When I started my practice, I never imagined the importance of product and book recommendations to my clients. Changing one’s dietary and lifestyle habits is hard, especially at first, and it’s amazing the power the right product can have on making those changes less scary. When you show someone who has been eating a primarily fast food diet how to make meal preparation easier or provide someone who would benefit from removing certain foods with a resource for pleasure rich alternatives, it makes a profound difference on how they are able to follow through, so they may experience the difference these changes can make to their quality of life. My mantra in this regard is to just “lighten the load.” You don’t have to do it all at once. Little changes can have a big impact and, unless you are suffering acute reactions, you can generally replace things as they run out. Also, my experience has been that we don’t know how good the alternatives can be until we start looking for and trying them. Some of the links are affiliate links, so if you use them to make a purchase it will help to support my work. Some are not. All of them are items you will find in my home, that I use on a regular basis, love, and recommend with confidence.
Included on this list:
COOKBOOKS
If you have been following me on social media for any amount of time, you know I do not enjoy cooking. Sometimes, I even hate it. I mean really HATE it. Sometimes I hate it so much that I prefer not to eat. All that to say, I am SO grateful for the folks who not only love to cook, but create nutrient-dense, delicious recipes that support our health. Without them, I think I would have either given up or would be eating out of packages all the time. If you have been hanging out with me awhile, you are no doubt familiar with some of these.
Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo: This is the BEST starter for anyone embarking on a whole food way of eating. It is WAY more than a cookbook. You don’t even get to the first recipe until page 256. Among her many talents, Diane has a gift for providing information in a way that is easy to understand and usable, truly practical. What makes this book a staple in my kitchen is that it covers everything from the basics like bone broth and ghee to Spiced Lamb Meatballs with Balsamic-Fig Compote and Dairy-Free Chocolate Mousse. This book will offer you that much needed reassurance that nourishing your body can also be pleasurable.
Paleo Cooking for Your Instant Pot by Jennifer Robins: When this book came out, I am pretty sure the clouds parted and the angels sang, because HALLELUJAH tasty, nourishing meals made from real food that are easy and quick to throw together? My prayers have been answered! If you follow my Instagram account, you are sure to have seen Jennifer’s Vegetable Beef Soup and Egg Roll Soup on repeat. And, Cilantro Chicken Meatballs in the Instant Pot? Yes, please!
And, then came…
Affordable Paleo Cooking for Your Instant Pot: Crust-Less Chicken Pot Pie, Southern Sausage + Cabbage, Asian-Inspired Beef + Broccoli and Hearty Clam Chowder in the Instant Pot! Thank you very much!
Made Whole by Cristina Curp: This book has been a godsend for me and for my clients with autoimmune conditions. It’s grain, dairy, nightshade, and refined sugar free. The dishes are low carb, so it’s also a great resource for those watching their blood sugar. Plus, Cristina does NOT skimp on flavor. When I first got the book, I made the Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf on repeat. The Shredded Jerk Chicken is also a family favorite, and the Sheet Pan Dinner: Pad Thai and Fricase de Pollo are on regular rotation in our household. I cannot wait until…
Made Whole Made Simple (available for preorder) is released in March, as I have full confidence that I can look forward to more flavor-rich meals with the added bonus of being easy to prepare.
Celebrations by Danielle Walker: This gorgeous book is a celebration game changer. I have a personal story to go with this one. You see, my mom creates THE most amazing holiday celebrations. Her home décor and elaborate meals are truly top notch. So, you can imagine her dubiousness when I suggested adding paleo dishes to our holiday meals. That concern was quickly put aside when I showed her the Smoky Candied Bacon Sweet Potatoes and Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Shallots. Not only did she welcome these dishes to our holiday table, but when I went to deliver a copy of the book to her, she told me that she’d already bought a copy! It still makes me smile when I see it in her home and the memory of that green bean casserole, which I could eat with impunity, lovingly made by my mom is one I’ll never forget. She loved the Blood Orange and Honey-Glazed Ham I made for Easter so much, that she asked me to make it to take to a holiday meal with friends later in the year! Whether you are planning a Super Bowl Party, want something fun to make for Halloween, or want a holiday meal that will impress the in-laws, this is an invaluable resource.
MORE BOOKS
What these books have in common is they are written by nutrition professionals who favor abundance over restriction, self awareness and respect rather than judgment or shame. They believe in a nutrient-dense, whole food way of eating, but are not dogmatic about nutrition. Nor do they express health coming in any one particular shape or size. They are much needed voices to start to drown out the noise of diet culture.
