Review: The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig

Synopsis: Melissa and Dallas Hartwig’s critically-acclaimed Whole30 program has helped hundreds of thousands of people transform how they think about their food, bodies, and lives. Their approach leads to effortless weight loss and better health—along with stunning improvements in sleep quality, energy levels, mood, and self-esteem. Their first book, the New York Times best-selling It Starts With Food, explained the science behind their life-changing program. Now they bring you The Whole30, a stand-alone, step-by-step plan to break unhealthy habits, reduce cravings, improve digestion, and strengthen your immune system. The Whole30 features more than 100 chef-developed recipes, like Chimichurri Beef Kabobs and Halibut with Citrus Ginger Glaze, designed to build your confidence in the kitchen and inspire your taste buds. The book also includes real-life success stories, community resources, and an extensive FAQ to give you the support you need on your journey to “food freedom.” (from the online description)

Review: After a colleague tried this and had great results, I thought maybe I would try this. It's not the first time I've heard about this system and it seems to be something good. At the moment of this writing, I'm 1 week into my first attempt. So far, so good. Written in down-to-earth language, with precise instructions and clear how-tos, the book is easy to follow. The Hartwig included some recipes for actually dishes, but more of the recipes are for basic - the perfect boiled egg, grilled steak, baked fritatta. In addition, there are recipes for sauces, like pesto, ketchup, mayonnaise, salad dressings and sauces for meats. Between the sauces and the basic recipes, the book gives you the tools to build 1,000 or more different meals. They also avoid my pet peeve with diet books, and all the ingredients are cheap and easy to acquire, instead of expensive and obscure. The book is also honest about how this diet can be hard and gives an accurate (and hilarious) day-by-day chart of how you might feel. It's not all pretty or easy or happy. In the end, whether this works out or not, I find this to be a diet book worth emulating.

Bookmarks: 8 of 10

Awards: None

ISBN: 978-0544609716
Date Finished: 8-17-2015
Pages: 432