This list is sure to make your mealtimes more mindful and delicious.
– KEYS SOULCARE
From hosting your pals and making new memories to cooking for a party of one, eating well boasts tantalizing benefits. But, here’s the thing about enjoying a meal that nourishes you: it can look a million different ways!
So whether you’re looking to grocery shop more sustainably or support our planet one lunch prep at a time, we’ve rounded up five amazing books that made us stop and consider what’s on our plates with mindfulness and gratitude.
1. Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day by Leanne Brown
Not all of us are capable of balling on a budget, but at least you can eat well with the help of Leanne Brown’s Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day. This cookbook not only saves you money, but it also supports food security organizations nationwide. (Did we mention there’s a free, downloadable version as well?) | Grab a copy.
2. Root to Stalk by Tara Duggan
Food waste is a huge issue, yet there are so many missed opportunities to make the most out of what many have on-hand every week. Count this as an intro to all the amazing ways each of us can transform what we think is tossable into something useful, delicious, and sustainable. Root to Stalk breaks down how to eat every part of seasonal produce — that’s right, every part, from carrot tops to broccoli stems — with flavor to spare. | Grab a copy.
3. How to Eat by Thich Nhat Hanh
Philosopher and writer Thich Nhat Hanh’s essential mindfulness series is about savoring the flavor of life — this one just happens to be about eating. Explore opportunities to try mindfulness exercises with your food. (One of our faves? Holding a grape in your mouth to get a real feel and appreciation for its shape and taste before taking a bite.) You might think you know your favorite foods well, but this book is sure to upgrade your tastebuds, and the fun of delighting them. | Grab a copy.
4. This is Your Brain on Food by Dr. Uma Naidoo
Harvard-trained psychiatrist and nutrition expert Dr. Uma Naidoo created a research-based approach to eating to help treat and support a range of psychological health issues including depression and ADHD. Dr. Naidoo discusses the importance and surprising benefits of certain foods on our moods, energy, and overall mental well-being, and raises important questions about the truth behind “food as medicine,” alternative treatments to common chronic illnesses, and more. | Grab a copy.
5. Eat to Love by Jenna Hollenstein
Nutrition therapist Jenna Hollenstein is inviting you to build a fulfilling relationship with your plate. Through a Buddhist-influenced spiritual and emotional lens, Hollenstein challenges readers to release stigma, shame, and stress when it comes to nourishing and embracing our bodies. Thoughtful teachings on intuitive eating and healing add up to a mindfulness guide to understanding both who we are and how we can better treat ourselves when it comes to food. | Grab a copy.
When’s the last time you sat down to savor your food for the experience, rather than the function? Share what this makes you think of in the comments!