Core 4 by Steph Gaudreau: In this book, Steph addresses what she calls the Core 4 pillars: eating nourishing foods, moving with intention, recharging your energy, and empowering your mind. She provides information on nutrition, exercises you can do on your own at home or at the gym, insight on lifestyle considerations like sleep and stress management, and journal prompts for self-exploration.
Happy Weight by Daniele Della Valle: My personal copy of Happy Weight has been well loved, with copious underlining and notes in the margins. With raw honesty, Daniele shares her own experience with body image. You deserve to feel amazing in the body you are in and Daniele will convince you that this is true and tell you how to do it.
Fitness for Every Body: Strong, Confident, and Empowered at Any Size
Big & Bold: Strength Training for the Plus-Size Woman
ON-LINE RETAILERS
Thrive Market: I have been using Thrive Market for over two years and their service and selection has only improved over time. I loved it even when shipping times were a week or longer, but now I get my shipments in just a couple of days. What I save on four months worth of digestive enzymes alone is more than the annual membership fee. You can set up autoship so you don’t run out of the things you know you need each month (cat food, hair color, vitamins, paper products, etc) and shipping is free on orders over $49. Knowing my annual membership also gifts a membership to a low-income family, makes me even happier. Clicking on the link will get you 25% off your first order!
Balanced Bites Meals, Spices, and Snacks: Despite my aversion to cooking, it has been years since I said goodbye to frozen dinners. They were a staple in my life since childhood and, while convenient, as I started reading ingredient labels and recognizing the foods that made me feel my best, I evicted them from my freezer. Not to mention, they represented restriction. When I was left hungry, I felt like I “should” be satisfied. You know the ones that focused on the goal of being smaller? I literally lived off them for months while my husband was deployed, not daring to tell anyone how sometimes I needed more than one to satisfy my hunger. Well, Balanced Bites meals have changed all that. They shout ABUNDANCE! Abundance of flavor, nutrients, and satisfaction. They will not leave you hungry, as there is a solid serving of protein in each one. The ingredients read like a recipe you’d make in your kitchen, with ingredients you can pronounce and feel good about putting in your body. And, both microwave and skillet instructions are given for heating them up, so you can enjoy a meal on an actual plate if you so choose. Whether as lunch during your busy work day, dinner when you just can’t imaging adding cooking dinner or going grocery shopping to your to-do list, or as a bit of self-care to make space in your day for an activity you love, these meals are truly something special. Also, they make a wonderful gift for that busy person in your life who has everything, a friend recovering from surgery or post-baby or as a housewarming gift. Could you say that about something you’d find in your grocer’s freezer?
Bread Srsly: You don’t have to have Celiac’s Disease to benefit greatly from the removal of gluten from your diet and we live in a day when there are loads of gluten-free options, but after over 5 years gluten-free, I had not found a bread that was pure pleasure. You know, that crunchy crust, soft center, and warm fragrance? Then, I heard about Bread Srsly gluten-free sourdough bread. For awhie, they were only serving the San Francisco area and I could only enjoy it when I went to Picnik for avocado toast (not that it was a sacrifice), but now it’s shipped nationwide, so I can have it in my freezer to toast up anytime I like. As well as a variety of loaves, they have sandwich rolls, and dinner rolls. When you do the work that I do and see people suffering, because they “love their gluten,” a product of this quality can help them recognize that pleasure need not be sacrificed for health.
KITCHEN GADGETS
Instant Pot: I loved my Crock Pot, but it frustrated me when I still needed to sear meat in a separate pan or didn’t get a chance to set it up at the beginning of the day and was left floundering come dinnertime. The Instant Pot allows me to sear my meats right there in the pot and I can have dinner ready in as little as 30 minutes. Also, it makes the easiest to peel boiled eggs I’ve ever experienced. Add Jennifer Robins books (linked above) and this is a total game changer.
Cast Iron Skillet: It took me awhile to get comfortable using cast iron. I was afraid food would stick. I didn’t know how to clean or take care of it (Cristina Curp has an easy to follow tutorial here). Now, I use it for everything I’m making on the stovetop. I have a comal for heating tortillas, various sizes of skillets, and a grill pan for burgers and steaks.
Toaster Oven: We have always used our toaster oven quite a bit, but when our microwave died I started using it to reheat food and I’ll never go back. Plus, we live in Texas and if we can avoid turning on the oven and just heat this little baby up instead, we do. Having one in the workplace has been helpful for my clients who previously relied on takeout, too.
