Real Food Every Day is a very approachable cookbook that allows for a variety of food systems and prioritizes making (and eating!) fresh and satisfying food. I really liked how she leans into the "food freedom" concept and acknowledges that what everyone wants and needs from "healthy" food is different.

"You can still enjoy your favorite foods while living a very healthy lifestyle. In fact, I venture to say, an even healthier lifestyle, because you can release the mental traps that come with the extremes. There's a wide array of "healthy" that falls between a strict one-thousand-calorie-a-day diet designed to maintain a certain size and continually consuming processed fast foods and shotgunnings sugar-laden sodas. This book represents that healthy. They healthy that still loves to have pizza every now and again but is mindful of how it affects your body." (from the introduction)

I just really appreciated this approach and it results in a book of recipes that includes sweet, savory, healthy, AND cravable recipes. I also really appreciated her section of simple recipes that basically just use what's in your pantry and a handful of fresh foods, and the instant pot section. These are so great for weekday nights and easy meals that still allow me to fuel my body with the things that make me feel good. But there's also adventurous and more complicated. Overall it was such a nice mix, I've liked everything I've tried to make from the cookbook, and am looking forward to working some of these recipes into the regular rotation here.

Quotations are from the pre-publication review and may not reflect publication changes. Thanks to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.