100% Real

The Author, Sam Talbot and I think along the same way. I love to eat real food and have such a hard time finding ways to make real whole foods taste good and pair well with other foods, so I am always looking for good recipe books with pictures that will give me some good ideas and recipes that are made with real whole foods. And I found so many in this book. I highly recommend this book.

Well designed and researched, this book seeks to educate the reader beyond simply recipes. Recommended for more experienced home chefs, 100% Real is full of uncommon flavor and ingredient combinations, which will either entice readers or cause them to lose interest. The photography is delicious. It's impossible to read this without feeling inspired to make something; however, not every recipe will find a wide audience.

This book is great! There are TONS of recipes most with ingredients that you probably have in your fridge. With this book I feel like I can eat healthy without giving up taste. I especially love Sam's Game Changing Substitutions list. It takes all your favorites and gives you healthier options. I've definitely learned some new tips from this book. It's a great addition to my library.

100% Real by Sam Talbot

I was first drawn to this book by the title and then very quickly was super excited to see that it was written by one of my favorite Top Chef's - Sam Talbot.

The introduction from Chef Talbot starts out by stating that because he is a chef and also a type 1 diabetic, he is often asked questions about what he eats. The short answer is 100% real food (which is explained in more detail later in the book). The intro, as well as the rest of the book, is written in a way that makes me feel as if I was having a conversation directly with the Chef. In between the recipes and colorful pictures are suggestions and additional information that make eating healthier (unprocessed) foods a bit easier. I especially appreciate the section on overhauling your pantry, which includes must-haves for your pantry and fridge, healthier substitutions for traditional pantry items (such as white flour) and equipment essentials. I think that having this type of information readily available makes it so much easier to incorporate new habits into the kitchen.

Getting to the recipes themselves, we start with 'Morning Essentials for the Grind' breakfast recipes and end with 'Sweet Thang, Maybe I Shouldn't...Yeah of Course You Should' desserts. In between are sections that include sandwiches, salads, spreads, bowls, quick recipes, proteins and veggies.
Some of my favorites include:
'World's Fluffiest Waffles' - made without white flour and include delicious flavors such as orange zest and vanilla, these are fluffy and take 15 minutes from start to finish. (I made mine with almond milk - recipe calls for hemp or almond milk). Flours used are white rice, chickpea, tapioca and coconut. A little bit of extra ingredients are worth the finished product in my opinion.
'Spring Pea and Mint Spread' - super quick and beautiful spread that I used as a filling in a wrap. English peas and mint plus a few other ingredients and you have a fresh, colorful spread for crackers, etc.
'Zucchini "Pasta" with Green Goddess Vinaigrette' - I really needed an excuse to use my spiralizer so was excited to come across this recipe. Once you have your 'zoodles' you really just need to make the beautiful dressing that includes avocados, chili vinegar, honey, lime juice and coconut oil. Add some fresh toppings and you are set. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Last but not least I'd like to mention that at the end of the book, there is a list of resources. In my opinion, most of the ingredients can be found at your local grocery store (Publix and Trader Joe's for me) but there is a list of some online retailers if needed.

Overall, I found this a pleasant cookbook with some fresh recipes - it is very easy to read and follow and again, you feel like you are having a conversation with the Chef as you read through the contents. It simplifies eating real food.

*note: Will add link to Amazon review once we are able to publish

It’s time to get back to real food and Chef Sam Talbot has created an essential guidebook to help both professional and home cooks get 100% real. I was drawn to this book by the title first and then by Chef Sam’s story. He’s a Type 1 Diabetic and a fan-favorite from Bravo’s Top Chef. He knows food and knows what it means to pay close attention to what he puts on the plate. His philosophy is simple: strike a balance between what’s healthy for you and what you enjoy eating.



His five steps to keeping it real reaffirmed to me I’m 100% real. Check it out:

Eat plants and greens for real
Cook at home at least three times a week
Don’t eat fabricated or super processed food
Focus on FFP (Fat, Fiber and Protein Super Trio)
Find the fun in food; don’t be a judgemental jerk



Chef Sam then gives you some helpful tips on revamping your pantry, fridge and freezer. I related to this part because it wasn’t until I married a Chef (who’s now retired) that I understood how crucial it was to have a fully stocked pantry, including nuts, herbs and grains. This allows creativity in your food prep and you’re not having to go to the store every day. Herbs can turn an ordinary dish into the sublime.



