Good For You

This is a lovely book to browse through and to read. I loved the illustrations and the idea of cooking some of the recipes, but they were probably just a bit too fussy for me. There were ingredients I hadn't heard of and definitely wouldn't know how to resource. However there was also a lot of good basic information on how to eat well and what to use. I was intrigued by the tomato puree information (and will definitely be checking the ingredients next time I buy it), and loved the simple recipe for making your own. It is a book with the authors heart and soul in it and you can tell it has been written with passion. It is probably more suited to those who have a real passion for food and cooking. I think there are a lot of people out there who will adore this book, and it would make an excellent gift.

When I saw this book listed I was intrigued. I'm normally a everyday food type of person, but I am interested in eating foods that are a little more unusual and healthier. Reading this book, there are some really fabulous sounding foods. I was thinking it was going to be foods that would be strange, but most of them sound like a step up from everyday without being over the top.
This was an ARC copy from Netgalley.

This cookbook has gorgeous photos and a clean design. I was particularly excited by the extensive number of vegetarian and vegan options. Many of the recipes, particularly in the foundations section, look like they could really become staples in a home kitchen. I love that most of the recipes fit on a single page, which is really helpful when you are trying to cook from the cookbook and don't want it flopping shut on you. Many cookbooks, particularly ones that are branded as healthy or vegan include many ingredients that may be hard to source or too expensive for those of us living in the middle of the country. Refreshingly, there are only a few of those in this cookbook. I'm looking forward to testing out many of the recipes. The Morning Glory Muffins look like something I want to make right now.

When I saw this book listed I was intrigued, I always enjoy reading cookbooks about healthy food; especially dairy-free & vegetarian. I loved the easy to read guide with the table of contents labeling each recipe as: gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian & vegan. What I really needed in this book were recipes without nuts (Yes, I can remove some them, but that often changes the benefits).

The forward by Bobbi Brown is a beautiful testimony that food that is Good for You can taste good. Akhtar Nawab proves it with bold flavours and shows its benefits. Antonis Achilleos photographs will have your mouth watering.
This is not just a recipe book, but a story. Nawab lets us into his life throughout the book plus he explains how to cook; who knew you should always toast your spices? Apparently toasting your spices is critical to getting the maximum flavour from the ingredient.

The recipes are influenced by international flavours: Indian, Southern, Mexican & Italian cuisine. The recipes are well written and the idea behind them healthy and the pictures with them are enticing, sadly we could not make as many of them exactly as they were presented. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic I had a problem obtaining many of the ingredients. Having said that once we do have the opportunity I will revisit many recipes.

We did love the lentil hummus, the Pumpkin Protein Pancakes (no cashews) Tahini dressing and a variation of the fish tacos. I now am converted to making my own tomatoes paste - no more cans for me. Sweet Potato falafel, no chickpeas a definite win!
I look forward to trying the black lentils when I figure out how to substitute the almond milk.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Very interesting book full of recipes for those of us who live or are interested in a Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free or Dairy Free lifestyle (and sometimes all of the above!).
There is an incredible number of recipes in this book, ranging from sauces and dips to full meals. Most "basics" are accompanied with an explanation of where the sauce or stock comes from and how to use it, which is a great help if you want to start incorporating them into your own cooking.
The only downside is that your local supermarket may not stock everything and you may need to look up some ingredients depending if you are in the UK or the US (or elsewhere). But if you are willing to search a little (or aybe order online) this will open new culinary doors for you. The recipes are certainly unusual and new to me.

Easy and healthy recipes. Almost all the recipes have easy available ingredients that can be made within less time. I liked the details that was provided, it was definitely helpful.

Beautiful photos. Wonderful, healthy recipes...I'm looking forward to trying out, especially during confinement. As an at-home chef, the recipes appear to be easy to follow. Hopefully, I'll be able to able to find the ingredients on the next run to the grocery store!

This was a good book, as it helps with recipes that I never thought to make. Everything was simple easy and a quick read. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking to up their game with recipes. Also this is a book for gluten-free, very healthy meal ideas which made it even better. It focuses a little bit on Indian Mexican Cuisine and also others as well.

