Good for Your Gut: A Plant-Based Digestive Health Guide and Nourishing Recipes for Living Well

by Desiree Nielsen

*WINNER OF A 2023 IACP COOKBOOK AWARD*
*SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2023 TASTE CANADA AWARDS*

A gut-friendly, plant-based approach to digestive health with delicious recipes you can feel good about eating.

Understanding how our gut impacts our overall well-being has grown to the point that better digestive health is essential for everyone—not just for those with digestive conditions. A well-functioning gut means a healthy body and a healthy life. Registered dietitian Desiree Nielsen explains the gut health and mind-body connection and guides you toward a deeper understanding of what it means to be healthy, with strategies to heal your gut when it’s imbalanced.

In Good for Your Gut , you’ll discover how to fuel gut health with anti-inflammatory plant-based foods and lifestyle strategies—from movement to managing stress—for a truly holistic approach to health and wellness. Featuring over 90 beautifully illustrated plant-based recipes created to protect, heal, or soothe your gut, with meal plans for each core area of digestive health. All the recipes are packed with flavour and delicious to eat, even if you don’t have tummy troubles, and are ideal for a healthy plant-forward lifestyle.

Inside you’ll find delicious, gut-friendly recipes

• Pumpkin Oat Pancakes
• Chickpea Umami Burgers
• Lentil Walnut Loaf
• Sticky Sesame Tofu with Bok Choy
• Spiced Tahini Roasted Squash
• Amazing Seeded Grain-Free Bread
• Matcha Chocolate Cups
• Lemon Olive Oil Cake

Along with expert advice and the latest research, Good for Your Gut is packed with information on the best foods to improve your digestion and the most effective ways to support your gut health.

Genres: Cookbooks, Health, Food, Nonfiction, Cooking

320 pages, Paperback

Published May 3, 2022

About the author

Desiree Nielsen RD spent what seems like her entire childhood in her grandmother's kitchen, stealing bites of sweet bread dough as it laid on the table rising. A love of good food was instilled in her long before she even thought about what was "good for her".

As a dietitian, she's passionate about helping people find the joy in eating healthy plant-based dishes that energize mind and body.

The host of TV's The Urban Vegetarian, Desiree is a trusted expert on anti-inflammatory nutrition, gut health and plant-based diets.

Desiree believes that modern nutrition has been lost in a sea of nutrient recommendations. Choosing unprocessed foods, largely plants, is the foundation of an eating plan that fosters good health. Passionate about promoting local and organic agriculture, Desiree loves preparing a simple meal made from the best of the season to share with friends and family.

Desiree's nutrition practice respects traditional knowledge and beliefs while maintaining a commitment to the latest nutrition evidence. To her, food is more than the nutrition it provides -- it is a vital part of our culture, our celebrations and our lives.

A sought after speaker, Desiree's positive "real world" approach to healthy eating is informative, motivating and practical. Desiree has been featured on local and national media across the US and Canada, including USA Today, The Globe and Mail, Well + Good NYC, Mind Body Green, Lifetime, Women's Health, SELF and The Marilyn Denis Show.

Desiree's love of food extends well beyond her work: she enjoys strolling through markets wherever she travels, hoarding cookbooks and one day hopes to become an expert gardener - instead of how she currently gardens, with clippers in one hand and Google in the other. Desiree is thankful everyday to have the opportunity to do what she loves most: sharing her passion for food and living well with the community.

Reviews

[Nicole Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t a huge fan of the author’s first cookbook, Eat More Plants, because I stumbled across it at a time when I stubbornly refused to not indulge my junk food fantasies. But when an email with a photo of this cookbook popped up in my inbox, I bought it within seconds. I never do that otherwise. One look at the salad pictured on the cover had me drooling and it looked delicious enough for me to buy the book just for that recipe. (If that recipe looked so good, there had to be others within the book, right?)

Once I got the book in my hot little hands, I was delighted with the huge number of recipes that actually had me daydreaming of when I’d make them. And I’m not even vegan. (Full disclosure - I was vegan from 2001-2014 and while I have eaten mostly vegetarian since then this cookbook is amazing enough to inspire me to try and make the effort to eat vegan again).

Chronic illness means it’s often hard for me to cook anything because of extreme fatigue and pain. And the recipes in this book are accessible enough that I can easily make them a part of my regular repertoire of go-to meals. They’re delicious and appealing while not requiring exotic ingredients and hours of time standing in the kitchen.

I was also delighted to have so many of the recipes work out so well, which is definitely not the experience I’ve had with other more popular vegan authors (*cough* Gaz Oakley *cough*). It’s really frustrating to spend time and money on a recipe to have it fail spectacularly. Desiree’s recipes turn out every time, and their success lends even more pleasure to eating really good food. In fact, the granola recipe in the book is so good it has set a much higher bar for me that has me refusing to spend a penny on any store bought granolas. And the breakfast cookies? They’re leagues better than the similar breakfast cookies Whole Foods has been making in their Canadian stores for a few decades. And I will never again be without a supply of the delicious lentil salad Desiree included in the cookbook - it’s become a go-to for a hearty, simple, and affordable buy insanely delicious meal to keep in my fridge.

There’s a running joke in my house that should there ever be a fire in my home, there are certain cookbooks I would grab on my out the door. This latest gem from Desiree is one of them.

[Lee Whitehead · Rating 3 out of 5]

The six written chapters on gut anatomy, the vagus system, gut biome, and nutrition were useful. The other half of the book is plant-based recipes that frequently call for hard to source ingredients. I love plant-based foods and recipes, but know from past experience that if an ingredient list is too entailed I won't make it. If you have a lot of extra time and ready access to ingredients, this book might be good for you.

[Minette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book would be GREAT for someone who is suffering from digestive issues. I was just looking for more plant based recipes to incorporate in my life, which it did provide (some great ones!), but a bit too science heavy about the gut and FODMAP lifestyles. I'm sure perfect for another reader, for me - just looking for great plant based recipes :).

[Amanda Baron · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favourite cookbook, hands down. The recipes are straightforward and delicious. They have accessible ingredients, are quick to make and still full of flavour. I also really appreciated the in depth, science based discussion on gut health and vegan nutrition. If I had to choose, so far the curry, the soba noodles with tempeh and the carrot muffins are my favourite.

[d · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic and great yummy recipes 🌸

[Tera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good background information about the importance of the microbiome in our health and wellbeing.

[Carmen Klassen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the cookbook. Going to go out and buy them all. Now an avid listener to her podcast.

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially, I liked the evidence-based introduction (100 pages), but nothing is referenced. She does mention limited evidence with some issues. However, I would prefer references. There is a good variety of recipes, and that is the main reason I wanted this cookbook. Personally, I am not a big coconut oil fan, but the recipes are a great starting point.

[L.C. Tang · Rating 5 out of 5]

While grocery shopping with my basket, I came across this recipe book in the grocery store amongst all the other recipe books. I picked it up. I like how the author also talks about gastrointestinal issues and included vegan options. This book is worth keeping and revisiting.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that there isn’t such a heavy focus on elimination (like of lectins) as Plant Paradox.