The Whole Smiths Good Food Cookbook: Whole30 Endorsed, Delicious Real Food Recipes to Cook All Year Long

by Michelle Smith

Delicious and healthful recipes from the popular blog TheWholeSmiths.com–fully endorsed by Whole30 As fans of the Whole30 know, it can be challenging to figure out how to eat for the other 335 days of the year. Michelle Smith, creator of the blog The Whole Smiths, has the answers. This cookbook, the first ever fully endorsed and supported by Whole30, offers a collection of 150 recipes to keep Whole30 devotees going strong. Many recipes like Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo are fully Whole30-compliant, and all are gluten-free, but you’ll also find recipes with a careful reintroduction of grains, like the tortillas in the Chile Enchilada Bake. Some recipes include beans and legumes, so there are plenty of vegetarian options. There are even desserts like Chocolate Chip and Sea Salt Cookies! Throughout the book, icons help readers identify which recipes fit their dietary constraints (and which are easily adaptable), but perhaps most important of all, the recipes are a delicious way to help anyone achieve a long-term approach to good health.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Health, Nonfiction, Diets

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 17, 2024

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book. I have tried a few recipes and they were very good. Banana eggs sound weird but have become my breakfast of choice.

If you are someone who avoids FODMAPs, realize you won’t be able to eat half of the side dishes. There are a lot of cauliflower and butternut squash, and broccoli. They probably taste amazing, but I can’t eat any of them.

Also, in a whole30ish cookbook BBQ sauce should NOT be an ingredient unless you are providing a recipe and/or telling people where to buy a whole30/paleo compliant sauce.

[JoAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely photos, great recipes! Will be buying this book!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of great recipes, consistent with Whole30 and easy to adapt otherwise. Mostly Food Freedom phase, perfect for long-term use.

[Kurt Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see the reviews written and it seems like folks are rating this cookbook on the Whole30 diet, and whether they believe in that diet or not. This is a cook *book*, and the review should be rating the book, not the diet. This book also gives instructions on how to make non-Whole 30 and non-Paleo versions of recipes. This should be considered a plus if you are not 'into' that specific diet.

Frankly, I never heard of the Whole 30 diet before reading this book, and only have a vague idea of Paleo. Who cares? ... or should I rephrase "Who cares if the food is tasty and delicious?"

And that is what I love about this book. The food just looks delicious! Not your run-of-the-mill recipes, or bland tasteless food. Almost all the recipes come with a clear crisp photo, complete with detailed ingredient list and informative instructions. And the photos look amazing and recipe ingredients just make me drool. What else could you ask for in a book of recipes? Seriously! If I read a cookbook and come away with 10 new recipes, it's great. I want to try nearly every one of these. Awesome job!

My only nitpick, if you can even call it that, is the kitchen tools section. Mostly I ignore those sections like everyone else (who doesn't have measuring cups and knives?)... but since I saw that this book had extras (like the latest rave of InstaPot), and the must-have endorsement of a food scale, I expected the recipes to utilize those tools. Personally, I don't have the cupboard space for more kitchen gadgets and was Happy to see that I didn't have to measure out 3.6 grams of this spice, etc. So while this is a very minor nit, I guess it is kinda also a whopping endorsement that the recipes use standard measures and tools.

I bumped into this book on the new books section of my library and am glad I did. All in all, a great book. I now know what I am giving my college-aged daughter for Christmas! (Hope she's not reading this, to spoil her surprise). If she is, she better make me something from this book. hahahahha

[CalamityMane · Rating 1 out of 5]

It may have just been me, but most of the photos weren’t even appetizing. The mustard chicken looks underdone, the spaghetti squash *insert dish here* looks reviling, and the Cool-er Ranch Plantains... ::shudder::

I was most of the way through this before I realized this was a particular eating plan/diet. I don’t eat that way and this cookbook would never convince me to try it. Surely you must be able to eat clean without having to suffer chia seeds and whatever the hell a swoodle is.

Then there is the writing. Have mercy. It’s peppered with little gems like, “Ropa Vieja is a traditional Cuban dish made with stewed beef and vegetables. It quite literally means “old clothes.” But trust me, it tastes far superior to anything you might find in your hamper.” Oh, I could hardly hold in the guffaws.

There were a few recipes I liked - charred shishito peppers, chimichurri chicken wings - but overall, between the writing, the unappetizing photos, and the need for a spiralizer, this cookbook is a fail for me.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is NOT based on whether all the recipes deliver delicious results. I haven't made anything yet but I am a cookbook geek who likes to read through each recipe and star the ones that sound good to me.

