Fix It with Food: More Than 125 Recipes to Address Autoimmune Issues and Inflammation: A Cookbook

by Michael Symon, Douglas Trattner

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A guide to managing inflammation and pain with 125+ recipes proving that you don’t need to sacrifice delicious food to eat healthfully and be pain free, from celebrity chef and The Chew co-host Michael Symon

IACP AWARD FINALIST • “Michael fixed himself with irresistible recipes that just happened to be healthy. Now you can enjoy healing yourself as well.”—Mehmet Oz, MD, attending surgeon, New York–Presbyterian/Columbia University
 
When Michael Symon found out he had rheumatoid arthritis and external lupus, he suspected that what he ate—or didn’t eat—could make a profound difference in his levels of inflammation and how he felt. So he committed to a food “reset” on The Chew —no red meat, white flour, sugar, dairy, or alcohol.
 
Michael used social media to share his experiment with his fans, and was shocked by the outcome: after completing the reset, he felt amazing. He discovered that dairy, sugar, and processed flours are his food triggers, and that by avoiding them, his inflammation essentially vanished.
 
Michael came up with more than 125 recipes to satisfy his cravings without aggravating his body, including Ginger and Chile-Roast Chicken, dairy-free Mac and Cheese, Spaghetti Squash with Arugula Pesto, and Apple and Cherry Oat Crisp, among many others. Now, for the first time, he is sharing these recipes, as well as a guide on how to identify your food triggers and create a meal plan that works around whatever ingredient causes your discomfort so that you too can enjoy incredible food without sacrificing your health.

Genres: Cookbooks, Food, Cooking, Nonfiction, Health, Self Help, Medical

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Michael Symon is an American chef, restaurateur, television personality, and author.

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fix It with Food, has a lot of good recipes, especially if you are a vegetarian or just like to cook an occasional meal without meat. Unfortunately, the author, puts them all together into a diet, that's next to impossible to follow if you work full time. I'm a good cook and an efficient one. I cook most nights. But cooking this way every day including a complicated breakfast, is just too much.

The philosophy is simple. Drop meat, dairy, sugar and most (not all) animal products from your diet and see what happens. Unsurprisingly, most people feel better. These recipes take away the monotony of a mostly plant based diet. That's nice, but a diet cannot not be a full time job.

The other issue with these menus is the amount of food per day, which is not likely to be enough. Dropping most of the protein from dinner means that you have to serve more, or find a way to replace the animal protein. A dinner based on something like two sweet potato latkas can be delicious, but its going to leave most people hungry after an hour of so. Similarly, a salad at lunch is a great idea, but if it lacks protein, it won't be sustaining.

This is a fine book to add to your library of plant based cookbooks, just don't assume the diet is going to be followable--unless you take a week off!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little book. There isn't any science or explanations. It's just very simply what is wrong with him, what he did and the result and some really great recipes to go along with it. I was very happily surprised to see that for the 10 day reset I already had every single food item needed.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fix It with Food: More Than 125 Recipes to Address Autoimmune Issues and Inflammation is a cookbook by professional chef Michael Symon, conceived to address the author's own health issues. The mission of this cookbook is to help readers change their eating habits, starting with the 10-Day Fix (or reset). There is interesting information in the beginning, including the 10 anti-inflammatory foods (salmon, mushrooms, ginger, blueberries, and turmeric among them). The 10-Day Fix is designed for a person to do on their own, with a recipe plan including a shopping list and 10 days of menus to follow. This gives this section of the cookbook a purpose and a logical layout, as the recipes progress from Day 1. There are great accompanying photographs and plenty of simple recipes full of vegetables and other healthy ingredients. Kale Salad with Radishes, Zucchini, and Tomatoes seems to leap off of the pages because of the colorful and pleasing photo. The recipes are all plant-based, with dinner dishes such as Potato Pancakes with Wilted Greens, as well as Grilled Portobellos with Arugula and Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes. Many of the breakfast dishes include eggs in combination with vegetables, providing a great start to the day.

