Melissa Urban
Co-founder and CEO of Whole30
Book Recommendations:
Recommended by Melissa Urban
“It’s quite possible that I’m at the top of the Ronny Joseph Lvovski Fan Club. Every time I see his smiling face on social media, hear his Latin-inspired kitchen music, or watch him take a huge bite out of a freshly made dish, I beam along with him. Ronny is the kind of home cook who inspires pure joy in the kitchen, with his love of fresh ingredients, his encouragement to try new things, and the way he unabashedly savors the heck out of his own finished product. Honestly, if his recipes were just pretty good, I’d still be cooking along with him, he’s that charming and engaging. But his recipes are SO MUCH MORE than just pretty good.” (from Amazon)
Over 100 gluten-free, grain-free, and dairy-free recipes based on the popular Primal Gourmet blog, fully endorsed by Whole30. Ronny Joseph Lvovski struggled with a lifetime of obesity, failed diets, and low self-esteem before discovering the Paleo diet. Once he eliminated grains and dairy from his diet, his allergies, asthma, upset stomachs, headaches, back pain, lethargy, excess weight, and cravings disappeared. After losing 40 pounds, Ronny set out to create gourmet-quality meals that followed Paleo guidelines and left him feeling satisfied. He shared those recipes on his Primal Gourmet blog, and became one of the most popular contributors to the @whole30recipes Instagram account. The Primal Gourmet Cookbook, Ronny’s first cookbook, is fully endorsed by Whole30 and includes a foreword by Whole30 co-creator Melissa Urban. The cookbook includes more than 120 recipes, with blog fan-favorites plus all-new dishes such as Mojo Loco Chicken Wings, Short Rib Ragu, Jerk Ribs, and Moroccan Lamb Stew, proving healthy diets really can be delicious.
Recommended by Melissa Urban
“Autumn is all of us, if all of us could bake like an angel and feed a family of seven cookbook-worthy meals on a tight budget. It’s why I trust her, and why you should trust her too, as you’re working hard to eat healthier and bring your family along on the journey.” (from Amazon)
Over 100 budget- and family-friendly recipes from Whole30 Coach and creator of the popular cooking website Whole Food for 7, Autumn Michaelis. This inspired collection is dairy-free, gluten-free, and fully endorsed by Whole30! Changing the way your family eats can feel intimidating, but once Autumn Michaelis experienced the incredible benefits of the Whole30 and cut gluten, dairy, and refined sugar out of her life, she knew she had to bring her family on board. As a busy mother of 5—yes, 5—growing boys, she needed recipes that were tasty and easy. So she started the website Whole Food for 7, where she shares no-fuss, gluten- and dairy-free family meals that are delicious and nutritious. In her first cookbook, she serves up winning breakfasts like Crispy Waffles, lunch box essentials like Paleo Vanilla Wafers and Granola Bars, healthy remakes of kid favorites like Plantain Pizza Pockets and Our Favorite Chicken Strips, along with plenty of desserts like Churro Bites and Oreo Brownie Cheesecake. Kid-friendly, but not just for kids, this book is packed with comfort food favorites as well as time-saving hacks, and budget-friendly tips. Whole Food for Your Family is destined to become your go-to cookbook every day of the week.
Recommended by Melissa Urban
“You're definitely going to want a bigger bowl for these hearty, flavorful meals!” (from Amazon)
Healthy, All-in-One Meals for Paleo Eaters Everywhere Little Bits of Real Food founder Kelsey Preciado makes cooking lasting low-carb and high protein dishes the easiest it’s ever been with this collection of satisfying bowl-style meals. Kelsey combines real foods like lean protein, fresh veggies and vibrant produce and ties them together with creative sauces to create clean, complete meals that will keep you full, energized and feeling fantastic. Start the day off right with filling breakfasts like the Chunky Paleo Granola & Fruit Bowl and Bacon, Dill & Sweet Potato Mash. Get your greens in the delicious way with Creamy Chipotle-Ranch Chicken Salad and Citrus-Marinated Carne Asada, served over cilantro-lime cauliflower rice for an extra serving of vegetables. Indulge while still eating healthy with Kelsey’s cleaned-up versions of take-out classics like the Sesame Chicken Lettuce Wrap Bowl and comfort foods like the Perfect Meatloaf and Mashed Potato Bowl, and satisfy your sweet tooth the easy, Paleo-way with desserts like the Microwave Double Chocolate Cake Bowl. Whether you’re a Paleo devotee, a low-carb newbie or simply trying to decrease the dairy and gluten in your diet, this book has everything you’re looking for, right in one bowl.
