This is a post about you, not me. Along those lines, I have some questions, I want to get to know you better. To find out what you like, and also what you need.
Why? I’m thinking of writing another cookbook. For the past ten years, I’ve had cookbook writing on the brain. And in the past four years I’ve created two of them. Now, I’m entertaining the idea of writing a third book. If I do, I’d like it to be of benefit to my readers. So here are my questions:
- What, if any, are your dietary restrictions?
- Are there foods you are not allergic to that you avoid?
- Which type of recipe (i.e., bread, salad, entrees, sides, desserts, etc.) do you find most useful?
- Of the cookbooks you own, which sections do you find yourself using most frequently?
- What is your definition of “healthy food”
- If you could ask for one thing in a cookbook, what would it be?
Feel free to answer all of the questions above, or just a couple. I’m really looking forward to hearing from you, and getting to know you a little bit better.
I will (as always) read each and every comment left below and while there may be competing requests and wishes, I will do my best to incorporate them into my future projects.
Una says
1 and 2: Eat right for your blood type diet for o blood group: no wheat or dairy
3 and 4: mains/ dinner section
5 Low GI, gluten free, high protein and green veg, low carb and sugar
6 high protein dinner recipes that are easy to make with no gluten or dairy
Your blog/ recipes are the best I have found. Every recipe is delicious and quick to make. Thanks so much for all your hard work, the attention to detail and the informative guidance. Well done!
Mieke says
I don’t eat gluten – have been off of it for 5 years now and it has made a huge difference to my health. I love your your cookbook (almond flour) for this reason. What I would love to see is a good quality cookbook with gf recipes, for all types of dishes (like the one I have) but not all of which are cooking with almond flour. I love that the recipes work but I get a little sick of almond flour!
The cookbooks I use the most are British (I live here) and include Sarah Raven’s Garden cookbook and the recipe cards sent along with our veg boxes from Riverford. For me healthy eating is lots of veg. and a good balance of the other food groups, without excluding anything. I exclude gluten not from some ‘health food’ craze but because I can’t digest it. The protein in gluten is actually really good for you. For me, healthy food means fresh, clean, and unprocessed foods. For the rest I think eating grains etc. is still healthy, and don’t believe the ‘science’ behind the paleo diet (I’m actually a paleolithic researcher so I know it’s rubbish). We grow our own veg so one of the reasons I like the above cookbooks is it has lots of ideas for using up seasonal produce. :) But yours is right up there, especially for treats.
Laurel Gangola says
Cant eat gluten, grains, dairy, soy, sugar, fructose.
Nightshades, nuts
Entrees, breads, deserts
Entrees, deserts
Paleo, raw food
janeray1940 says
I’m gluten-, dairy-, AND fructose-free: the trifecta of food intolerances! As far as I know, no single cookbook exists that accommodates all three of these dietary restrictions. There is very little that I avoid for reasons other than food intolerances – this leaves little enough choice as it is!
My definition of healthy food: nothing out of a box or a can. Nothing made in a laboratory. Nothing full of hormones or antibiotics.
Emmy says
Our only true dietary restriction is a severe milk allergy. I have a family of 8 and 2 of us avoid dairy as a rule.
We (I?) prefer to avoid gluten. The adults in our household eat paleo more often than not, the kids eat potatoes and other non-paleo options.
In cookbooks I use main dishes or entrees the most. A close second would be salads or side dishes, we eat a lot of meat+ another dish.
My definition of healthy food = whole foods. I would describe our view as paleo + legumes.
smleslie says
Greetings! I would love to see one that is not only gluten free, but free from sugar, that has entertaining foods, fingerfoods, ect.
One for each season…
Thanks for allowing the input! and your recipes!
Jennifer K says
What, if any, are your dietary restrictions?
– We have gluten, pear, and strawberry allergies. Also one of the three of us has a dairy intolerance.
Are there foods you are not allergic to that you avoid?
– Soy.
Which type of recipe (i.e., bread, salad, entrees, sides, desserts, etc.) do you find most useful?
– Entrees.
Of the cookbooks you own, which sections do you find yourself using most frequently?
– Proteins and veggie dishes.
What is your definition of “healthy food”
– A wide variety of vegetables, plenty of healthy fats, adequate amounts of protein, some fruit, and the occasional “eating adventure” with a sweet dessert of some sort.
If you could ask for one thing in a cookbook, what would it be?
– Help with meal planning. I often find a great protein/entree recipe, but have no idea what to serve with it to make it a meal.
Jennifer K says
Oh… we also avoid oranges (makes me crave wheat for some reason) and anything that came in a can.
Brittany says
-What, if any, are your dietary restrictions: avoid processed food/ingredients
-Are there foods you are not allergic to that you avoid: canned food
-Which type of recipe (i.e., bread, salad, entrees, sides, desserts, etc.) do you find most useful: entree
-Of the cookbooks you own, which sections do you find yourself using most frequently: entrees, desserts (you should include high altitude adjustments for baking because I destroy everything :( )
-What is your definition of “healthy food”: ‘whole’ ingredients, not too much cheese, sugar, or salt
-If you could ask for one thing in a cookbook, what would it be: recipes that have less than 10 ingredients. preferably closer to 6.
brandy avila says
Yes, please write another cookbook. I love your recipes. I am on a Paleo diet. I need help with main dishes and sides. Some tasty ways to cook vegetables would be great. My family has lots of allergies. The Paleo diet helps with most of those. We are the type of paleo people that don’t eat dairy or potatoes. I use my cookbooks mainly for help with main dishes. The sides don’t usually fit our diet, so I don’t use them.
Jen says
I love all your recipes. I would love to see sugarless, flour less recipes. Or healthy recipes and always giving substitute options. I think healthy is eating lots of greens, eating small portions 2-3 hours a day. Everything in moderation. Eating healthy grains quinoa, whole grains but not overloading on them and staying away from processed foods and red meat since it is hard to digest. I LOVE snacks so any healthy good snacking recipes would be cool. But thanks for everything on your blog!