The rest of his book is chockful of delicious, healthy recipes for every meal. I’ve tried a few and here are my favorites:



Ripe banana and dark chocolate pancakes with maple syrup and coconut cream
White bean and cilantro hummus
Mini falafel pocket sandwiches
Savory corn cake fritters
Sweet and spicy pork on coconut rice
Apples foster with coconut and whisky caramel



I highly recommend this cookbook, even if you don’t have diabetes in your family. It’s time to get real about food and support our local farmers. It’s a win-win all around!



Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Oxmoor House (Time Inc. Books) via Netgalley in the hopes I’d review it.



My Rating: 5 +stars

This is a real winner of a cookbook! I'm really enjoying recipes with healthy but still tasty recipes, using ingredients that aren't processed, packed full of unnatural sugar or using lots of the bad kind of fats (healthy fats I'm all over!) and this ticks all the boxes.

100% Real is great for healthy eating inspiration. There are instructions for what you should be trying to eat and what you should try and avoid, though if you know a lot of it already you can just skip straight to the good stuff - the recipes!

There are flavour combinations that I'd never usually have thought of, and some really interesting ideas that I'm looking forward to trying out. There are some recipes that don't really appeal to me, but then I find that with most recipe books to be honest - and there's plenty here to keep me inspired! There are also some great recipes for making your own sauces and dressings (the chilli oil, vietnamese sauce and 'dijonnaise' look particularly great!) as well as snacks and different sections on various types of recipes. So there's 'Morning essentials', 'Banging bowls', 'Sandwiches, salads, and spreads', 'Proteins on the ground and out of the surf', 'The vegetable fix'... the list goes on. So whatever you fancy, this book has it covered - and all with real food (and yes, Sam Talbot does explain what he means by 'real food', too!)

I am really impressed at the variety of dishes in this book. The photos are beautiful, and there's an image for pretty much every recipe too, which is always a bonus! I have earmarked a load of recipes to try out, and have tried a few already which have proved both fairly easy to create, healthy, and - most importantly of all - tasty.

Highly recommended. Though I am reviewing the e-book version, I'll be purchasing a physical printed copy of this book to keep in my kitchen - I have a feeling I'll be turning to it a lot!

"I suppose it's because I'm both a chef and a type 1 diabetic that I'm forever being asked questions about what I eat. People want to know which diet I follow: Paleo? Vegetarian? Vegan? What foods are you allowed to eat? they ask me. What foods are absolutely forbidden? Are you gluten-free? Dairy-free? Sugar-free? Fun-free? Taste-Free? The simple answer to all these questions is: None of the above. What I eat, simply put, is 100% Real Food"

As soon as I read that opening paragraph, I knew this was going to be one special book...there was going to be no guilt about what you eat, no pressure to eat a type of food and it was going to be 100% real and I was not disappointed. I like Sam Talbot's philosophy of not forbidding food, for example he states that a piece of fruit failed to be outlawed in the bible and it won't work now either, eating shouldn't be over complicated or stressful...I so agree with this. The stress that we place on ourselves causes us to think about food far more often than we need to.

The book is very informative with information of what it means to keep it real, with suggestions of fridge essentials, equipment suggestions and substitution suggestions you get a great sense of what it is like to have healthy but regular eating habits. The book is suggesting you go out there and eat sugar, or fast food, but you get the feeling that no food is off limits as long as there is moderation.

I must admit that some of the recipes would require me to change my pantry stock but I am still eager to try the Easy Cauliflower Rice with Roasted Vegetables and Chicken, and I am inspired by many of the other recipes and ideas. The book has plenty of pictures which is a huge tick for me as I like to have a visual of what I am cooking. Another plus is the metric equivalents in the rear of the book, while Google is a great source of information I much prefer flicking to the back of the book for my conversions if needed.

Overall I think this book is going to be loved by people that like to try something new, that aren't restricted by diet and want to eat 100% real food.

I've never heard of Sam Talbot before but it turns out we have the same views on food and sustainable eating. This beautiful cookbook is filled with down to earth, seasonal recipes that will have you slowing down to enjoy every page. I think they'll even inspire you to go forth and try new veggies and give them the Talbot treatment.
I'll be buying this one for my diabetic friends and family for sure, because these recipes make eating real food simple, interesting and attractive.

I LOVE this book! It's a refreshing change from many of the books I've read of late. It's well researched, beautifully written and the recipes are delectable. I highly recommend it

Clear consise directions and beautiful photography makes this a must have on a modern cookbook shelf. You'll enjoy pantry list items and terms of foods that help eliminate process foods from your diet and increase your health as result.

Sure to become a much-used option in our kitchen, this book is full of big vegetable flavors and great sauce ideas.