I'm allergic to dairy, eggs and wheat, so I'm always excited to find cookbooks that have a lot of recipes that I can use. While some of the recipes did contain some ingredients I'm allergic to, I was still able to find quite a few recipes that I was able to use. And they were delicious! I also learned how to make a lot of sauces that were versatile enough that I can use them for the recipes in this cookbook and other uses beyond that!

I  received a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

Easy recipes to follow. Can't wait to try some out.

Whilst this downloaded ok, I couldn’t read any of the pages as they were blank. Such a shame as I was looking forward to this. This is the only reason I have given it one star.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Great book with easy to follow recipes 😊 a must have cookbook in every kitchen. Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle for my copy in exchange of an honest review

What a beautiful cookbook with diverse recipes! I loved the table of contents with easy references to vegan/vegetarian/gluten free recipes. This is a great introductory gourmet cookbook. The recipes are pretty straightforward but some of the ingredients are a little obscure. All in all, a lovely cookbook!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC.

This is a beautiful book full of gorgeous pictures that made me hungry just looking at them! I love the idea of this book, and the recipes look easy and delicious. Some spices and ingredients may be harder to find than others but with the internet you can pretty much find whatever you're looking for. I will most likely buy this hard copy as I think it will be lovely to have and reference back to. Gorgeous!

I've already found two recipes I want to try this weekend. This sort of cookbooks works for me personally because I'm allergic to gluten, dairy and eggs. He's offered a variety of recipes that don't need those ingredients. Including deserts, which can be especially hard to find.

This book of beautiful recipes (cue mouth salivating!) is chock full of dishes that are both appetite-whetting and Good For You. Split into 8 chapters of 'Foundations', 'Good Breakfast, Good Morning', 'Sandwiches and Salads', 'Soups and Stews', 'Whats for Dinner?', 'Sides', 'Desserts', 'Aiolis, Dressings, Salsas, and Chutneys', Chef Akhtar Nawab presents 100 recipes that are at least one (and very often at last three) of the following: gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan. I can't wait to try more and more of these dishes!

Excellent recipes. As a geriatrician, obesity medicine specialist, and culinary medicine specialist who provides in office cooking classes, I enjoyed these recipes immensely. My patients and friends are extremely interested in the healthy properties of various herbs and spices. When they also make food taste better it is literally the icing on the cake if you will. I plan to utilize these recipes at home and also with patients who are interested in expanding their palates and enhancing their health. Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy to peruse

Read for Netgalley

Good for You is beautifully photographed with recipes arranged in a clean, minimalistic aesthetic. Even though I have not cooked any of the recipes yet, but I can tell that they are realistic for most home cooks with very few requiring lengthy ingredients lists or steps. Besides the core adjustments of Nawab's recipes that make his recipes healthier that will likely become your new staples, most ingredients and kitchen tools used are commonplace despite the worldwide influences. This cookbook will be an excellent addition for personal and library collections to spice up mealtimes.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any recipes I wanted to try in this book. They were all way too complicated.

This is a fantastic cookbook. The recipes are all gluten and dairy free and are appropriate for vegetarians and vegans. I can't wait to try these delicious recipes out!

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Looking at this cookbook was a pure eyegasm, just as much as making those recipes was a full on foodgasm. Weird? Maybe. But it's true. As a vegetarian and former vegan, I struggled to find a good breakfast-to-dinner-to-drinks cookbook which would have original AND HEALTHY recipes that don't take hours to make or require too many niche ingredients. With the extremely aesthetically pleasing presentation, this is certainly one of them

The recipes are actually doable, and the author puts forth many tips and tricks to make healthy cooking easier. I mean, the idea of vegan soubise (page 26) blew my mind - blended steamed onions, rice, coriander and almond milk to make soups and stews creamy without loads of transfats? Yes, please.

The part that enhances the reader experience the most, aside from mouthwatering food photographs, is the incredible background to all the text in this book. This is often overlooked by publishers. In this one, however, pictures that go underneath the recipes and other texts are so diverse and simply full of texture that I couldn't help but stare at them with pure delight; unevenly painted surfaces, spilled salt and spices, oil, marble, rough paper, cloth... The photographer did an incredible job here.

What's more, it was nice to get to know the author and find pictures of him cooking across the book, even though this is not a cookbook based on the author's image. His weight loss and the success story of running multiple restaurants speak to his authority.