The rest of the cookbook is divided into sections, the first being Dairy-Free Fixes. Oat milk provides the creaminess in such recipes as Cream of Wild Mushroom and Barley Soup or "Cheesy" Mashed Celery Root. Other recipes in this section are short and sweet, like Ginger and Chile Roasted Chicken or Slow-Roasted Salmon. There are meat dishes like Roasted Rack of Pork with Crushed Walnut Sauce, or Grilled Skirt Steak with Cherry-Balsamic Sauce.

Flour-Free Fixes has delicious dishes like Zucchini Noodles with Corn, Tomatoes, Dill, and Feta; Spaghetti Squash with Arugula Pesto; Ratatouille-Baked Chicken; and Sour Cherry Glazed Pork Chops. Most of the dishes in this section obviously belong in this category, but I do like how it addresses a particular issue that some readers might face.

The Meat-Free Fix section includes great dishes like Zucchini, Chickpea, and Quinoa Salad; Black Bean Soup; and Baked Eggs with Mushrooms, Collards, and Onions. The recipes are varied and readers who eat meat-free with enjoy trying different types of cuisine.

The Sugar-Free Fix section has great dessert options, like Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies or Apple and Cherry Oat Crisp. Many of the dishes in this section utilize natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup instead of cane sugar. I found this section to be misleading because I was expecting to find dishes using artificial sweeteners or no sweeteners at all. Usually, sugar-free means no sugar, not natural ones.

The final two sections are Drinks & Snacks and Pantry Staples, both of which includes a wide variety of recipes. There are drinks like Peanut Butter Protein Shakes and Banana Lime Smoothies, or snacks like Spiced Walnuts and Crispy Baked Chickpeas. The pantry staples include anything from broths to oils.

Overall, I liked Fix It with Food, especially because of the delicious recipes. I did not care for the layout, as I prefer a cookbook that follows the natural progression of meals throughout the day. The different sections do make it easy for those who have dietary restrictions, as they can skip over the parts that do not pertain to them. I appreciate the bright colored pages and plentiful photographs, as they are inspiring. I am not sure I would try the 10-Day Fix, but I will definitely be testing out many of the recipes in this cookbook.

[Linda Kaban · Rating 3 out of 5]

As per usual, with these "healthy" recipe books, there are too many nuts and coconut for this highly allergic girl. Apart from this, I don't think this kind of eating is sustainable. I know it's supposed to be a reset; but what happens when you've reset everything?

[Ericka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent Explanations

Suffering from Fibromyalgia I often look for recipes like these. Going sugar free makes a huge difference in pain. I'm interested in trying many of these. Who knows Symon might be able to get me to eat squash.

[Dorothy Greco · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like Symon and this book does have some great recipes. My gripe is that he promotes it as a cookbook that addresses autoimmune issues and inflammation. Which is kinda does but the recipes are not by any means all auto-immune compliant. There's no mention of nightshades being trouble for folks, which they often are (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers) and many of the recipes in the book include dairy and gluten which are the biggest culprits for inflammation. It would make more sense to me if he had a different title/subtitle.

[Carol Preflatish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this for Christmas and love it. It's a wonderful plan to determine your triggers for inflammation and joint pain and looks easy to follow. I like the recipes because most of them are for one serving, but easily can convert to more. Most ingredients I have already or have access to at my local market. I highly recommend this book.

[Cindy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good cookbook for anyone wanting to live and be more healthy. High fiber recipes with loads of nutrient-rich, energy-packed ingredients. Michael Symon's infectious happiness for life woven through the pages and recipes enticing the cook to be spontaneous and live to the fullest. The beautiful photography is appealing and inviting.

[Sharon Blair Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cook book is like no other. Of course, any “diet” that requires you to take out all triggers, and continues for 10 days, will be hard and challenging. But it is worth it, so worth it. Chef symon makes sure you will succeed.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found a few interesting recipes to assist me with my inflammation (knee) issues.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book in the sense it includes some great recipes for foods that often irritate people - the book steers clear of dairy, some wheat, some meat and processed sugar. All of which cause health problems for many people, for a variety of reasons. Symon suffers from some health ailments, found that eating this way helped to alleviate many symptoms, so he's sharing the recipes. There isn't a lot of science here, but he's a chef and admits that. Depending upon your health issue, you may be avoiding other foods - but these are common triggers.