I have done the Whole30. It was interesting, not life-changing, but I had already cut out many food vices before doing it. I'm not 100% convinced it is the end-all-be-all diet plan for me (potatoes and most dairy don't sit well) but I can see it's value. I didn't know anything about the Whole Smiths before I got this book from the library.

I got the distinct impression from reading through the recipes that this book was rushed to publication. There are a few typos/missing words, and although almost all the recipes have lovely photographs, a few just have some stylized kitchen utensils next to the recipe (did they even make those?). Another gripe is when water is called for in the instructions but not listed as an ingredient. That means I'll have to leave my cooking food unattended in order to measure out some water; why not just give me the heads up in the ingredients so I can have it ready? My last gripe is listing the TOTAL amount of salt used as an ingredient (like 2-3/4 tsp) when it ends up being 1/2tsp first, then 1 tsp later and then the remaining 1-1/4 tsp at some later point. Wouldn't we be better served with an ingredient listing like "1/2 tsp + 1 tsp + 1-1/4 tsp salt"? Just having 2-3/4 tsp salt ready doesn't help me.

I might end up giving more stars if these recipes really deliver on taste but for now I'm not overly dazzled.

[Alexia Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looooove that this book has such simple recipes. There aren't really any recipes with odd ingredients and for the most part they aren't too involved or difficult. For being so simple, these recipes have delicious and interesting combinations like pizza soup, banana eggs, and fruit quiche. Michelle really plays with flavors and ingredients. This is a MUST for cooking beginners, but everyone could benefit from this book.

[Wiebke Kuhn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a free download, so I thought I just look at it. The recipes are pretty and some may be of interest, but the whole foodness is odd as it does rely a great deal on somewhat processed food (almond milk is one big example). the combinations of ingredients also do not suggest a sustainable approach as I would see quite a few of them as not happening in the same grow zone/time. So, to me, somewhat artificial.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a Whole30 cookbook but it's more for people who have already done it for awhile & know they can add back in beans, potatoes & other things. The recipes look really good though, nothing exotic or hard to find. Some recipes don't have pictures or it's a photo of utensils. I didn't like that.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all of the cookbooks that I have gotten over the years, this one is by far the best. The recipes are delicious and there are so many different types of dishes ranging from desserts to soups and full meals. Even my child who is a picky eater is loving every single thing I have made from this book so far.

[Kristen Hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have already tried two recipes from this cookbook and plan on trying many more. The Whole Smiths is my new favorite paleo blog. Some simple every day recipes mixed with some different and interested recipes (pizza soup!). Can’t wait to try more.

[Steve Horowitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a person who loves to cook and is pretty darn good at it, I was not at all impressed by the recipes nor the content. While I have not actually tried them, I did bookmark a few and will endeavor to make them soon and see how my assessment holds up.

[Kelli Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Checked this out from my library and have made 10 recipes and loves everyone.
So much that I bought a copy to keep in my kitchen.
Beautiful pictures, prep tips and written like a best friend who is helping you make good choices in the kitchen.

[Brittany Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cookbook, especially if you eat whole30!

[Kacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of delicious, easy, whole foods recipes that are perfect for a round of Whole30 or your food freedom!

[Lindsay Bays-Raper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the Potato wedges with chorizo and poblano peppers. This recipe is so easy, so flavorful, and fresh. Clean eating at its best.

[Jennifer Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing recipes that everyone in my family will eat.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! The recipes are simple and delicious ! I love her approach on whole 30/clean eating. The ingredients are not “foreign” or hard to find. Healthy eating made simple!

[Erik Cominolli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cookbook is phenomenal. It's changed the way we eat at home and the food is fantastic.

[Brittany Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying the recipes and getting ideas!

[Christine (Tina) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great pictures and seemingly easy Whole30 approved recipes. Definitely the most attractive paleo-esque cookbook I've perused. Now, to try some of the recipes!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My cookbook of the year! 💕

[Mskychick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure I’ve ever read another cookbook where I’ve wanted to make so many of the recipes? I want to try about 80% of the dishes in here. Gonna buy this one as soon as I can!

[Tarita Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some new ideas, but not as good as the original Whole30.

[Stacy Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many recipes I easily see myself making. Day #28 of #whole30! Delicious sides, mains, and an easy mayo recipe!!

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you follow the whole 30 diet, it may be OK; if not, too bad it is not for you.
There are some interesting recipies to be sure...too heavy of the chia seeds and processed foods.

[Heather La · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the recipes. I would like to know approximately how long it will take for each one. I really do like how each dish says if it’s Paleo, W30, etc.

[grimalkin · Rating 2 out of 5]

More accessible than just good stuff, but only snagged one recipe. Meh.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. New to the whole smiths.

[Dora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Looks like some great recipes. Ample use of Almond milk .