Allyson Kramer’s latest recipe book, Naturally Lean, focuses on making a healthier you. All of the recipes are gluten-free and plant based, but she doesn’t market her recipes as following any popular or crazy fad diet. Her recipes were developed simply on the basis of making the healthiest version of herself and sharing that with others. Kramer’s introduction is refreshingly real as she shares her struggles with weight and healthy eating beginning early on in life.  But this isn’t just a book with some interesting and healthy recipes to try. Probably my favorite section of the recipe book is a handy ingredients guide that not only discusses the health benefits of a few key ingredients but also gives you tips on where to find them and how to use them. This ingredients guide is like a breath of fresh air for me since I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve wandered the grocery store looking for items I had never heard before on a seemingly impossible mission to eat healthy.

 “When you eat healthier foods, you provide your entire body, from your hair down to our toes, with the nutrients it needs to thrive”

Each chapter breaks down recipes by food group type, such as fruits, Greens & Crucifers, etc. At the beginning of each chapter Kramer explains what these types of foods are and how they are beneficial for your body. This little tidbit really fuels my personal interest in the science behind what is healthy and I love that Kramer doesn’t just tell you what is good for you, but helps her readers to understand why they should be eating more or less of certain things. This supplement helps the reader feel empowered and motivated to create the healthiest version of themself beyond what results they may simply see on a scale. Each recipe also includes a brief explanation or introduction that includes little facts about the ingredients and their added health benefits. This is one of the most educational and motivational recipe books I have read in a long time and I can’t wait to work my way through more of Kramer’s delicious recipes while working towards a healthier me.

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