Food: What the Heck Should I Cook?

by Mark Hyman

The companion cookbook to Dr. Hyman's New York Times bestselling What the Heck Should I Eat?, featuring more than 100 delicious and nutritious recipes for weight loss and lifelong health. Dr. Mark Hyman's What the Heck Should I Eat? revolutionized the way we view food, busting long-held nutritional myths that have sabotaged our health and kept us away from delicious foods that are actually good for us. Now, in this companion cookbook, Dr. Hyman shares more than 100 delicious recipes to help you create a balanced diet for weight loss, longevity, and optimum health. Food is medicine, and medicine never tasted or felt so good.The recipes in What the Heck Should I Cook? highlight the benefits of good fats, fresh veggies, nuts, legumes, and responsibly harvested ingredients of all kinds. Whether you follow a vegan, Paleo, Pegan, grain-free, or dairy-free diet, you'll find dozens of mouthwatering dishes, and Fennel in White Wine BrothGolden Cauliflower Caesar SaladHerbed Mini-Meatballs with Butternut NoodlesLemon Berry Rose Cream Cakeand many more With creative options and ideas for lifestyles and budgets of all kinds, What the Heck Should I Cook? is a road map to a satisfying diet of real food that will keep you and your family fit, healthy, and happy for life.

Genres: Cookbooks, Health, Nonfiction, Cooking, Food, Nutrition

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2019

About the author

Mark Hyman, MD, believes that we all deserve a life of vitality--and that we have the potential to create it for ourselves. That's why he is dedicated to tackling the root causes of chronic disease by harnessing the power of Functional Medicine to transform healthcare. Dr. Hyman and his team work every day to empower people, organizations, and communities to heal their bodies and minds, and improve our social and economic resilience.

Dr. Hyman is a practicing family physician, an eleven-time New York Times bestselling author, and an internationally recognized leader, speaker, educator, and advocate in his field. He is the Director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine. He is also the founder and medical director of The UltraWellness Center, chairman of the board of the Institute for Functional Medicine, a medical editor of The Huffington Post, and was a regular medical contributor on many television shows including CBS This Morning, Today Show, CNN, and The View, Katie, and The Dr. Oz Show.

Dr. Hyman works with individuals and organizations, as well as policymakers and influencers. He has testified before both the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the Senate Working Group on Health Care Reform on Functional Medicine. He has consulted with the Surgeon General on diabetes prevention and participated in the 2009 White House Forum on Prevention and Wellness. Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa nominated Dr. Hyman for the President's Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health. In addition, Dr. Hyman has worked with President Clinton, presenting at the Clinton Foundation's Health Matters, Achieving Wellness in Every Generation conference, and the Clinton Global Initiative, as well as with the World Economic Forum on global health issues. He is the winner of the Linus Pauling Award, The Nantucket Project Award, and was inducted in the Books for Better Life Hall of Fame.

Dr. Hyman also works with fellow leaders in his field to help people and communities thrive--with Rick Warren, Dr. Mehmet Oz, and Dr. Daniel Amen, he created The Daniel Plan, a faith-based initiative that helped The Saddleback Church collectively lose 250,000 pounds. He is as an advisor and guest co-host on The Dr. Oz Show and is on the board of Dr. Oz's HealthCorps, which tackles the obesity epidemic by educating American students about nutrition. With Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. Michael Roizen, Dr. Hyman crafted and helped introduce the Take Back Your Health Act of 2009 to the United States Senate to provide for reimbursement of lifestyle treatment of chronic disease. And, with Tim Ryan in 2015, helped introduce the ENRICH Act into Congress to fund nutrition in medical education. Dr. Hyman plays a substantial role in a major film produced by Laurie David and Katie Couric, released in 2014, called Fed Up, which addresses childhood obesity.

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, rounded down.

Full Disclosure: I was one of the 'beta-testers' for a previous Hyman book (The Blood Sugar Solution: The UltraHealthy Program for Losing Weight, Preventing Disease, and Feeling Great Now!), and at that time, I applied the principles he taught, lost a significant amount of wright, and felt better. I wasn't able to maintain it however, which is probably a combination of the fact that it IS a difficult regime to master, and also due to my own lack of will power.

Now on to THIS book - it is a cookbook companion to his recent book Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?, and the first third is more or less a reiteration of the principles of his 'Pegan' Diet put forth there. Those are again sound, well-researched, and articulated in an easily absorbed fashion - BUT - seem even MORE stringent, and perhaps unsustainable for the average eater, than in his previous book.