Finally there’s a cookbook out there that emphasizes good healthy food, but doesn’t go over the top, making us feel restricted and guilty for indulging in our favorite foods once in a while. 100% Real, by Sam Talbot, has endless possibilities that are low on preservatives and crap, and high in nutrients and healthy ingredients, but are actually edible. Talbot introduces readers to what is actually “real” food, and gives steps to keep what you’re eating real. Then he presents mouthwatering recipes for “real” dishes that people actually want to eat. Talbot is diabetic, and all of his recipes are diabetic friendly, but will appeal to everyone, whether diabetic or not.

The recipes are straightforward, easy to follow, and call for mostly fresh ingredients. The Sweet and Spicy Pork with Coconut Rice is divine, and Jerk Chicken and Pineapple over Greens and Cukes is absolutely addictive. The recipes are influenced by flavors from all over the world, and include a delicious White Fish Curry, Italian Shrimp and Grits, Teriyaki Cucumbers with Lime, Jalapeno, and Cilantro, and Smoky Harissa-and-Roasted Red Pepper Shakshuka to name a few. And there is also a recipe for decadent Dark Chocolate Soufflés with Rum Cream that is absolutely irresistible.

Talbot includes recipes for appetizers, salads, main dishes, and even desserts. The pictures are beautiful and will inspire cooks who are beginners, as well as experienced, to prepare healthy, but delicious meals.

So for those who are jumping off of the trendy diet (gluten free, Paleo, etc.) bandwagon, who like to eat real food that is healthy and actually looks and tastes good, 100% Real is a must-have cookbook .

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Think real food can’t be decadent? Try the Ripe Banana-and-Dark Chocolate Pancakes with Maple Syrup and Coconut Cream. My children looked at me one curiously dreary winter morning asking if I forgot that I was making breakfast and not dessert! Busy family life have you reaching for the overly processed power bars in the morning? Try the Quinoa-Chia energy bars, made with dried fruit and honey- my kids have no idea they are eating the oh-so-dreaded mom-approved healthy foods they usually scrunch up their noses at. Need a hearty dinner to satisfy a comfort food craving? Talbot has you covered with recipes like Lasagna with Tomato Sauce, Lovely Roasted Mushrooms and Melted Leeks.

Tablot not only provides nutritious whole food recipes, but also includes lifestyle tips. Check out his 6 Tips for Powering Up and Staying Energized, featuring suggestions such as meditating and stretching. His real food guide describes how excluding imitation foods like meat analogs and imitation dairy, as well as over processed foods, helps you get control of your weight, your mood and your energy.

With 100% Real you not only get 100 recipes for meals, snacks and special occasions, but lifestyle tips too. Talbot includes: a key for each recipe indicating which are V, GF, VG, DF, pantry must haves, a list of powerhouse ingredients that boost the nutrition to any dish, and I can’t forget to mention the handy list of ingredient substitutions. Yet, perhaps the most important thing Talbot repeatedly demonstrates is how to put the fun back in healthy food by creating real recipes for real people.

This is an excellent source for cooking "real food", sustainable often organic, some times vegan or diabetic friendly food to nourish and strengthen your body. Sam Talbot is a Type 1 diabetic but that does not define who he is or who this cookbook is for specifically; it is for anyone seeking new innovative ways to eat healthy.He has included recipes that are vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and dairy-free that are marked as such;but these classifications are incidental to the wealth of good healthy food. He includes the hows, the whys and the substitutions you can use . The recipes are quick, filled with esential nutrients and appealing to people on the go who don't have elaborate skills or tons of prep time. There are granolas, energy bars, smoothies and salads, but there is also skirt steak and chocolate chip cookies.
This is an excellent cook book for those who want to improve their life with better fuel in their body.

I know what you must be all thinking… Why the hell am I posting a cookbook review, right?

Well, the only reason I wanted to read a try out this book is because I live with a person that is a type 1 diabetic, just like the author. And to be honest, I think he doesn’t eat very healthy, which can be a bit dangerous when he’s older. And just like he mentions in the book – He is always being asked questions about what he eats and what diet he follows and so on – and that’s what I was hoping for.

So, I was obviously interested to know more about it and to try to change some stuff at home. And just like Sam Talbot said, “if nondiabetics ate the way we diabetics have to eat, they’d be the healthiest people on earth”, so it will do some good to me too.

So, the principal objective of eating 100% Real is balance. Not restrict yourself of everything, but don’t overdo in unhealthy options. It’s about eating fresh vegetables in season and also meat and pasta. The key is to eat healthy but enjoying what you eat.

The first thing you will see in the book is the chef’s 5 steps to keeping it real. And the rare in fact very easy and good if you keep them in mind, which I will try too. His five steps to keeping it real are:

Eat plants and greens for real
Cook at home at least three times a week
Don’t eat fabricated or super processed food
Focus on FFP (Fat, Fiber and Protein Super Trio)
Find the fun in food; don’t be a judgemental jerk

Another thing I found really interesting was the “Pantry must haves”. It’s such a simple thing to put in the book, but so helpful!

