Cookbook Review: Growing Healthy Families: Cooking with Holistic Moms

Based on the title of this book, one might assume that the recipes are geared toward families and children. Yes, this book is a great resource for moms (and dads) who want to cook delicious but healthy meals for their families. However, by perusing through this book and trying out some of the recipes, I'd highly recommend this book as a cookbook staple for anyone interested in adapting a healthier lifestyle.

The book is a collection of recipes from moms who are part of the Holistic Moms Network , a national organization for moms who prioritize healthy living to be able to connect with one another. These are the recipe categories and some sample recipes from each category.

Appetizers & Beverages
- Roasted, Red Pepper, Asparagus, and Brie Quesadilla
- Homemade Chai
- Applesauce smoothie

Soups & Salads
- Chickpea Untuna Salad
- Angel Hair Beet Salad
- Carrot Ginger Soup

Vegetables & Side Dishes
- Easy garlic asparagus "fries"
- Chana Masala
- Baked Acorn squash with apple-walnut "stuffing"

Main Dishes
- Overnight Ham & Cheese Strata
- Pumpkin Pancakes
- Salmon Noodle Casserole
- Black Bean Enchiladas
- Caramelized Chicken Breast

Breads & Rolls
- Butternut Squash Pecan Muffins
- Blueberry Gingerbread
- Banana Carrot Bread
- Cheddar Corn Bread

Desserts
- Almond Thumprint Cookies
- No-bake Cookies
- Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Crunchy Sesme Candy

This & That
- Chicken and Brown Rice Puree Baby Food
- Play Dough
- Non-toxic Cleaners

As you can see, there is a wide-variety of recipes in this excellent 232-page resource. There are recipes for everyone: vegans, vegetarians, non-vegetarians, macrobiotics, raw food devotees, etc. For example, I am a semi-vegetarian (80 % of my diet is vegetarian; I occasionally eat meat and I rarely have dairy); while many recipes had too much dairy for my taste, I was still able to mark over 100 recipes that I wanted to try. And for those moms out there with picky eaters, there are dozens of recipes that deliciously disguise veggies.

I give this cookbook a two thumbs up! The book can be ordered here.