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Summer’s FINALLY here, which means it’s time to flex those gains you put on this winter—and we don’t mean the ones from all’at sweet potato pie. Whether you’re looking to stay brolic or getting a late start on your New Year resolutions, here are six savory reads to supplement your sexy.
Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed by Bryant Terry
The Rundown:
Eff what you heard—soul food can be clean and healthy, too. In Afro-Vegan, renowned chef and food justice activist Bryant Terry takes all your favorite dishes of the African Diaspora and spins them into an array of creative meals you won’t believe are mostly plant-based. Titillate your palate with “Creamy Coconut-Cashew Soup with Okra” or “Collard Greens and Cabbage with Lots of Garlic.” There are over 100 recipes to choose from, and while we’d really love to tell you more about them, now we’re just too hungry to think.
Blast the Sugar Out!: Lower Blood Sugar, Lose Weight, Live Better by Ian K. Smith, M.D.
The Rundown:
It’s okay if most of your gains did come from sweet potato pie because Dr. Ian K. Smith is here to show you how to blast all that sugar out of your body. As explained on Amazon, Smith’s book will help you “eat well—and frequently—while controlling carbohydrates and dropping pounds to get to goal.” So not only will you drop weight, but you’ll drop it fast… assuming that’s your goal, of course.
Cannabis Cuisine: Bud Pairings of a Born Again Chef by Andrea Drummer
The Rundown:
Assuming you live in a legal state, you can boost your health by adding cannabis to your cooking. World class marijuana chef Andrea Drummer, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, teaches readers the “art of marijuana as an ingredient” and creating high-quality cuisine. Not only can you discover all cannabis has to offer, but you can also have fun—and eat good—while doing it!
Note: Eating marijuana is said to provide long-lasting pain relief and is great for treating muscle spasms and similar conditions… but make sure not to overdo it! “Because you can’t feel the effects right away when you eat marijuana, it’s easier to underdose or overdose,” Herb.co notes. But it’s all good, ’cause Andrea’s got your back.
Decolonize Your Diet: Plant-Based Mexican-American Recipes for Health and Healing by Luz Calvo
The Rundown:
We’re (Black and brown folks) taking all our sh*t back in 2018, including our diets. Life partners Luz Calvo and Catriona Rueda Esquibel, who changed their lifestyle when Luz was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, are redefining “traditional” Mexican cuisine. In Decolonize Your Diet, you can learn about the healing properties of a plant-based Mexican-American diet “by reaching back through hundreds of years of history to reclaim heritage crops as a source of protection from modern diseases of development.” An International Latino Book Award winner, this collection is vegetarian and is based on Mesoamerican cuisine with contributions from multiple indigenous cultures throughout the Americas. Bon appé-effing-tit.
Eating Well to Win: Inspired Living Through Inspired Cooking by Richard Ingraham
The Rundown:
The title speaks for itself. Get inspired to treat your body right with Chef RLI Richard Ingraham and his 200-page recipe book slash wellness guide. He’s been Dwyane Wade’s personal chef for over 10 years and worked with multiple other top-tier athletes. He’s also worked with Gabrielle Union and Kelly Rowland, so if you’re tryna get that ageless glow (y’all know which one we’re talking about), Richard’s your man.
28-Day Plant-Powered Health Reboot: Reset Your Body, Lose Weight, Gain Energy & Feel Great by Jessica Jones and Wendy Lopez
The Rundown:
Not to beat you over the head with this whole plant-based thing, but studies have proven the benefits of animal-free eating, including in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. If you’ve been considering going green but aren’t sure where to start, Jessica Jones (no, not the Marvel superhero) and Wendy Lopez’s 28-day reboot may be just what you’re looking for. With 100 recipes and templates, this book is designed to allow you to plan your meals your way. Not only that, but you won’t have to break the bank—or stock your kitchen with a bunch of fancy ingredients—while doing it. So no more excuses. Get it right, get it tight.
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