And then, obviously the recipes. There are a big variety of recipes and they are tagged with icons that say if they are Vegetarian (V), Vegan (VE), Gluten-Free (GF) or Dairy-Free (DF), which makes it much easier to choose what we want.

I will tell you the ones I most want to try from each category:

Spiced French Toast with Roasted Apricots
Snap salad with Strawberries, spearmint, and Lemongrass
Spiced Shrimp-and-Farro Bowl
Cinnamon-and-Coconut Chickpeas
Sweet and Spicy Pork
Grilled Squash with Pine Nuts and Basil
Vegan Chocolate-Flecked Coconut Ice Cream
Homemade Peanut Butter (tried already)
There are many other amazingly looking recipes. But I have to say, that my favorite part was actually the Morning Essentials, followed by the obvious desserts… Everything looks so yummy and healthy!

Although the only one that I tried so far was the White Bean-and- Cilantro Hummus and the homemade Peanut Butter, which were super easy to do and actually good for how healthy they are. I am really loving this book so far! I will try to do the Vegan Chocolate-Flecked Coconut Ice Cream next!

To conclude, I have to say that I would most defiantly buy this book, not only because I live with a type 1 diabetic, but because it would benefit everyone! And I definitely need to eat more healthy too. But a thing we can’t do is not enjoy what we eat, it just doesn’t work for us, and that’s why I really liked this book! Because I think I would actually make great use out of it. So I would most definitely recommend this book to any person that obviously enjoyed cooking, and wants to eat more clean, more Real.

The intro to this book really defines how Sam Talbot, and I myself, feel about food. He lists all of these different dietary restrictions (gluten-free, etc etc) but he focuses on how eating local, fresh, and less processed food is better. He walks through your kitchen, how to stock it, some common items people have and easy ways to change it to be better for you. The focus is on less food waste and higher quality (in this case - not processed) food.

The pictures and recipes are beautiful. He has a play on one of my favorite dishes - shakshuka, and all of the recipes I've tried have come out well. I tweak them how I like, but they're good as is. There are a range of recipes from breakfast, to smoothies, to lunch, and entrees as well as dinner. Each is categorized per serving and with tags (GF, DF, V, etc). There are no macros/calories but they are easily calculated.

Overall this is a nice cookbook for a focus on clean eating.

Also I laughed at the "Find the fun in food, don't be a judgmental jerk." Everyone experiences food differently.

Learning to cook and eat in a more health conscious way does not need to be difficult. With so many natural options available to us it should be easier than not to eat healthy. Yet time and time again we find ourselves turning to the quick, on the go, processed and uber fatty options instead of a solid, 100% real diet. Everything we eat is real in the sense that it exists, but in this sense what is real constitutes what is in its most natural form. Fresh veggies and fruits. Nuts and grains. There are so many options.

Within his new cookbook, 100% Real, Sam Talbot has brought together several of his favorite go to recipes that are firmly rooted in world of farm fresh goodness. Not one to deny the sweet or the savory, Talbot has included recipes from all across the board: steaks to pastas to salads and breakfasts to cakes to ice creams. There is truly something for everyone. I haven't tried any yet, but a few I've bookmarked and can't wait to try are the "Celery Root and Jicama Slaw", the "Bok Choy with Oyster Mushrooms", the "Coconut Rice", and the smoothies. Oooh, the smoothies!

For those interested in the layout of the book, I would like to say that it's done beautifully. The author has carefully selected bright, colorful photographs to showcase a number of his mouthwatering delicacies. Every recipe is coded, using a key, that indicates whether or not it is a good fit for anyone with specific dietary restrictions (ie gluten free, vegetarian, etc). All recipes include a hands-on time estimate, in addition to a total prep/cook time that the author feels is reasonable for completing each one. None of them are overly time consuming; in fact, most seem to have a start to finish time that is under 60 minutes. Every recipe is clearly written and explained, and they all seem fairly easy to follow.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC copy and review opportunity. I can see this being a very popular book when it is released. I already know who I might be gifting a copy to.

Helpful, quick, and easy recipes. Recommend to anyone looking to eat healthier.