The only suggestion I have is that it should probably be clearer this this isn't an entirely vegetarian cookbook. The description promises "100 recipes for gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets," so it's somewhat of a bad surprise to find a photograph of a salmon salad in the opening pages.

I always enjoy reading cookbooks about healthy food. I'm flexitarian, I eat mostly plants but I still eat meat (chicken or fish) occasionally. I'm not that strict about my diet. I believe we should eat what makes us happy and healthy. This book has 100 recipes, it covers some basic foundations, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts. In the breakfast chapter, you can find like smoothies or pancakes. The other chapter covers salads and dressings as well. In between, it has a "Good to know" section, it's trivia about certain food. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. Not every recipe has its picture tho. It covers recipes for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free diet. There are some recipes with chicken too.

This was a fun cookbook. It had lots of interesting recipes I'd love to try, such as the Mexican Marinade and Smoked Fish Chowder. The downside was that there were some ingredients in various recipes that I have no access to.

This is a great cookbook, filled with delicious recipes that are doable for the average individual. The doable recipes is especially important since many patrons are looking for recipes they feel comfortable replicating at home.

I seen this book available to download and the beautiful cover really drew me in, as a plant based, vegan foodie I am just always on the search for new ideas and this book didn’t disappoint. I loved the vegan receipts, the swap out suggestions and the lovely illustrations. I will definitely be investing in a hard copy of this book.

I found Good For You to be very bright and vibrant for a cook book. I tried a few of the recipes out and thought them to be okay, but not something I would easily do on a day to day basis. I still think it gives you a great base to start with and a way to build the recipe up if you want to depending your health goals.

This is a gorgeous cookbook that shows how healthy food can also be flavorful. While there's a lot of good content in each chapter, the recipes I'm most eager to try are the dressings, salsas, and chutneys. Lovely cookbook overall.

Beautiful photos and easy to use recipes. I love the diversity of the recipes found in this book and have made a few of them along side my teenagers. The recipes were easy to use and comprehend and the food was excellent. I love being able to use and try new things and show my family a variety of meals as well.

Healthy recipes that are delicious, this cookbook is brimming with meal ideas and is well set out and easy to follow.

The book says that it's got 100 recipes, but it's actually got 219 recipes. There are 100 from each of the following dietary restrictions: gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, and dairy free. Everything looked great and I'm looking forward to trying out more recipes. No nutritional breakdowns for the recipes, which is difficult if you are also trying to look to monitor calorie intake, etc.

The pictures alone are worth salivating over. This is a chef who knows how to build bold flavors and who hasn’t pigeonholed his cooking to a single cuisine. All the better for the experimental home cook. He has organized the cookbook much as a chef organizes a kitchen, with shareable building block recipes that enrich other dishes, even some suitable in multiple cuisines. Also helpful he creates recipes that pair well with others for complete meals. The back stories are interesting and none of the recipes are outside the abilities of an intermediately skilled time challenged home cook. Although you might want to stock up on bone broth versus making your own.

One Chef’s Take onHealthy Eating

In this gorgeously photographed cookbook, the author shares what he sees as healthy and nutritious recipes. Since he is a chef and has been one for a long time, this book does not fit neatly into any one box. While it has recipes that fit specific diets—like gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, and vegan (and he does mark them as such)—it also has recipes outside those bounds, including ones with meat (even some unusual ones like bison). However, the book is mostly vegetarian friendly with a big nod to vegan preferences, like the amazing-sounding Vegan Soubise. The author grew up with Indian cuisine as a first-generation American with Indian parents, and he has worked in or consulted with a variety of restaurants. All of these experiences influence this eclectic mix of recipes. You'll certainly see Indian flavors and techniques, of course, as well as Italian and Mexican ingredient and spice combinations. As the author is a professional chef, most of the recipes are more complicated than you typically see in cookbooks written by home cooks. But some flavor combinations sound amazing--and therefore worth the work. If you accept the idea that healthy food could include a broad range of fruits, vegetables, grains, and lean meats, you will likely enjoy this diverse set of recipes.

I just briefly scrolled through the ARC of Good For You and saw SO many recipes I want to try! There are some really excellent tips and cooking techniques mentioned too. I’m planning to pick up a copy of this book for my shelves because it seems like one I would use frequently. My husband is gluten and dairy free and I’m always looking for new recipes to try. 4 stars!