CLEANING/LAUNDRY PRODUCTS
When folks are trying to choose products to lighten the load on their bodies, I suggest starting with things that sit on the skin (ie. Lotions, laundry products, feminine products…), can be ingested (ie. Lipstick, products used around food…) or inhaled (ie. Air fresheners, cleaning products, powders…). The Enviromental Working Group is a great resource for information and to learn how the products you have in your home rank. These are the products I use and depend on, but I invite you to do your own homework..
Branch Basics: If you are going to make one change to how you care for your home, this is the one. This concentrate is versatile and effective. It can be used to clean all surfaces of your home, wash your hands, your dog, your produce, remove your eye makeup, clean your makeup brushes, and take stains out of your clothes. It was a godsend when we were housetraining our puppy. It’s free of fragrance, but there were no telltale puppy odors. I love that I can spray this right next to food or pets and not worry about my family inhaling or ingesting toxic cleaners. Using this link will get you $10 off your first order (excluding trial sizes).
Molly’s Suds: When I saw the tiny scoop in the package of detergent, I was dubious that this product would be able to get a full load of clothes clean and fresh, but it worked. Our clothes are clean and fresh without having to rely on heavy fragrances.
Molly’s Suds Active: When I practice Bikram yoga, my clothes get soaked and often sit in my car for hours and the washer for days before being washed, so I’m grateful for an effective product that takes both my well-being and that of the environment into account.
Molly’s Suds Wool Dryer Balls: Clothes that are soft, wrinkle-free, and even dry faster, without harsh chemicals or fragrance (unless you add a few drops of your favorite essential oil) or waste. And, in the winter months, just add a safety pin, to eliminate stubborn static. They also have black dryer balls for your dark clothes, if you prefer.
Note: Molly’s Suds products are also available on Thrive Market and may be less expensive there (not to mention even before you get 25% off your first order).
PERSONAL CARE/BEAUTY PRODUCTS
LifeRoot Botanicals: The owner of this company, Amy Lupton, has an extensive knowledge of botanicals and how they work in and on the body. Her products are luxurious, thoughtful, and an altogether loving gesture for yourself and anyone with whom you share them. I mean, have you ever used an effective bug repellant that felt like a treat?! She also offers a monthly subscription box which packs in $100 worth of product for only $34.99 (also available individually for a few dollars more). A beautiful gift for yourself or someone you love.
Mineral Fusion: Most of my make-up and skincare is from this company. I especially love their Beauty Balm, Eye Pencils, blush in Creation and Sheer Moisture Lip Tint in Adobe. (some products also available on Thrive Market)
BeautyCounter: If you are reluctant to give up your department store cosmetics and skincare products, because you are afraid you can’t find comparable quality in a cleaner brand, BeautyCounter is for you. They have a list of over 1,500 ingredients that they will never use in their products “The Never List” including 1,400 products banned by the European Union, but allowed in personal products in the U.S. I am not currently a consultant, but I’d be happy to refer you to one. Their Overnight Resurfacing Peel, Instant Eye Makeup Remover, Brilliant Brow Gel, eye shadow palettes, and Transforming Duo (and I do not generally like lip gloss) are personal favorites.
Coco Kind: These products make my 51 year old skin dewy and feel like a real luxury. I am especially excited to try their Full Brow Balm and new Resurfacing Sleep Mask.
I only had a chance to try a couple of period products, before I went into menopause, but I recommend doing even more research and making choices that are best for you, because the products we have been given to put in and around the most delicate areas of our body have the potential do harm and, at least, are putting a load on our body that makes it works harder than it needs to. Also, lightening the load on our environment is an added bonus.
Diva Cup: These come in 3 different sizes and are made of medical grade silicone. They can be left in up to 12 hours at a time. Just empty, wash, and use again.
Flex Disc: The main benefit to the Flex Disc, instead of a cup, is that it can be worn during sex. The downside being that, while it can be worn for up to 12 hours, it is a single use product and will end up in a landfill. Flex also makes a Flex Cup, but I haven’t had personal experience with it.
APPS/GUIDES
EWG’s Healthy Living app and consumer guides
This list has been created with the intention of being updated and added to, so feel free to contact me if there are products you are interested in learning about. And, if you’d like to be notified when updates are made, be sure to sign up for my newsletter (coming soon!).