Yum!
(total ingredients: whole chicken, salt, pepper olive oil, lemon, rosemary, thyme, & sage) SUPER YUM.

- Black bean medley for wraps with avocado cream

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best cookbook on the planet. One reviewer on Amazon says Rebecca's soups are better than chocolate. Too true :) She calls them her "cashmere soup line". If you want to have things to cook that are out of the ball-park delicious, sure-to-thrill-to-the-toes, this is the one. Plus the recipes are all healthy, and with color combos to rival Matisse. And how many cookbooks do you know that are actually fun to read? And this one's about helping folks with cancer! It's the first thing I buy for anyone I know who is diagnosed with cancer, or who has a family member diagnosed, because it's so full of life and love. It's a favorite gift to give, period. Who can't use a little yum in their lives?

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This came highly recommended to me from my Mom. I haven't cooked from it yet, but I did finish reading it today. Recipes seem very involved and challenging for a novice like me, but I found a few I think I can attempt. Author is an excellent writer. I loved reading all the narrative/educational sections. I *love* the chart at the back that gives the prep, cook, and storage (fridge and freezer) times for all the recipes in alphabetical order. So handy!

[Kylie Briggs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Taxicab Yellow Tomato Soup - 1 star - Fed this to the dog

Carrot Ginger Soup with Cashew Cream - two stars but friends liked it so it may just not be to my taste

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to this cookbook by one of the instructors in my natural chef program (a cancer survivor herself.) Beautiful pictures, helpful introduction and tips, and best of all simple recipes that turn out right the first time. Whether you're caring for someone with cancer or just in search of vibrant, healthful food, you deserve to cook from this book.

[Marianne]

Wow! every recipe has the "wow-factor" as she states. Katz has the chemistry down with her incredible "FASS" application for each recipe. Healthy, tasty, easy to make. Thank you Rebecca Katz. I have had MANY cookbooks and this is the first that every recipe is a winner..complete with nurtitional information as well.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am undergoing chemotherapy for lupus and am finding it very difficult to eat. My very kind caregiver loves to cook and I feel that my health and stamina have been improved a great deal through the recipes here. The soups are wonderful especially, as are the smoothies. The recipes are also very flavorful and this is especially important as I find I want to eat a bit more. Great book!

[Katharine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very useful nutritional information! I've only tried a couple recipes so far, but have many more bookmarked.

[Nathalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as "The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen" but you can still find some gems in this one, too.

[Moon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this from the library after a friend mentioned it. Lots of delicious sounding recipes that are good for anyone. I look forward to having my own copy someday.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, wonderful food for anybody!

[Sue Klasing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immediately after my lumpectomy I was looking for anything I could eat successfully, especially during Chemo

[Jess Macallan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this to my nutrition clients for healing recipes for a variety of medical conditions.