The recipes are good, but not as quick as I'd like. I did enjoy the backstory, and wished for full nutrition information on them. The desert chapter was the best for me - there are some really amazing gluten free donuts in here that are great for people watching their wheat.

If you're eating healthier, or on an elimination diet, this is worth checking out. He's a good cook, and if you're moving towards one of these diets, having food this tasty will help.

[Susan Swiderski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most people with autoimmune diseases are aware that some foods trigger symptoms more than others. This book offers a way to help readers identify which foods may trigger negative results in their own bodies. By following a ten-day "reset" diet that eliminates the most likely triggers and then reintroducing them, one at a time, it's possible to get a handle on a personal dietary path that can optimize good health.

There are lots of terrific recipes in this book, both for use during the "reset" period, as well as for after the problem target food has been identified.

I dunno if we ARE what we eat, but it's clear that the food we put into our bodies has a profound effect on our health and well-being. Chef Symon's book provides one potential path to lowering inflammation and improving our health.

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am confused to why some of the recipes on the Reset have more than 1 serving. What are you supposed to do with the leftovers? The meals don't repeat. He could have also done a better job of selecting recipes that pair together ingredient-wise in order to keep waste down and to eliminate the need for ingredients that may be hard to find. I am also confused at why the recipes call for so much oil. For day one 1 person would use 7.5 Tablespoons. He says he has made the Reset preparation "as effortless as possible." As a whole, the program is so for experienced cooks and those who have the time (and money) to cook a different meal for each meal, everyday. For a larger audience, the ingredients could have been simplified and the recipes paired so that that all ingredients are use and that leftovers from dinner become tomorrow's lunch.

[Jessica Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is magical! I didn’t know it was possible for me to be pain-free. I’ve had nearly constant abdominal pain my whole adult life. I followed the diet Symon prescribed (which is a ton of work- you’ll be cooking or doing dishes all the time) and my stomach didn’t hurt anymore! And, just as he promised, taking all that pain away made it extremely clear what was causing my pain once I added it back to my diet. I’ve spent thousands of dollars on tests and procedures and medications and no doctor has been able to figure it out. I’ve been told to keep a food journal but when you’re always in pain, it’s hard to tell which thing is causing it. If you have mystery abdominal pain, buy this book. The diet is worth the effort!

[Vleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was searching for a healthy cookbook and a library search included this one. I found most of the recipes quite reasonable in both preparation and ingredients. Although I don't think I have any food sensitivity issues, the author presents a process and daily menus for determining if you might. Every photo looked mouthwatering and I found the author's personal stories very interesting. There are also separate chapters with Dairy-Free, Flour-Free, Meat-Free and Sugar-Free receipes.

I am not a vegetarian, but over time I have reduced the amount of dairy, flour and processed sugar in my diet. This cookbook gave me some usable ideas for improving what I eat. I will purchase this one and check out his other cookbooks.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great recipes here! As someone who struggles with Autoimmune disease and inflammation myself, I really appreciated Chef Symon's personal perspective and knowledge on the topic. I also really liked that the recipes were easy/fairly easy, as many autoimmune/anti-inflammatory diet cookbooks are so complicated and ultra restrictive. Even the substitutions he suggests are doable. A very practical cookbook all around. As with most cookbooks, not all of the recipes were for me, but I added many of them to my own recipe binder at home. I can't wait to try the sweet potato pancakes especially! Highly recommend.

[Kelley Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have health issues and certain foods trigger reactions in your body Michael Symon’s Fix It With Food can aide you in your quest to combat these issues. Healthy recipes with easy ingredients. He breaks the recipes down into categories specifically geared toward targeting dairy free, meat free, sugar free etc. I walked away with a few more recipes in my arsenal. My own personal journey is one geared toward eating foods that aide in helping my body be the best it can be. Eating nutritionally has become a lifestyle for ma as I age and can no longer tolerate certain foods without feeling the repercussions.

[Susan]

I've read a loooooooot of cookbooks to try to find more variety of foods and flavors that will still be nice to my body. This is a pretty solid one, especially the "10 Day Reset" because all those recipes are, I believe, free from gluten, dairy, sugar, and meat. Then there are sections addressing each avoidance separately (a chapter on dairy-free recipes, a chapter on sugar-free recipes, etc).