Good For You
by Akhtar Nawab

A very nice cookbook for anyone looking for some new healthy recipes. Some are more complex than others. A bit too seafood-forward for me.

Sadly, I was not able to read this book. I didn't realize that I couldn't do a Kindle download when I requested this title. So very sorry.
Because I couldn't read it I will give it 3 stars to try to be fair.

The food might be "good for you" but the book is not. At least not if you're a regular person who has a kitchen full of regular ingredients and doesnt want to have to hunt down obscure "health" foods just to try a dang recipe. Disappointing. Where are the cookbooks for the person who gets home after working all day and needs dinner on the table for her two kids in under half an hour? Where is that book.

Akhtar Nawab's Good for You is just the kind of cookbook that I needed. Our household consists of vegans, vegetarians, carnivores, and those on specialized medically prescribed diets. Good for You contains menu items that everyone will eat. No more cooking several separate meals! The recipes are easy to make and exhibit the ease in which whole foods can be incredibly tasty with a few simple techniques. Having made several of the recipes alongside a budding teenage cook, I can tell you that these recipes are not finicky and can withstand a few mistakes while still tasting good. My aspiring chef was chuffed at being able to make healthy and beautiful food even though he didn't do everything "perfectly." A cookbook that instills confidence in the kitchen is invaluable. I would recommend this cookbook for that alone.

This is a beautiful book filled with exotic flavors, and I found it a pleasure to read. Sadly, I didn’t find very many recipes I could use because I have nightshade intolerance, and the majority of these recipes include nightshades such as tomatoes and peppers.

The recipes are well written with clear instructions and many helpful tips. I tried the Keema Muttar with Peas, omitting the Serrano chile, and it was delicious. Most of these recipes require more time and effort than I am typically willing to devote to cooking, and sometimes they require ingredients I don’t have on hand. (I had never heard of Tajin seasoning or aji amarillo before.) However, I might use this cookbook on special occasions. Most of the recipes serve 4 to 6; I can imagine a lovely dinner party based on these recipes.

The visual design is sumptuous. You won’t find pictures for every recipe, but there are many photos, and they are gorgeous!

I loved how both the table of contents and the individual recipe pages specified whether the recipe is gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, or vegan. Most of the recipes are both gluten free and dairy free, and many are vegan or vegetarian, except in the main dish section, where only 4 of 17 recipes are meatless.

I wouldn’t recommend this book for those with busy schedules or for beginning cooks, who are likely to feel overwhelmed. If you’re a more accomplished or adventurous cook looking for new ideas for gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian or vegan recipes, this might delight you. While it wasn’t the best cookbook for my needs, I think it will appeal to many others, so I am giving it 4 stars.

I was provided an ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.

Beautiful pictures and easy to follow recipes will help chefs of any skill level make delicious meals!

This is such a fun cookbook! It is full of delicious recipes and beautiful photographs! The recipe index easily indicates if the recipe fits within a special diet (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan). The recipes are unique and use flavorful ingredients however there is nothing obscure that will be difficult to find at the store (you may have everything you need already in your cabinet). A must have for anyone looking for healthy, flavorful recipes!

Thank you, Chronicle Books and NetGalley, for a digital ARC!

Good For You is a beautiful cookbook for the person who really loves cooking and has time for it and a healthy budget. Many of the recipes in this book require you to have made your own ingredients (tomato paste, mayo, soubise, etc.), and while I would love to learn how to make my own pasta, it’s just not practical for my lifestyle. But I can see how someone with more time would really enjoy trying out these multi-layered recipes. This book also requires a variety of pricey or difficult to find ingredients (like matcha powder, cocoa nibs, shredded unsweetened coconut), which makes it less useful for those with busy schedules or tight budgets. This is definitely not a cookbook for mid-week meals if you work.

On another note, for a cookbook that was pitched as having plant-based recipes, I—as a vegetarian—was disappointed to see that most of the main entrees are based around meat. I’d like to say that this cookbook would be a good fit for someone looking to transition into a vegetarian diet, but I think the ingredients and recipes might be a little overwhelming for someone who isn’t already familiar with nut-based sauces and the health benefits of seeds.