Recommended by Melissa Urban
“Infused with grace, charm, and encouragement to cook what you love, involve the whole family, and create your own version of 'balance,' The Defined Dish Wholesome Weeknights—and Alex—will quickly become as beloved in your family as they are in mine.” (from Amazon)
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! Healthy, easy, and delicious recipes from the Defined Dish blog--fully endorsed by Whole30 Alex Snodgrass of TheDefinedDish.com is the third author in the popular Whole30 Endorsed series. With gluten-free, dairy-free, and grain-free recipes that sound and look way too delicious to be healthy, this is a cookbook people can turn to after completing a Whole30, when they’re looking to reintroduce healthful ingredients like tortillas, yogurt, beans, and legumes. Recipes like Chipotle Chicken Tostadas with Pineapple Salsa or Black Pepper Chicken are easy enough to prepare even after a busy day at work. There are no esoteric ingredients in these recipes, but instead something to suit every taste, each dish clearly marked if it is Whole30 compliant, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, and more. Alex includes delicious variations, too, such as using lettuce wraps instead of taco shells, to ensure recipes can work for almost any diet. And for anyone looking to stick to their Whole30 for longer, at least sixty of the recipes are fully compliant.
Recommended by Melissa Urban
“The Comfortable Kitchen is your new go-to for healthy eating inspiration, with meals full of warm flavors, simply delicious ingredient combinations, and wholesome treats.” (from Amazon)
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller New York Times Bestseller It’s comfort food—redefined! Here are healthy meals the whole family can enjoy, night after night . . . What does comfort mean in The Comfortable Kitchen? ForAlex Snodgrass, New York Times bestselling author of The Defined Dish, bringing her family around the table to share a home-cooked meal is a favorite way to show love. Her recipes are designed to bring joy into that display of affection, from your own comfort cooking to your loved ones’ delight at the delicious flavors, to knowing that you’re caring for your family’s nutrition with each bite. Though many of her meals are fully paleo compliant, or at the very least paleo-ish, there are plenty of other recipes with simple, flexible ingredient swaps for a cleaner meal when desired—perfect for people who are enjoying their “food freedom” stage of their health journey. And for those who have dietary restrictions, Alex clearly marks each recipe as gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free, and paleo, as appropriate. Alex brings back the joy of being in the kitchen for those at all levels of cooking skill and provides food for every occasion, with soups, salads, pasta, vegetarian and non-vegetarian mains, apps, and sides ranging from one-pot meals to not-so-junky junk food--and even cocktails and desserts--with recipes including: Cajun Chicken and Wild Rice SoupGreen Curry Poached Halibut with HerbsTexas Style Brisket TacosHerby Green Olive Pasta with FetaSheet Pan Honey-Sesame CauliflowerClayton’s Margarita7-Ingredient Almond Butter CookiesWith 105 approachable and nutritious recipes for real, busy life, The Comfortable Kitchen is a must-have cookbook for everyone who cares about what they eat and what they make.
Recommended by Melissa Urban
“Set Boundaries, Find Peace breaks down the what, why, and how of boundaries in a clear and compassionate way, leaving you confident, empowered, and prepared to tackle those tough conversations.” (from Amazon)
The instant New York Times bestseller End the struggle, speak up for what you need, and experience the freedom of being truly yourself. Healthy boundaries. We all know we should have them--in order to achieve work/life balance, cope with toxic people, and enjoy rewarding relationships with partners, friends, and family. But what do "healthy boundaries" really mean--and how can we successfully express our needs, say "no," and be assertive without offending others? Licensed counselor, sought-after relationship expert, and one of the most influential therapists on Instagram Nedra Glover Tawwab demystifies this complex topic for today's world. In a relatable and inclusive tone, Set Boundaries, Find Peace presents simple-yet-powerful ways to establish healthy boundaries in all aspects of life. Rooted in the latest research and best practices used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), these techniques help us identify and express our needs clearly and without apology--and unravel a root problem behind codependency, power struggles, anxiety, depression, burnout, and more.