New Paleo Books

If 2012 was going to be awarded a nutrition-geek tagline, it would be the Year of the Paleo Books, and in the last few weeks, a new crop of how-to and cookbooks has been released. As you know, I follow the Whole30 guidelines 95% of the time — and I think It Starts With Food is the definitive book on eating real food for a kickass life (plus, I wrote its Meal Map and Dave did the photography, so yeah, we love it) — but I also think it’s valuable to keep up with other paleo practitioners have to say. Knowledge is power and sometimes, just hearing something explained another way makes it stick. In case you want to add to your paleo bookshelf, here’s the scoop on some of the new books.

Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo — Balanced Bites

What It’s About
Diane is the author of the blog Balanced Bites and the popular Balanced Bites Podcast. Her new book Practical Paleois a comprehensive resource that promises “a customized approach to health and a whole-foods lifestyle.”The book covers the why of the paleo diet framework, along with 30-Day Meal Plans for special populations (autoimmune conditions, thyroid health, cancer recovery, athletic performance, and more) and an extensive collection of recipes.

Defining Quote from the Book
Practical Paleo is a way to change your lifestyle, leading to long-term health benefits far beyond the coming weeks or months. Remember that a “diet” is temporary. The book will show you how food works inside the body so that you can design a plan that works for your body.”

A Taste of the Recipes
The categories include breakfast, poultry, beef & bison, seafood, lamb, pork, sides & salads, sauces & dips, and treats & sweets — with recipes like creamy cauliflower hummus, green beans with shalltos, citrus & herb whole roasted chicken, and roasted marrow bones.

Other Things to Note
Diane also included a handy “kitchen basics” section with how-to photos for kitchen newbies, and the recipes are accompanied by full-color photos, taken by the authors of Make It Paleo. The Meal Plans for people with health concerns are quite detailed and the section also includes guidelines for how much to eat to feed your body.

Everyday Paleo Family Cookbook  by Sarah Fragoso — Everday Paleo

What It’s About
Sarah Fragoso is the author of the blog Everday Paleo, and the book Everyday Paleo, which covered paleo basics, CrossFit-style training, and family recipes. Her new cookbook Everyday Paleo Family Cookbook is focused on family-friendly meals to help even reluctant eaters adapt to the paleo lifestyle. The book includes a handy “top 10” of getting started, along with shopping tips and a one-week meal plan that includes a shopping list.

Defining Quote from the Book
“If you are brand new to living a Paleo lifestyle, my first book Everyday Paleo will give you a road map to get started… [this book] takes it a step further, offering you many recipes to nourish your body, as well as advice to help you slow down and enjoy the precious fleeting moments of your life, bringing your family closer together.”

A Taste of the Recipes
The categories include sauces and dips, slow cooker recipes, soups and stews, meaty meals, egg dishes, fruity creations and treats, and sides/salads — with recipes like curry spread, slow chicken curry, Hungarian stew, coconut shrimp cocktail, egg salad, zucchini sticks, and fruit parfait.

Other Things to Note
The book includes some handy tips for shopping on a budget, along with a one-week meal plan, a big ol’ list of meals that don’t require a recipe (like Taco Night), and a list of pantry and fridge staples with recommendations on where to buy them. And because we foodies eat first with our eyes, every recipe includes a full-color photo — and there are sweet pics of Sarah and her family, too.

Paleo Indulgences by Tammy Credicott — The Healthy Gluten-Free Life

What It’s About
Tammy is the author of the book The Healthy Gluten-Free Life, and her new cookbook is Paleo Indulgences. The subtitle of the book tells you everything you need to know: “Healthy, Gluten-Free Recipes to Satisfy Your Primal Cravings.” This is not a book for everyday eating, but instead is a collection of recipes for those times you want a treat.