The rest of the book is a series of recipes, some provided by such celeb friends as Dr Oz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Brady and Giselle Bundchen. I'd say about a third of those contain animal protein, and as someone who eschews dead flesh, they are superfluous for me. And of the remaining ones, several are quite intricate and/or contain ingredients that one PROBABLY does not have to hand and MIGHT find hard to obtain, depending upon how extensive your local health food store might be. The rest look downright yummy as well as healthy, and I MIGHT actually invest in the book, just for those. And there are a bounteous selection of gorgeous full color photographs throughout.

Hyman's heart is definitely in the right place (and probably quite healthy!) and I would love it if I COULD transition to his healthier eating style. I am just afraid most people would find this to be a mite difficult to put into action, but if you ALREADY eat in this fashion, or can sincerely make the effort to do so, this might indeed be the cookbook for you.

I sincerely thank Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the opportunity to peruse this temporary pdf file copy of the book prior to publication, in exchange for this honest review.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I generally like Mark Hyman. I generally seek good recipes for healthy food. These recipes are way to0 involved for me. Simple is good.

[Kris Springer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review has more to do with me and my cookbook preferences than with the quality of the book. For those who choose to focus on gluten-free, paleo recipes, then this might be a good choice. For a middle-class, midwestern woman who cooks for herself and a family who doesn’t necessarily want to eliminate gluten, cook without butter and use avocado oil for almost every recipe, this isn’t my go-to cookbook. However, I love to learn and think about new ways of cooking, so I appreciate the book for that.

[Aimee Ecuyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of fun and interesting recipes. I always struggled with having a balanced diet and understanding nutrition. The author made making changes to the way I eat easy and attainable. I saw results in the way that I felt (energy, motivation, sleep, etc) within a week!

I’ve taken the review down a few stars because the author speaks at length in the beginning about how changing the way we eat can change the world. He talks about how providing access and education to nutritional meals would completely change communities of poverty, then has recipes that require expensive ingredients and fancy kitchen gadgets. Also, even if you can afford it, some of the recipes are very involved and are more for hosting than a week night dinner.

Will still be using many of the recipes for years to come

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Dr. Hyman's work and the info I have learned from his is life changing. This book has good information, but it's mostly the same info provided in his other books. I am following his suggestions to improve and prevent multiple, extremely complicated health conditions. There is no question that it's working. I enjoy knowing that I am eating well for the sake of my body which has made changing my diet not as difficult as I originally thought. I have figured out trigger foods, foods to support certain systems more, and how to control some complications more. I have no desire to eat anything that is not a superfood anymore. It's a lot of fun to learn about the power of food to heal and enjoy eating things you know are good for your body!

My biggest issue with this book is that the recipes include many ingredients I don't have on hand and would only buy for one recipe. Many are a lot of work. I don't have a lot of time or energy to devote to cooking all day after appointments or my part-time job. I am chronically ill still and struggle with energy and pain and it's hard to cook very basic things some days that are fully nutritious. Also, I am low income since I can't work much, so I can't afford a bunch of ingredients I don't use regularly, and I don't have a dishwasher to wash a lot of dishes and little energy to do those on top of cooking. It would be nice to have a book of easy recipes with a few powerful superfood ingredients that I could put together in 15-30 minutes and not be so tired from cooking that I can't get the rest I need too! It will take a while to get to a really healthy point. I know I am going in the right direction. There's no doubt. But, I'm in bad shape and it will take me a long time to get there and some days I simply don't have all it takes to keep up with a superfood diet on top of everything else!

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just finished reading Food: What the Heck Should I Eat, and am blown away with how great that book is. This one is a no for me. I was hoping to get some great ideas of what to cook but the recipes are full of ingredients that I will not get. Too fancy. I like simple recipes with food I can get easily. I will definitely take what I can from this book and make it work.

[Daniele · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ton of information.

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems like a solid enough cookbook for the genre / niche type of cooking.
I do have food issues in my household - both a need to be gluten free and somewhat dairy free.
I own many cookbooks in this niche and have read or gone through even more.
In my opinion, this book will be much better for singles & couples than families.
It just isn't practical for the lifestyle and time demands of most current middle class or upper middle class families.
Another weakness is that it spends way too much time with the preparing your self, kitchen etc... than with the actual recipes. Once you know you're going to be eating this way, and that is usually when you start buying the cookbooks, you already know a big chunk of the basics. Plus, clearly the author is on a bit of an ego trip - there are too many pictures of him scattered throughout. It simply doesn't add anything - other than his obviously wanted or needed ego boost.

