A Healthier Home Cook Book Review

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With over 75 wholesome recipes, A Healthier Home Cook invites readers to rethink their approach to cooking by focusing on whole-body health. Shawna Holman provides the tools to reclaim your kitchen from processed foods and hidden chemicals, offering practical advice alongside recipes that feel both approachable and indulgent. If you’re ready to replace packaged convenience foods with real ingredients, this book could be your next kitchen companion. For fans of True Roots by Kristin Cavallari or The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila, this book strikes a perfect balance between wellness and practicality.

A Healthier Home Cook by Shawna Holman
Published by Fair Winds Press on October 22, 2024
Pages: 208

Reclaim your kitchen from processed foods and mystery chemicals, then cook through 75+ recipes that focus on eating well for whole-body health.

With all the emphasis put on healthy eating, you probably realize how consequential your food choices are to your mental and physical health, for better or worse. But did you know that a 2017 publication from the National Institute of Health estimates that there are now more than 10,000 chemicals the FDA regulates in food (and that there are only about 100 employees doing so)?

Yet you can control to improve what you’re cooking and eating—and A Healthier Home Cook provides an accessible guide for doing just that. In author Shawna Holman’s best-selling first book, A Healthier Home, she took her enthusiasm for healthy living to the page and provided an accessible, room-by-room roadmap for making the home A Little Less Toxic. Now, she’s back with a full book to support most people's entry point: the kitchen and cooking.

A full basics chapter includes shopping guides for all kitchen essentials (detailing what materials to look for and avoid). Then she shares a collection of recipes, many of which help readers avoid store-bought products with questionable ingredients:

Nourishing Breakfasts: Cast-Iron Dutch Baby Pancake with Warm Berry Compote, French Toast Casserole, Grain Free Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, DIY Acai Bowl with Rich Maple Granola, Next Day Oatmeal Muffins, Perfect Pressure Cooked Eggs with Hashbrowns and Oven Bacon, Family-Style Breakfast Tacos, Crispy Potato and Egg Bake

Substantial Salads and Bowls: Rainbow Salad, White Bean and Bacon Salad, Deli-Style Macaroni Salad, Sonoma-Style Chicken Salad Bowl, Taco Salad with Catalina Dressing, Mediterranean-Style Pasta Salad, Roasted Asparagus and Pecan Salad, Fresh Thai-Style Salad, Chopped Antipasto with Crispy Prosciutto, Sushi Roll in a Bowl, Hearty Sprouted Grains Bow

Warming Soups and Stews: Hearty, Creamy Tomato Soup, Sprouted Lentil Soup with Spinach, Damien’s Mineral-Rich Chicken Noodle Soup, Gigi's Blue Ribbon Chili, One-Pot Beef Stew with Chiles and Carrots, White Bean Chicken Chili, Albondigas Soup, Red Lentil Dahl with Warming Spices

Lighter Plates: Falafel Night with Quinoa Tabouli and Tzatziki, Top Notch Ramen, Spaghetti Squash Bake with Roasted Tomato Marinara, Grain Free Crispy Fish with Oven Fries and Coleslaw, Seared Scallops with Pesto Pasta, Pineapple Chicken Curry, Thai Lettuce Cups with Peanut Sauce

Heartier Dishes: Chicken Pot Pie, Turkey Burger Bowls with Sweet Potato Cubies and Pickled Red Onion, The Wholesome Whole Chicken, Bone Broth (and veggie scrap broth), Enchiladas Verdes with Refried Beans and Taqueria-Style Roasted Carrots, Chimichurri Beef Pasta, Mississippi Pot Roast, Pasta Pot, House Bolognese, Cottage Pie, Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf with Crispy Smashed Potatoes and Grilled Artichoke

Sweets and Sips: Grain Free Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies, Candy Bar Dates, Dairy Free Caramel Corn, Frost It, Top It, Dip It (Coconut Whipped Cream, Pressure-Cooked Caramel, and Dye-Free Berry Buttercream), Chocolate Pudding with Raw Honey Whipped Cream, Maple Cinnamon Marshmallows, My Mega Matcha, Gelatin Gummies, Quick Chia Jam, Honey Lemonade, Healthier Hot Chocolate

Whether you’re looking to replace packaged convenience foods or find new, wholesome meal ideas, A Healthier Home Cook will aid you on a journey that benefits both your mind and body. It’s simple to make change happen when you take it one plate at a time!