Defining Quote from the Book
“The intention of Paleo Indulgences is not to say, ‘Hey, look at all the crap you can get away with eating on a Paleo diet!’ The aim is to present options for better choices when you just have to have that special treat…. Paleo Indulgences is not a daily guide on how to eat a primal diet. By no menas am I going to tell you to devour sweets and treats every day. Paleo Indulgences is a tool to help you stay on track by providing better choices for occasional treats that are still Paleo-friendly.”

A Taste of the Recipes
The categories include The Bakery, Today’s Special, Restauant Recreations, The Candy Counter, and The Ice Cream Shop — with recipes like vanilla brownie cheesecake, granola bars, bacon dip, paleo marshmallows, and kiwi sorbet.

Other Things to Note
Again, there are full-color photos with every recipe, so you can see what you’re getting yourself into. It’s worth mentioning that these recipes are primal, so they do include dairy like sour cream and cheese, as well as sweeteners like honey and maple syrup… definitely far outside the Whole30 guidelines I follow. The front section of the book provides lots of detail about the nutrition profile of the ingredients Tammy suggests so you can make informed choices when you go paleo off-roading.

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Comments

  • Mickey says:

    I look forward to getting Diane’s book – I have heard a lot about the autoimmune meal plan and recipes!

  • I have Diane’s book and after I finish my Whole 30 to see what I need to tweak, I plan on delving deeper into her thyroid and digestive health suggestions.

  • Emily says:

    I have Practical Paleo and Sarah’s book, too…now I need Paleo Indulgences! Well Fed is still my favorite though. Shh. Don’t tell anyone. 🙂

  • Practical Paleo is like a bible. It’s such a great first paleo book for anyone. At the moment I’m making basically a recipe a day from Well Fed. We have very similar taste buds. I was so overwhelmed flipping through it the first time. I need to go to the store NOW, lol

    • Amanda Lindsay says:

      I have both and love both – and recommend both!!! A friend just received the duo in the mail yesterday (we’re in Australia) and texted me in excitement because I never shut up about them! Even sent me a photo of the books. Are we sad? I think we might be sad…. sigh…. mmm hungry now.

  • Jenn says:

    Two books I’m also looking forward to are Modern Cave Girl, by Liz Wolfe and Paleo Slow Cooking by Chrissy Gower. They’re both on Amazon, but neither is released yet.

  • Patty Pickup says:

    I got your cookbook because I am eating low-carb (not paleo, at least not yet) and you had a book signing in Philadelphia near where I work.
    I love your taste buds!
    I just made the blue ribbon county chicken and it is fabulous! I plan to make it for my guests in a couple of weeks.
    I really like the suggestions you include in your cookbook and how you organize everything. I am looking forward to trying m ore.

    • Mel says:

      Hooray! I’m glad you’re giving Well Fed a try — it’s an easy transition from low-carb to paleo, once you feel ready to do it.

      That Country Captain Chicken is really good — all credit to my mom for her recipe. Glad you enjoyed it — and I love that you’re going to make it for your dinner guests. YAY!

      Have fun in the kitchen. Keep us posted on how you’re doing!

  • I already have Practical Paleo and I am loving it. It is big and heavy so it is a bit of a workout to read it in bed 😀
    My copy of Everyday Paleo cookbook is still somewhere in the mail along with Make It Paleo, they should be here any day now!!!
    Paleo Indulgences caught my eye when I was ordering the other ones, but since I tend to overeat with yummy stuff like those in the book, I decided to stay away from it for now and buy it as a christmas present for myself :))

  • Mandy K says:

    I’ve just started Paleo this week (4th day and counting :), and I’m using “Practical Paleo” to launch into it. I’m following the “weight loss” meal plan. So far the recipes have been amazing, simple, and quick, which are all major bonuses for a single gal on the run a lot. I found this blog a few days ago and have spent an inordinate amount of time reading through pretty much everything on here 🙂 “Well Fed” has been recommended by several paleo pals and will be the second book in my arsenal, so thanks!

  • I am so glad to hear about this book. I love paleo recipes and my family love it too. I often go through web to have great tips. I think, this gonna be rock for my family to have recipes from this book. Thanks for sharing.

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