Thankfully some of the recipes sound quite good & I will try them. I think a few my teen will like. Most my husband will like but he tends to like anything I think will do especially if it is gluten and dairy free. Several contributions though really just aren't special enough or different enough to make up for extra time and hassle his approach demands.

I received a galley copy in a goodreads giveaway.
The biggest bummer with getting a galley copy is that there is a reference to a protein bread, but the recipe wasn't included in the book. Bummer. I was seriously curious to see how he created that.
All in all - a decent cookbook but not a "must have".

[Renea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As a 5 on the Enneagram scale, I research just about every aspect of my life and then some, and my diet is no exception. When I use the word diet, I only mean what I choose to eat, because I’ve found that every single “diet” out there has its shortcomings, and that is exactly what Dr. Hyman says in this book. However, he is aware that folks like to have a name for the way they eat, so Dr. Hyman has labeled his approach the Pegan diet, since it combines all the good things about the Paleo and vegan diets, which makes sense to me. The only “food” eliminated from his diet is refined sugar. This book gives some information that is covered in Dr. Hyman’s book, Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? and I recommend reading that first, although it is not necessary. The recipes in this book are clean and delicious, and they use ingredients easily found in your local grocery store, I can’t wait to add these to my regular rotation.

[Diana_bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHAT THE HECK SHOULD I COOK? has been exactly what I’ve been looking for. I love to cook, but I also try to be conscious of what I eat. I don’t ever follow any diet trends, so I don’t know anything about that. What I can tell you is that the book offers a variety of recipes with different options for your eating preferences.

The only downside to the book in my opinion is how some of the recipes ask for some ingredients that can be hard to find. One ingredient asked for 2tbs and the bottle was $10. So I didn’t buy it because I felt it was a bit too expensive and what if I didn’t use it again. I did alter it and added chile pods and a cube of Mexican seasoning. Other than that it’s delicious.

[Virginia]

The photos are to die for.

Most though not all of the recipes are long. My favorite section was the one on basics in the back full of chutney, condiments, and cashew sauces. There are a couple sauces I’ll definitely try!

The reasoning behind his suggestions... well. I suppose anyone has to use small data sets if they are going to suggest a “new” way to eat. But at least “eat veggies” has never been controversial. So there is that. Plus it’s nice that nothing is very sweet. Or sweetened with just some berries or a date.

I try to do mostly veggies these days so I’m not going to try the pork and beef sections. But I might try some chia pudding. And some of the fritters look scrumptious (or as he called one, zucchini latkes hahaha). I’ll see what I have energy for over a weekend.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a follow up to Mark Hyman's what the heck should I eat. It is a cookbook with over 100 healthy recipes that follow all the current popular health fads. It includes chapters for a vegan, Paleo, Pegan, grain-free, or dairy-free diet. He has picked recipes that will appeal to kids and adults with some pretty basic ingredients. If you already follow one of these lifestyles you will enjoy this recipe book but I would find any of these hard to follow. The recipes are clear and easy to read and the illustrations do the dishes justice. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I did not read all the details of all the recipes cover to cover, I did read all of the other parts of the book and look at all the pictures. :) I feel inspired to eat healthier and create healthier meals. I really like the "pegan" philosophy of eating. The beautiful colorful pictures make it very clear what the meals will look like and that is important in a cookbook. If you read the beginning too, he explains how you don't actually have to use recipes, although this is a cookbook. :)

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a library borrow. I appreciate his sensible, educated take on healthy eating and the book itself is pleasing with good photos of most recipes. The reason I won't be buying this one for my home library is the number of ingredients in many of his recipes. I made the Toasted Sage Butternut Pizza which had a cauliflower crust. It was tasty but involved twenty ingredients! Moroccan Fish Balls in Pepper Sauce looks yummy but with a list of thirty-five ingredients, I'll pass. I think his recipes make for good weekend cooking when you have a bit more time.

[Beth Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read all the reading chapters of this book. Not a lot new for me. Eat food from nature, not factories. Eat your veggies.
As for the recipes I have tried many of them. All are very tasty and the portion sizes are very generous. Serves 4: serves two adults, 2 super hungry teenagers and provides one serving for leftovers. Recipes do tend to lean on the labor intensive side. Sharpen your knives!
We have been eating one salad from this book each week. Each one is unique enough no one is complaining about repetition.