As always, you'll have to adjust cooking times and spice amounts and all that, but generally, this was a good one and there are lots more recipes from it that I'll try in the future as well.

[TheDivineReset]

pros: plenty of nut free recipes (great for those with nut allergies), plenty of recipes in general

cons: a bit boring - but the book’s focus is on addressing inflammation and autoimmune issues rather than show stopping recipes so that’s understandable, use of honey in the sugar free dessert section (but that’s a personal preference because i would have preferred a truly sugar free dessert - regardless of if its natural sugar or not)

perfect for someone who needs an inflammation reduction focused cookbook.

[Libraryassistant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I like Michael and his approach to cooking and flavor, so this has some great sounding food. And the 10 day Reset menu made the concept seem more doable and less like a punishment.
However, the remaining approach was a bit scatter gun: a chapter for this possible trigger food, but that includes two other triggers followed by a chapter avoiding one of the other triggers but still including some triggers…seemed complicated to me, and not fully about what the introduction says has helped him.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The medical information in the front of the book is too short and simplified to be useful to people searching for answers-- this is more for people who already know they have specific types of inflammation, or people who are healthy enough that trialing a diet won't negatively affect their health.

The recipes were not memorable. I didn't write any down.

Strictly an optional purchase for public libraries; probably only recommended to readers who are fans of the author's show.

[Jeannine Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love

This can be used in a number of ways...not just for resets but also everyday eating. I will enjoy these immensely. As always use common sense when approaching cookbooks. If you don’t like a particular healthy ingredient or are sensitive to one suggested, then swap out for an equally healthy or less expensive ingredient. Recipes are suggestions and guides...not commandments.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some pretty good recipes! This is a great introduction for anyone that has not tried or explored clean-eating before. However, if someone is a veteran clean-eater and looking to explore a strict anti-inflammatory diet, this might not be the book for you. Garlic and onions are commonly avoided in anti-inflammatory diets but this recipe recommends them with most recipes. It is possible to adapt recipes though! Still on the lookout for my vegan anti-inflammatory/low FODMAP cookbook!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s worth a try if you have autoimmune or inflammation issues. I’m pretty sure I’d be starving and cheating during the 10 day fix. Many recipes are for one or four. A lot of the recipes didn’t appeal to me but I’d like to try the skillet kale gratin and the sheet pan chicken thighs and butternut squash. And I’ll be sure to remember the trick of replacing noodles with thinly sliced potatoes in lasagne.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not get this book for the "Fix" for health issues. I got for healthy meatless recipe ideas from a chef I admire. I got what I came for! Wonderful, new, recipes that I can't will definitely make, each accompanied by a beautiful photograph. There were also many lovely recipes that included meat, which I just skimmed through.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m excited to try some of these recipes! Lots of tips and tricks and everything looks delicious! My only con is that foods in the nightshade family can be a huge trigger for inflammation. No mention was made of that and many recipes include nightshade ingredients. Do your homework, know your body. If that’s a trigger for you, make sure you know which ingredients to avoid.

[Carol Dublin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is going to be a regular part of my meal planning every week! What a blessing to find so many recipes that help reduce inflammation and are geared toward some of my health and diet issues. Even the ones with ingredients I can't have are easily adapted. And every recipe I have tried has been delicious and easy to fix!

[Kathleen Kefauver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is inspirational and set me on a journey to clean up my eating. Symon shares his own challenges honestly and offers a sound, manageable plan to reduce inflammation and other physical ailments through careful food selection. Plus, as a foodie, I appreciate the flavorful recipes provided in the book.

[Carm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked many of the recipes in this book. However, I do think arranging into a diet is problematic because of the time and fuss the recipes can require. I simply won't do the diet but keep the book for reference for recipes i want to try. Love the author and recipes are reliable and turn out well. Recommend not trying to follow his time consuming diet.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this cookbook! The recipes are amazing, I am planning to start the 10 day reset and see what happens!
I watched him cooking live every other day durning this quarantine, his recipes are very easy and taste amazing and you can substitute what you have in the house!!