I really like this cookbook: A Healthier Home Cook
Whole Food Recipes, Techniques, and Tips for Families That Want to Eat A Little Less Toxic
by Shawna Holman

It’s been created with lots of attention to details. It also offers multiple options for recipes such as using oil or butter.

I particularly was inspired by these two recipes:
The Cast-Iron Dutch Baby Pancake with Warm Berry Compote and the French Toast Casserole are just two of the many recipes in this book but they will be on my menu for this long weekend for brunch!

Thank you NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group and Fair Winds for this ARC.

Book Review: "A Healthier Home Cook: Whole Food Recipes, Techniques, and Tips for Families That Want to Eat A Little Less Toxic" by Shawna Holman

Shawna Holman’s second book, A Healthier Home Cook, is an essential guide for anyone looking to reclaim their kitchen from the influx of processed foods and chemicals that have become alarmingly commonplace in the modern diet. Holman, who gained a strong following from her first book A Healthier Home, continues her journey toward healthy, toxin-free living with a sharp focus on the heart of every home: the kitchen. In this book, she provides over 75 recipes, detailed techniques, and plenty of practical tips to help families transition to healthier, whole-food eating habits that are less reliant on commercial products filled with mystery ingredients.

A Timely Message
Holman’s A Healthier Home Cook is a response to a growing awareness that what we eat has significant implications for our well-being. According to Holman, the prevalence of chemicals in the food industry is staggering, and most consumers are unaware of how much processed, chemical-laden food they are consuming daily. Citing a 2017 publication by the National Institute of Health, Holman points out that the FDA regulates over 10,000 chemicals in food, but with only about 100 employees handling this massive responsibility, it’s no surprise that many potentially harmful substances slip through the cracks. The book, therefore, serves as both a wake-up call and a reassuring resource: while we cannot control everything that goes into the food system, we can control what happens in our kitchens.

From the Basics to Full Meals
One of the most appealing aspects of Holman’s approach is her thoroughness and accessibility. The book begins with a basics chapter that lays out the foundation for making your kitchen a healthier space. This includes shopping guides that help readers identify the safest and healthiest materials for cookware, storage, and utensils—an often overlooked part of the healthy cooking equation. This level of detail makes A Healthier Home Cook not just a recipe collection, but a full guide to building a toxin-free kitchen environment.

The core of the book is, of course, the recipes. Divided into intuitive sections such as "Nourishing Breakfasts," "Substantial Salads and Bowls," "Warming Soups and Stews," and "Heartier Dishes," the recipes offer a wide variety of options for different times of day, tastes, and dietary preferences. Holman manages to cover everything from familiar family meals to exciting, globally inspired dishes. A few highlights include:

Nourishing Breakfasts: With options like Cast-Iron Dutch Baby Pancake with Warm Berry Compote and DIY Acai Bowls, breakfast becomes more than just the most important meal of the day; it’s a chance to start your morning with intention and nourishment. These dishes strike a perfect balance between indulgence and wholesomeness.

Substantial Salads and Bowls: Holman elevates the humble salad into something much more substantial with recipes like the Sonoma-Style Chicken Salad Bowl and Mediterranean-Style Pasta Salad. These are not your typical side salads—they’re hearty, flavorful, and designed to stand as a meal on their own.

Heartier Dishes: For those who crave more substantial fare, recipes like Chicken Pot Pie and Mississippi Pot Roast deliver comforting, satisfying meals while staying true to the book’s focus on whole, minimally processed ingredients.

Beyond Just Recipes: A Guide to Smarter Choices
What makes A Healthier Home Cook stand out from other cookbooks is its integration of healthy living principles into the cooking process itself. Holman goes beyond just giving you recipes—she provides the reasoning and techniques that can help families adopt a healthier lifestyle long-term. For instance, she encourages readers to avoid overly processed store-bought items by including DIY versions of popular staples such as granola, bread, and salad dressings, where you have full control over what goes into your food.

The shopping guides are particularly useful, offering advice on how to choose the safest cookware, the best materials for food storage, and tips on reading labels to identify hidden harmful chemicals in everyday kitchen products. Holman also offers a range of helpful hacks for home cooks, such as making your own bone broth, growing your own herbs, and creating simple, wholesome snacks for kids.

Recipes with Purpose
One of the major strengths of A Healthier Home Cook is that the recipes are designed not only to taste good but to serve a purpose. The ingredients are chosen with health in mind, aiming to nourish the body while minimizing exposure to toxins. From the nutrient-dense Sprouted Lentil Soup with Spinach to the indulgent yet clean Grain-Free Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting, Holman’s recipes reflect her understanding that food should be both delicious and beneficial to our well-being.

In this sense, Holman’s book isn’t about strict dieting or deprivation—it’s about fostering a healthier relationship with food. She acknowledges that eating well can be enjoyable and satisfying, debunking the myth that healthy cooking has to be bland or overly complicated.

Family-Friendly and Accessible
Another major appeal of A Healthier Home Cook is its family-friendly focus. The book is clearly designed for busy families who want to make better food choices but need recipes that are approachable, budget-conscious, and easy to integrate into daily life. The use of everyday ingredients, practical techniques, and relatively simple instructions make this book ideal for home cooks at all levels. Whether you’re an experienced chef or a beginner, Holman’s recipes are designed to be accessible, allowing anyone to improve their health without feeling overwhelmed.

A Call to Action: One Plate at a Time
Holman’s message is clear: the road to better health starts in the kitchen, one plate at a time. Her warm and encouraging tone invites readers to make gradual changes rather than feel pressured to overhaul their entire diet overnight. The emphasis on sustainability—both in terms of environmental impact and long-term personal health—gives the book a sense of balance and realism.

Final Thoughts
A Healthier Home Cook* is much more than a cookbook—it’s a lifestyle guide for those who want to eat better and live healthier lives. Shawna Holman has created a resource that not only inspires change but also makes it attainable. With its comprehensive advice on kitchen essentials, practical cooking tips, and a wide variety of delicious, wholesome recipes, this book is an invaluable addition to any kitchen. Whether you’re looking to reduce the toxins in your family’s meals or simply want to enjoy food that makes you feel good inside and out, A Healthier Home Cook provides the tools, knowledge, and inspiration to make it happen.

So many great looking recipes that look easy enough with common ingredients. As a mom of 3, lots of new ideas and am excited to get started!