100 Days of Real Food Cookbook Review {and Giveaway!}

You need this book.

Take it from me. I love cookbooks.

No, seriously, come over sometime. You will really see that I sincerely LOVE cookbooks.

I collect them. I read them. I use them.

But then…

I forget about them.

What can I say?  It happens.

When I received my copy of Lisa Leake’s new cookbook, 100 Days of Real Food, I wondered if this one would make the cut. Would it end up collecting dust on my shelf, or would it be something that I could actually use? Would it be something that would speak to me, be useful for my family, and give me new ideas? Or would it be another book using hard to pronounce ingredients, with recipes that my family would never eat?

Only a few pages in, I realized that this book would not become one of the forgotten ones.  I see this one remaining shelf-free, on my counter and being used for a long time!

This book is one of those rare finds that has everything you are looking for in a healthy eating cookbook. Packed with recipes, you will find yourself paging through, wanting to make each and every one of them. The book really caters to almost every “cooking” lifestyle, showcasing many types of recipes ranging from gluten free, vegetarian, dairy free, and all kid and family friendly.

The coolest thing about this book? The recipes barely even scratch the surface of what is included inside. The book begins with some history of Lisa’s challenge with her family to attempt to go 100 days of only eating real food, and details “the plan” to eliminate processed food from your family’s lifestyle. She includes menus, shopping lists and personal stories, all with a flair that makes you feel as if you are reading a book written by a good friend. She is helpful and understanding, never judgmental or condescending. She writes this book knowing that this is a challenge, but instilling you with the confidence to get it done. After you read only a small section, you feel the need to clean out your pantry and get started!

The recipes are delicious too! I have followed her for a couple years now online, and have loved everything I have made that I found on her site. She is the person that inspired my creative lunches for my kids, and she includes a section in her book all about lunches and some easy to make staples to make life simpler when making those (sometimes dreaded) school lunches. She includes delicious kid friendly recipes like Cinnamon Raisin Quick Bread, which, I am sharing with you if you scroll down below.

There are some other recipes to not miss as well, like this Veggie Corn Chowder, that your kids will gobble up as the weather gets cooler.