Overall, the recipes in this book look delicious and are made with good, wholesome, healthy ingredients, and they are supplemented with gorgeous photos. I think this would be an excellent cookbook for someone who loves cooking and trying new things who also has a little extra time and money.

Chef Akhtar Nawab has produced a wonderful cookbook that will be sure to be popular addition to any kitchen! The back story of how he came to be a chef , from Domino's Pizza to Ton Colicchio's Gramercy Tavern in NYC, was quite interesting to read. His stories were the background for his love of cooking and discovery of how to make popular recipes more healthy. I enjoyed the Foundations chapter as it has some really great recipes to start building other great clean-eating foods. The photographs accompanying the recipes are in themselves enough to want a person to try the recipe. I found that none of the recipes seemed overly difficult or had such unusual/hard-to-find ingredients. Definitely a cookbook that will be used in many kitchens. Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the ARC of this cookbook in return for an honest review, which this has been. #NetGalley #GoodForYou.

What a lovely cookbook! I really like how he introduced simple building block foods in the opening chapters and incorporates them in recipes throughout the book. Of particular interest to me is that all the recipes are dairy and gluten free. As someone who is allergic to dairy, it's always a pleasure to find new methods for replacing the dairy.

Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received an advance reader’s copy of Good for You from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the new cookbook Good for You, I baked my first loaf of gluten-free bread and learned how to brine salmon!
Good for You is a fabulous new cookbook for food lovers and healthy eaters. The authors, Akhtar Nawab with Andrea Strong, created thoughtful and full-flavored dishes. Chef Akhtar Nawab has a varied cooking expertise- he grew up in Kentucky with an Indian heritage and takes additional cooking inspiration from Mexican and Italian foods. This plus his dedication to healthy foods created such an interesting cookbook!
I found the book itself to be easy to follow and put together with thoughtfulness. It felt conversational to me and I loved hearing the chef’s personal stories. I also appreciated the approachable ingredient list.
I was very excited to try out recipes from the book. My favorite so far is the gluten-free bread recipe and I am hoping to try his rice pudding recipe next. I have served dishes from this book to family who have enjoyed them as well. Overall, I think this is a great cookbook and one I am excited to continue to learn from.

Great collection of tips and recipes. Includes 100 recipes for gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets. lots of full colour illustrations which I love in a cookbook!
*I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

I have recently adopted a whole-food plant-based lifestyle and have been searching for all of the cookbooks that I can find that provide such recipes. I saw this one pop up on NetGalley and was so excited when I was approved an advanced copy. This cookbook has many wonderful options and I loved reading about the chef's journey to his various recipes and a healthy lifestyle. It provided an insight that you generally do not find in a cookbook and a background of many recipes. So far I have tried a couple of the recipes and they have been delicious. A few look very intimidating, but the author breaks it down and makes each recipe surprisingly simple that I believe any level of cook would be able to accomplish them. There are also beautiful pictures accompanying many of the recipes. My only wish in this cookbook would be that there were more pictures and more options from the author on how to make certain recipes with no animal products. These are the two reasons that I gave it four rather than five stars. Overall, this is a wonderful cookbook with many wonderful and enticing recipes.

Thank you for the opportunity to view this cookbook before publication. I will review and post an attempted follow of a recipe with full credit closer to the pub date + include links to the book and order information.

As someone who has new dietary restrictions, I need to learn how to cook new and healthy things. Importantly, I need to learn a variety of foods and flavors so things can be kept interesting in the kitchen! What I gained from reading this cookbook is a few ideas and insights on how to cook basic and elaborate dishes with a healthy twist. One thing I thought was unique about this particular book was the author’s Cultural / culinary influence: many of the recipes for Indian and Mexican dishes were colorful and sounded delicious. The photos were all colorful, vivid, and enticing. The layout is simple. Now, there are some instances when I would have liked a little more explanation in the details of the dish (Either preparation or where to find an ingredient) but it’s nothing a google search couldn’t sort out. Others may not have that issue due to prior knowledge!

Thanks again, can’t wait to try out some of these!

What a beautiful book! This is exactly how I like to eat, and to cook for my family. Exciting, vibrant, vegetable-forward meals that are fun to make and nourishing to eat.

