… Healthy Approach for the New Year!
Many people make New Year’s resolutions that pertain to their health, whether it be a new way of eating, exercising, or vowing to place their well-being as a priority. With this in mind, the beginning of the New Year is the perfect time to bring you a review of Blissful Bites … Vegan Meals that Nourish Mind, Body, and Planet, written by Christy Morgan. Author, cooking instructor, and previously a private chef to many celebrities, her experience and knowledge come through in Blissful Bites, bringing healthful eating right to your fingertips. Full of beautiful and vibrant photography to showcase the healthful and delicious dishes, this cookbook offers choices for the practicing raw, gluten-free, and soy-free eater. The recipes here contain little or no oil, and many are quick and easy to prepare in under 45 minutes.
Blissful Bites encourages the reader to explore, or continue to enjoy, better eating through veering away from processed foods and to embark on a more pure-foods approach. This attitude is apparent throughout the entire cookbook, not just in the recipes themselves.
Where most cookbooks are laid out by courses, i.e. appetizers, salads, side dishes, etc, Blissful Bites is categorized by seasons. This approach lends itself well to planning, cooking and eating foods that are naturally in season, gaining their full nutrients and health benefits, and making them readily available in the grocery stores. Blissful Bites shares over 175 recipes, 80-90 percent of them being gluten-free.
Blissful Bites is complemented by useful sections such as Pantry Basics, Tools, Baking/Dessert Making tips, and a Resources section to easily locate some specific or unique items included in the recipes.
I had an opportunity to ask Christy some specific questions about Blissful Bites and her food philosophy, and here’s what she had to say:
DF: “What was the catalyst for your cookbook?”
CM: “I feel like I have an approachable, accessible philosophy on eating. I wanted to share with the world how awesome it feels when you eat a plant-based diet and how the animals and planet benefit all at the same time. There's something for everyone in Blissful Bites, whether you want to incorporate a few plant-centered meals per week into your diet, you want to go whole hog but want to do it healthy, if you have a serious health condition, if you are gluten-free or want to reduce the fat/oil in your diet. You will find it all in this book.”
DF: “What makes your book stand apart from others in a similar category on the market?”
CM: “With my macrobiotic and holistic health background, Blissful Bites is healthier than most vegan cookbooks and each chapter is divided into seasons so you can enjoy the bounty that mother Earth provides. I use the highest quality ingredients possible, but if you can't find, say coconut palm sugar, you can substitute any granulated sugar you have. It's very versatile like that.”
DF: “Please share one or two of your favorite recipes or parts of the book you are especially excited about.”
CM: “Breakfast and Brunch of Champions is probably my favorite chapter in the book. Even as a kid we would have breakfast for dinner because I loved it so much. Coconut Bliss Granola Parfait (vegan, gluten-free, low-oil) and Key-Lime Soy Yogurt (gluten-free, no-oil) are two of my favorites.”
Learning about Christy and her holistic philosophy to eating a plant-based diet, I’ve become even more aware of ways to incorporate a healthier approach to my gluten-free and dairy-free lifestyle.
Though I’ve not had a chance to work my way through making every dish yet, with recipes such as Pumpkin Hot Chocolate, Chewy Trail Mix Bars (my favorite; these are soft, chewy, sweet and guilt free), and the Asian Rice Paper Rolls with Almond Bliss Dipping Sauce (and in my opinion, anything Asian is an automatic favorite), there are so many choices I’m quite anxious to explore.
Personally, as one who is gluten-free and dairy-free, with the easy-to-identify icons at the top of each recipe, I find Blissful Bites allows me to eat freely, deliciously, and healthfully. I’m excited to have a copy of Blissful Bites. Pick up a copy and see what delicious fun you can get into.
And be sure to check out Christy's website, The Blissful Chef, for more great information. You can also find her at The Blissful Chef on Facebook and The Blissful Chef on Twitter.
It's easy to order your copy of Blissful Bites at Amazon.com.
Proud to be included among the Top Rank Gluten-Free Blogs by RankedBlogs.com!
