Knowing my fondness for reading about food, one day my mom said to me “You know, Andrea from Top Chef wrote a couple books.” She lent me one, and it finally came to the top of my must-read pile (ok, I procrastinated).

Beaman’s advice is common sense—eat natural, seasonal, local ingredients as much as possible. Stay away from anything fake and processed. Listen to what your body is telling you.

Her writing style is what makes this book something special. She is smart, funny, and concise. It sounds like she is talking to a friend, not trying to impress the reader with her credentials. Her personal anecdotes are relatable, and I laughed out loud on two different occasions (how often can you say THAT about a cookbook?)

I haven’t tried any of the recipes yet, but they all look terrific! The food is simply prepared so any home cook can follow along. It is the ingredients and the combinations that make them look special. I am a baker and pastry chef, and looking through the desserts I got hungry.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to get off the diet roller coaster and start eating for your health, not your weight!