The strength of this cookbook is its stunning photography -- it's truly mouthwatering, and sets this book in the category of coffee-table-worthy. I love a memoir-cookbook combo, but the narrative sections are not as compelling as I had hoped. I found them repetitive and overly casual/colloquial in language at times -- perhaps if I was familiar with Nawab's speaking style, it would sound endearing instead of awkward. The recipes are appealing and I learned some great tips for ingredient swaps and techniques. I would gift this cookbook to a gluten-free friend who loves trying new flavors and ingredient combinations.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for providing me with an early e-copy of this cookbook in exchange for an honest review. Good for You is out August 11.

Chronicle consistently puts out beautifully designed cookbooks with fantastic, clearly written recipes, and Akhtar Nawab’s Good for You is no different. These recipes, which range from creating your own pantry staples like tomato sauce, to Mexican-Indian fusion dinner entrees, are friendly for the (fairly experienced) home chef and, from the recipes I’ve tried, are absolutely delicious! I love both Mexican and Indian inspired cuisines, so Nawab’s use of the flavors of those two styles really worked for me. I also appreciate the inclusion of dietary restrictions (many of the recipes are vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, or a mixture of several of those things), and all appear to be relatively healthy while still maintaining their flavor.

The recipes are also organized in a nice way and the instructions are clear as to what to do. I also really appreciate the tips and explanations of terminology throughout the cookbook—I always find those types of things so helpful! Finally, I loved the use of photography and space in the spreads of this cookbook—many two-pages spreads are a single photo of the dish with the recipe overlayed on top, which was nicely done. I can’t wait to see how they look in the print version!

I'm a a beginner cook and an in need of dire help in the kitchen! I flipped through the recipes and thought they seemed manageable and interesting from my POV. Excited to try them out!

I was excited when I read the description for Good For You. It promised 100 recipes for gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets. What I found instead was few vegetarian recipes. Most of the mains were meat based and the promise of vegetarian recipes is what drew me to the book. Usually I can doctor the meat dishes to make them veg but these recipes don’t really lend themselves to that very well.
I was also confused by the cuisine. The book doesn’t seem to have one cohesive theme. Overall, there were some nice photos but not many recipes that caught my eye.

Ok...the cover is straight up eye catching... my love for asparagus. Gluten free, dairy free is my thing but this cookbook is certainly not for beginners but still mouth wateringly beautiful. Pictures galore of some exquisite looking recipes.

What did I like? 100 recipes but this book had some amazing pictures. I’m almost scared to make any of these recipes...afraid that I won’t be able to come close to these amazing pictures. The author boasts Mexican, Indian, and Italian dishes .... and a gluten free bread that caught my eye. Not to mention the gorgeous salsa’s.

Would I recommend or buy? These are some amazing recipes.... if you know or love exquisite dining recipes...this would be a go to book. I have several friends who adore cookbooks and this would be a wonderful cook for any aspiring cook or chef.

I received a copy and this is my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this cookbook. There was some great information on eating healthy yet flavourful foods. I also liked the tips that were tacked on to some recipe pages. There was a good variety of recipes and range of ingredients, as well. The photographs were beautiful and made me want to cook everything.

I am so glad to receive this book just before the July 4th holiday. It allowed me time to try out a few of the recipes over the weekend. I tried the cardamom almond milk, black lentils, and gluten-free bread.

Cardamom Milk

While the cardamom almond milk recipe suggests letting it cool and having it over ice, but I made some chocolate cake and flavors of the milk was a beautiful blend with the cake. Make sure to have a sieve though. I didn't have one so I kept my handheld mixer in the pot longer and found a way to strain the liquid. I plan to make this again and try it as a frappe.