This is a lovely cookbook, with a healthy, ‘real food’ only philosophy, and plenty of great recipes.
The author, Sam Talbot, urges you to cook at home, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, <i>not</i> to eat fabricated or superprocessed foods, <i>not</i> to eat foods that are labelled low-fat or reduced fat foods, and <i>not</i> to be too strict or hard on yourself.
Talbot says that eating more fruits and vegetables will make you feel better, and personally I have found that to be true. I feel so much better when I eat more fruits and veggies.
Things I loved about the book:
Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free and Dairy Free recipes are labeled clearly.
The backgrounds were varied and interesting, without lessening the readability of the text.
The recipes were original and delicious, with easy to follow directions.
I felt that the author was taking great care in the preparation of this book. He comes across as caring and genuine.
Highly recommended for every home chef, regardless of dietary restrictions.

Oh man, I want to cook everything in here.This book is full of 100% real food that is healthy AND delicious. The recipes are not about deprivation, but about loving the food you are eating. So straight forward, so good

Great book! Sam Talbot has always been my favorite Top Chef! This cookbook illustrates why he is at the top of his field! Healthy food for healthy lifestyles that is made easy! A must buy!

Disclaimer: I am by no means a good cook. I am actually a novice when it comes to cooking.

With that being said, I've been looking for easy to do recipes that are healthy and yummy. This book was full of healthy, delicious looking meals. The majority of them, though, are well above my level of cooking expertise. I was able to find about 12 recipes that looked easy enough for me to attempt. I look forward to trying them out!

This cookbook is great for a person who is not a beginner at cooking and is looking for healthy and nutritious recipes.

I’m not sure why it took Top Chef Season 2 finalist Sam Talbot (who should have totally been asked to leave along with Cliff. I’m just saying! ) to write a cookbook, but here it is and it features 100 recipes that are 100% real.

The book itself is a mix of Talbot’s advocacy for type 1 diabetics and his philosophy of eating whole and natural foods. He covers the spectrum featuring recipes that are vegetarian, vegan, dairy free, and gluten-free.

The inside of this book has a simple layout with bright colors and tons of photos of Talbot in the kitchen or hanging out at the farmer’s market, reflecting his laid back East coast lifestyle. Talbot introduces readers to his five tips for keeping [food] real, advice on setting up a pantry and a few equipment essentials. There are even more tips on sourcing ingredients in the back of the book, which you will need because there are some very specific ingredients that might be intimidating to a rookie cooks.

The recipes have tons of herbs and spices, he re-imagines comfort foods and creates magical looking salads. Because this is a book isn’t about fad dieting you won’t find calorie counts in these pages, you’ll just find real food.

A great book with stunning photos that do their job of enticing you to try the recipes. I was surprised to see some dairy and pork products amongst the ingredients, but perhaps my idea of 'clean/real' and the author's idea is slightly different.

Recipes themselves are original and unusual and would be good to use for entertaining, rather than every day.

I'm fussy about cookbooks that I recommend, but I certainly wouldn't hesitate to recommend this one. Note: the fact that the author is photographed throughout the book and that he is one handsome dude, has nothing to do with it!

I chose to read this NetGalley ARC for which I have given a voluntary and unbiased review.

This was a gorgeous little cookbook! It had yummy photos. Eye-catching graphics and typography work. Easy to follow recipes and was packed full with all sorts of great information for cooking and eating healthy.

This cookbook starts off with an introduction by the author. Followed by chapters dedicated to the following...

-- A 5-Step guide to keeping it real.
-- Pantry Must Haves
-- The 100% Real Food Fridge
-- Sam's Game Changing Substitutions
-- Equipment Essentials
-- Juicing 101
-- Basic Recipes (Almond Butter, Walnut Butter, etc.)

We also get an excellent array of different recipes for all occasions. The recipes themselves include little TIPS and are marked as being GLUTEN FREE, VEGETARIAN, VEGAN OR DAIRY FREE.

Here are some of the yummy recipes included in this cookbook...

-- World's Fluffiest Pancakes
-- Spiced French Toast With Roasted Apricots
-- Mango And Maca Smoothie
-- Avocado Toad-In-The-Hole with Baked Ham and Salsa Verde
-- Spring Pea and Mint Spread
-- Spicy End Of Summer Melon Salad
-- White Bean And Cilantro Hummus
-- Mini Falafel Pocket Sandwiches
-- Chicken Meatball Banh Mi
-- Gluten Free Shells And Cheese With Peas
-- White Fish Curry
-- Savory Corn Cake Fritters
-- No-Bake Tropical Almond Butter Bars
-- Plantain Chips
-- Scallop And Chicken Shumai
-- Sweet And Spicy Pork
-- Coconut Rice
-- Crispy Green Tomatoes
-- Rice Pudding With Acorn Squash And Cinnamon
-- Blackberry Shortcakes With Almond Cream

This is one I would recommend adding to your cookbook collection ASAP.