[Tracy Quigley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading other reviews posted, I am apparently the only person who purchased this book. I bought it because I saw a recipe for Butternut Taco Wraps that sounded absolutelt amazing. While some of the recipes seem difficult, I bought this cookbook because I am interested in the healthier eating principles it teaches. I probably won't cook every dish, but I will definitely cook quite a few of them.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiration Extraordinaire

I have been a fan of Dr. Hyman and his healthy lifestyle philosophy since 2006 when I was given a copy of his book titled Ultra-Prevetion. It was a revelation and started me on a path to a healthier life that I follow and refine to this day. His books are so well conceived and this latest one is outstanding. It’s a great way to kick off a new year. I can’t wait to try some of these recipes.

[Linda Kaban · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packed with healthful recipes. I was really intrigued by a picture of a dense, seed-filled bread in the first few pages. I found the recipe near the end. Sigh. At least 3 of the ingredients would kill me. I'm allergic to tree nuts and with pistachios and cashews and the third nut, that delicious-looking bread is something I cannot touch with a ten-foot pole. Why does every modern recipe have to include nuts and/or coconut? I feel left out.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this cookbook and the set up. I think a Pegan “diet” is perfect. There are plenty of choices and with all the healthy options the combinations of foods are endless. I find that many of the recipes are reasonable and the ones with less known ingredients can be skipped or maybe the ingredient can be omitted or a healthy substitute can be found for a recipe. Our metabolism will thank us every day, and our livers will be forever grateful if we follow this idea!

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Food: What the Heck Should I Cook?... a fantastic resource that clears up common food certification confusion, author notes scientific research and offers whole foods recipes based in paleo and vegan diets. Recipes range from breakfasts, smoothies, plant based entrees, a few beef/chicken/seafood/lamb accompaniments, to desserts and beverages. Classic recipes with a twist as well as modern recipes for millennial tastes and food styling.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookbook is full of recipes for someone who wants to cut out gluten, dairy, and processed sugars. The snacks and desserts are delicious, and the recipes are fairly easy to modify to your own taste. I found this book really helpful while my husband is trying to figure out some gut issues. Plus I've always loved Mark Hyman from way back when his book the Blood Sugar solution helped me rectify some of my hormonal / lack of a period issues.

[CR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I loved the recipes that Mark Hyman has provided. I love that he is addressing the combination between vegan and paleo. I am exactly where he is speaking in my own dietary needs. Highly recommend this book!

[Maribeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

John and I picked up this book on a trip in December. I’ve been obsessed with Whole30 and eating clean for the last year and 1/2 so wanted to add a new cookbook to our arsenal.

The chapters in the beginning of the book about what to eat and why are a super helpful reminder of why I’m eating like I do. I read it all. I’ve also made four recipes from the book so far and love them all.

[Steven Fouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great ideas for how to eat healthy. A few good, make-able recipes for breakfast, dressings, and spice blends. Mostly recipes I will never make, as they are either too complicated for a beginner or employed person or unbalanced for meal-planning.

Overall, this book contains a helpful introduction to eating clean, but not much more that’s usable.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I tabbed a ton of recipes in this one. I enjoy Hyman's approach to food - eat a rainbow of whole foods and include organic, grass-fed beef and chicken. I made the mushroom chili and we both loved it! I like knowing which foods contain certain nutrients and this book describes why certain foods are beneficial for your health. A quick, concise read.

[Lorie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking forward to a practical and achievable set of recipes that go with his recommendations about what to eat. Unfortunately, the majority of the recipes are a little too far off the mainstream in terms of ingredients for me to feel interested in cooking them and getting my family to eat them. It was disappointing after reading his book "Food What the Heck Should I Eat."

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much preamble, and the recipes were fairly uninspiring. I will try the idea of a Caesar salad with roasted cauliflower, however, and the asparagus soup. Overall I feel like I have seen similar recipes done better elsewhere.

[Elsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pegan Diet is flexible and it make sense

The confusion among diets solved with this recipes. Easy to understand and healthy. The recipes help to keep variety on a healthy diet brought by a doctor I believe i

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the beginning of the book but the recipes were disappointing. I can't imagine getting my family (myself included) to eat any of them and so many of them contained nuts and a lot of nuts so if you have a nut allergy, these recipes are not for you.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Health-conscious approach and recipes using unexpected ingredients without being off-putting, but in the end, only a few true keepers here, like the Farmer's Market Muffins, Crispy Carrot Fries and Slow Roasted Salmon.