Black Lentils
If you want your house to smell like a chef is at work in your kitchen, then make the black lentils. The aroma as I toasted the seasonings filled the apartment and increased my anticipation to try the dish. The book's recipe doesn't tell you how to toast the seasonings, but I simply put all of the seasonings on a small sheet of aluminum foil, heated the oven at 350 Fahrenheit, mixed the seasonings, and let them sit in the oven for 5-7 minutes before adding them to the blender with the other ingredients. While working on the recipe, I did get confused when I wasn't sure whether the canned tomatoes called for 14.5 ounces of whole tomatoes or 28 ounces. It tells you to put 4 cans in but doesn't indicate the volume. I used three 28-ounce cans and based on the picture it appeared to be too much. So I would suggest two 28-ounce cans or four 14.5 ounce cans. Hopefully, the publishers can make an update. While working on the recipe, I didn't use a blender, I just relied on my food processor. Ultimately the lentils were delicious. The extra can reduced the power of the seasonings just a bit and made it more of a soup. Regardless, it had a restaurant style flavor, which makes it great for at-home date nights. This will likely become a staple in our home.

Gluten-free Bread
Last but not least, the gluten-free bread. As soon as I tasted the bread I thought to myself, "uh oh. I ran out of ingredients to make another one." I knew I would have to make another one right away because my husband would devour it. One small slice is sufficient because its rich with flavor. It's the perfect bread to have out just before your main meal. I say all this even after forgetting to include one important ingredient: the cider vinegar. It wasn't really missed, although when I took the bread out of the oven it seemed to deflate a bit. So, don't forget the cider vinegar, but if you do it won' t be too problematic. Also be prepared to make more.
I've learned from reviewing recipe books that the first time you try the recipe you are bound to make a mistake or forget something, but your attempts will help you to eventually master the recipe that meets your perfection.

So, I'm really excited to try these recipes again. and explore more recipes within the book.

I love the premise behind this cookbook- tasty but healthy (mostly) vegetable dishes. I liked that the main focus of the book is flavorful but good for you. I absolutely love that the author takes flavors from all over the world and put them all into one book. That helps to keep things interesting in the kitchen! I am particluarly excited to try some of the more healthy versions of Indian dishes that were included. There were a couple of chicken dishes included but for the most part this was vegetarian heavy with tons of gluten free recipes. I am excited to go through the cookbook and try out many of these recipes!

I have been vegan for a few months now and found Good For You to be an excellent cookbook for meal inspiration. Every recipe is labeled as Gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian or vegan... a majority of them will hit three out of four of those (instead of just one, like many cookbooks do). I found every recipe appealing and excited to try them all... The photography is beautiful and definitely played a role in loving this book. Enjoyed making the Cauliflower Rice Biryani. Making Black Chickpeas with Lentils and Spinach next. Definitely worth purchasing for your healthy cookbook collection!

Good for You by Akhtar Nawab provides recipes that are Either Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, or Vegetarian, or a combination thereof.

It starts with a section of Foundations which includes recipes for tomato paste, homemade mayo, and a Vegan Soubise which will mimic cream in savory sauces.

The breakfast section is a little underwhelming for me as there are a lot of smoothie recipes, granola, and pancakes, but the Poblano Shatsuka Eggs and Egg Tostadas did catch my attention.

Sandwiches, Salads , Soups, Stews, Desserts and Dinner follow in additional chapters. The recipes and ideas are fantastic and use vegetables and spices in creative ways. The Desserts section is a little limited.

Some of the Gluten Free and Dairy Free recipes do have meat in them but the majority of the recipes do not.

The chapter on Aiolis, Dressings, Salsas, and Chutneys includes a Raisin Salsa, Lemony Vinaigrette, Paleo Thousand Island Dressing, and a Caesar dressing that is Gluten Free, Dairy Free, and Vegan.

If you follow one of the above ways of eating or just want to incorporate some of of it into your diet in delicious and healthy ways, you will enjoy this book.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers and Netgalley. My review is voluntary.

I will need to pick up a copy to read the recipes better because they look delicious and fairly easy to prepare!

This cookbook will be welcomed by those who are gluten and/or dairy free, vegetarian, and/or vegan, or some combination of the above.  Those with no particular dietary commitment may also enjoy the many delicious sounding recipes to be found within this title.


There are 100 recipes in all.  Beside each one is information about the kind of recipe it is, for example GF for gluten free.  The first chapter on foundations includes recipes for mayo, marinades, pastas and more.  Following this are recipes for each meal of the day as well as sides, desserts, and various chutneys, aiolis and more.


So many recipes to choose from but I will take just one from each category.  These recipes include pumpkin protein pancakes, Yuba noodle salad with ginger dressing and raw vegetables, smoked fish chowder,  fish tacos with pistachio mole; roasted sweet potatoes with coconut oil and tandoori masala, rice pudding with fig puree and vanilla,  and mango chutney.