Author

Shawna Holman, known for her best-seller A Healthier Home, is an advocate for reducing toxic exposure in daily life. Her first book tackled making the home “A Little Less Toxic,” while her new release shifts the focus to the heart of the home: the kitchen. Shawna’s mission blends her passion for natural living and practical, actionable steps, making her work accessible even for those new to the clean living movement. If you’re drawn to clean, intentional living but don’t know where to start, Shawna’s practical style makes the transition feel doable and empowering.

Audience

This cookbook is perfect for health-conscious home cooks, beginners transitioning away from processed foods, and families seeking balanced recipes that nourish without sacrificing flavor. It’s especially helpful for those who want to eliminate store-bought products in favor of homemade staples. If you’re a crunchy mom, a scrunchy mom or just someone looking to do more whole food cooking, this book is for you. This book doesn’t have a lot of unique recipes, but it does have great recipes for ‘core foods’ that you might otherwise get in a store or restaurant.

Mission

Shawna Holman aims to help readers make healthier choices, one meal at a time. By focusing on accessible recipes, ingredient transparency, and practical kitchen tips, A Healthier Home Cook serves as a comprehensive guide to creating a cleaner, more nourishing kitchen.

Standout and Unique Features

A robust basics chapter with shopping guides for healthier kitchen essentials.
Recipes that replace store-bought items like granola, dressings, and broths.
A clear focus on whole foods and reducing processed ingredients.

What I liked

I loved the variety of recipes that cater to different meals and occasions.
The inclusion of tips for building a healthier pantry and avoiding hidden chemicals feels empowering, and the recipes are flavorful yet practical.
The recipes have weight measurements!

FAQ

Is A Healthier Home Cook good for weeknight cooking?

Yes, this book is great for weeknight cooking. While some dishes take longer, the author wrote this in mind with the average home cook doing the cooking.

Does A Healthier Home Cook focus on basics or more advanced techniques?

This cookbook focuses on basics. The basics chapter provides essential shopping guides, and the recipes are straightforward and easy to make.

How is the picture quality and quantity in A Healthier Home Cook?

The book includes many beautiful photographs. Each recipe has a photograph.

Does A Healthier Home Cook need unique tools or equipment?

No unique tools are needed.

Does A Healthier Home Cook need unique ingredients?

Most ingredients are readily available at well-stocked grocery stores or online.

How much time do the recipes take in A Healthier Home Cook?

Recipes vary from quick meals to more elaborate dishes suitable for weekends.

Does A Healthier Home Cook provide nutritional information?

No, it does not provide nutritional information.

Are the recipes family-friendly in A Healthier Home Cook?

Absolutely! Many dishes are designed for sharing and are easy to customize for picky eaters.

Is A Healthier Home Cook part of a series?

No, it is not part of a series.

Can I read A Healthier Home Cook like a book?

There’s a lot of little tidbits on each recipe that makes it interesting to read like a book. I certainly did.

Is A Healthier Home Cook a keeper for the collection or a borrower from the library?

Honestly, if you want healthy, whole food recipes, you should just buy this book outright. If you are looking for a cookbook that has unique recipes with interesting, new ideas, this might not be the book for you.

Recipe Review

Recipes I’ve Tried

None Yet.

Recipes I’m Excited to Try

Sushi Roll in a Bowl
Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf with Crispy Smashed Potatoes
Chocolate Pudding with Raw Honey Whipped Cream

Best Recipes for Different Occasions

Quick Breakfasts: DIY Acai Bowl with Rich Maple Granola
Family Dinner: Enchiladas Verdes with Taqueria-Style Roasted Carrots
Indulgent Desserts: Dairy-Free Caramel Corn

Final Verdict: A Permanent Addition?

This is definitely a keeper for those prioritizing whole-food, family-friendly meals and a toxin-free kitchen! At this point in my life, when I’m trying to make easy, healthy dinners for my family most days, this is perfect for my daily rotation. If I were looking to expand my cooking skills or flavors, this book wouldn’t help me with those goals.

If You Are Interested In This Book, You Might Also Like:

If you enjoy A Healthier Home Cook, you might also like True Roots by Kristin Cavallari for clean eating recipes with a family-friendly focus or The Homemade Pantry by Alana Chernila for homemade staples and pantry swaps.