The directions could be followed and the photos made me hungry.  What more couldyou ask for ?


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honestr eview.

The illustrations in this cookbook are beautiful and enticing and the accompanying text was interesting. However, recipes with so many ingredients - and some of the ingredients are hard to find in an everyday grocery store - are just too complicated and time consuming .

Looking through the cookbook these might not be your everyday recipes though even if they sound tasty. Nevertheless, there is more to this cookbook than recipes. You’ll find some other important and interesting cooking details. It will help when creating recipes as well as with preparing. I enjoy some of the cooking advice provided by this cooking expert to help us get the best flavors when cooking. It is also nice to have a variety of international flavors with the recipes included. Some of the interesting recipes include fish tacos, gazpacho with poached shrimp and -chicken tinga. I think you get the idea. This is a well developed cookbook and if you want more divine recipes then this is a cookbook for you. You will find recipes for making some things you might usually purchase to use on a weekly or in some houses a daily basis, such as mayo. If you are looking for such recipes that are healthy too with a variety of diet choices then this is the cookbook for you.

Good For You: Bold Flavors with Benefits by Akhtar Nawab is the perfect cookbook for adventurous eaters and home cooks. The design, layout, and photos in the book are stunning, and the recipes seem just as well-crafted. There's influence from a number of different cultures and cuisines, and tons of vegetarian and gluten-free options as well. There's everything from sauces to smoothies; desserts, entrees and more with innovative flavor profiles and emphasis on eating fresh, whole foods.
I've bookmarked a number of recipes that I'll be making soon!
Many thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the Advance Copy

Good For You by Akhtar Nawab

This book is not as much plant based as the description implies. There are several recipes involving meat. There is a wide variety of recipes however most of the entrees involve lean animal based proteins. Beautiful photographs sprinkled throughout. The text is in a lighter font which might be harder for some to read.

This is a beautiful cookbook. Dairy, Vegan and Gluten free. The photography is fantastic. I found recipes I've never seen before, like Pho bone broth and a beef marinade I can't wait to try.

DISCLAIMER: In return for an honest review, I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley.

When looking at a cookbook, I try to imagine how well it works for the average American family. While this book is lovely, I found many of the ingredients called for would be difficult for most of the members of my rural community.

I was hoping for something that was realistic for everyone, not just those in an urban area or with access to the more exotic/expensive items needed.

Akhtar Nawab's Good for You offers a magnificent collection of recipes mainly drawn from Northern India, his home, and Mexico. His recipes are many cases modern adaptations of traditional dishes making them healthy and a joy to eat. The dishes are both simple, like kachumer, the Indian equivalent of pico de gallo or tomatillo salsa, and complex-or a least require a good many steps and often ingredients not readily available in the pantry. I do't believe they are intentionally complex, it is just Akhtar is a perfectionist and always searching for more flavor in his dishes. I learned to prepare many new dishes such as Chicken Tinga and Mexican Roast chicken, raita, and a marinade for skirt steak. I am most enthusiastic of Akhtar's cooking and will look forward to having this book front and center among my recipe books

Mike Potashnik

Has nice photos of the food, there art some great all season soups and salads. Lots of ginger is used to spice things up.

I couldn't download it to my Kindle app, phone or computer. I suggest you let reviewers know in advance if this can be downloaded to their Kindle or not. I am only accepting books downloaded to the Kindle app. It sounds very interesting!

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Good For You is a cookbook with recipes that not only are good for you but also taste good! Nawab believes that healthy eating doesn't have to mean eating boring foods, and he uses his background in various cuisines to put together a diverse cookbook of filling and satisfying healthy meals. The cookbooks is also filled with gorgeous pictures of the recipes included. At the end of the book, there is an indexed list of all recipes featured so you can find one easily.

I love that the first chapter is dedicated to recipes of sauces and similar things that will be used in the recipes listed in the rest of the book, as building blocks for your meals. These recipes are definitely for those who love cooking, not for those looking for quick, simple meals to make for their family. I believe this cookbook will have a niche market among those who love making meals entirely from scratch and fans of Iron Chef America.