Member Reviews

Borrowed Book By: After unfortunately misunderstanding you cannot request a print copy of a book listed on NetGalley (even if there is an 'other format' listed on the book's page) I started to request the books I erred on requesting in early 2020 per each release date to see if my library could purchase a copy for me to read in print. Thereby I have rectified this error and have read the print edition of this title and thereby am offering my honest review on its behalf. My library thankfully purchased this on my behalf per my request. I did not receive compensation for my opinions or thoughts shared herein.

As I was reading this after reading the "The Vegan Ketogenic Diet Cookbook" (also by this publisher) - I applaud this author for mentioning in her Introduction the differences between having a nutritional interest in keto and for chasing after the 'fad' of what most are doing with keto as it is a quick route to the unhealthy version of the movement. I also agree - you have to do your due diligence in life - researching everything to the hilt and sorting out what is right for you as an individual whilst I also concurred with her about how through diet we can heal our bodies of illnesses which continue to plague us by never addressing their root causes. I have had a firm belief in how diet is connected to illness and how through changing what we consume on a regular basis has a longer term effect on our overall health and well-being. In essence, to thrive is to eat in a harmonic way in which our body is finding nourishment rather than empty calories and carbs.

Uniquely unlike when I read the The Vegan Ketogenic Diet Cookbook - by adapting the Mediterranean version of this diet there are more warnings about chronic health issues you're trying to reverse due to how the foods and intake of what you'd be eating on this variant of the keto diet might have a more subtle and adverse effect on your wellness. I had a feeling there might be a warning or a clause of some sort to delve into this area of the diet itself and was thankful it was early-on in the opening bits of the book. As similar to 'The Vegan Ketogenic Diet Cookbook' - whichever route into keto you choose to take-on you have to be mindful of what it means to be in and out of ketosis!

However, it makes it a bit harder to shift into following this particular cookbook more strictly than I might have attempted to take the advice from the other writers' who gave us 'The Vegan Ketogenic Diet Cookbook' as a methodology of adapting healthier practices for optimum health as this particular variant seems to have more road blocks ahead for those who are trying to watch their sugars, carbs, fats and other triggers which can directly affect high blood pressure and other ailments known to be affected by an imbalance of those kinds of foods.

I was also concerned about how it mentioned by following this particular variant of the diet you could have a harder time shifting off processed foods or in essence, once you've shifted you could make a hasty return because there would be a triggering effect in your body for craving them after you've adopted this method of eating. For me, that was a personal red flag warning - I have had a firm goal of wanting to shake off processed foods and return to a more seasonal and balanced diet by eating what is foraged, grown and harvested in step with the growing seasons rather than continuously eat outside of them. In other words, I've been seeking something I can maintain rather than something which will cause me to slip back on old habits.

What did surprise me is how much cheese, poultry, fish and shellfish as well as dairy is included in this variant of keto. I'm not a girl who likes eating fish (nor does fish suit me as it makes me sick more than its enjoyable to eat on the rare occasion I have it) nor do I enjoy a lot of poultry; as I personally prefer veg, fruit, legumes and grains - as they personally are more appealling to me than consuming regular meats and cheeses. To each their own on that though as everyone has a different palette.

I think this cookbook might be better suited to someone who is a regular carnivore who wants to step outside the box with their diet for the first time rather than someone who has gone off all meat, poultry, dairy, pork and processed foods and has sampled vegan, vegetarian, raw vegan and gluten-free options as well as macrobiotics as that is a rounding of my own experiences in seeking out alternative routes of diet.

For those of us who are a bit more specifically attune to what our current needs are as eaters and as home cooks who want to achieve better nutrition and wellness with specific goals in mind, I'd have to say this might fall short of our expectations as it did for me. It is no fault of the author - it just doesn't suit my needs at this time in my life as much as 'The Vegan Ketogenic Diet Cookbook'' does instead.

I will credit her with a thorough outlining of how to follow her advice, how well she presented the recipes and how she's given you a resource you can take and used in your kitchen as soon as its purchased. I didn't find the layout of these recipes as easy to follow as the other cookbook either and the 'sections' were harder to find as well - which is why you might want to seek out a chapter sampler of this before you purchase it or have your library either purchase this for you (as mine did for me) or ask if you can inter-library loan a copy to ensure its a good fit for you.

Was this review helpful?

If you want to get food and healthy recipes get this book. Just remember most of these recipes were very similar to the other Mediterranean books I had pleasure to use.

Was this review helpful?

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and offer my unbiased opinion. I was attracted to this book by the title and cover. I was intrigued to learn about how the Keto and Mediterranean diets could work together. I have specific gut health issues and I wanted to read this and see if this plan would be possible and helpful for me. I found the information explaining both diets and how they were combined for the book very interesting and informative. There is a full meal plan and shopping list provided with the recipes included in the book. Like many specialty cookbooks, there were a good number of recipes that included ingredients that will be difficult or costly for me to obtain in my rural area. This is always disappointing for me, but a fact of life that I have accepted. Other than that, I felt this book was worth my time reading and I look forward to trying the recipes that I am able to as well as use the advice and direction given to help me find my groove for my next stage in life.

Was this review helpful?

My sister is on a Keto diet to lose weight so she can have much-needed knee surgery. She is slowly learning how to cook and eat from this cookbook. Heart-healthy recipes make this the perfect cookbook for the beginner or experienced cook. The recipes are based on Mediterranean diets but does away with processes sugars.
Lemon-Olive Oil Breakfast Cakes with Berry Syrup, Lemon-Olive Oil Breakfast Cakes with Berry Syrup and Crustless Spanakopita are among a few of the recipes
As usual, these recipes include tips on cooking, I think that this cookbook is perfect and makes dieting a bit easier and more delicious

Was this review helpful?

Wonderful cookbook. I have been following a ketogenic way of eating for 18 months now. I’ve experienced many health improvements. This cookbook gives me numerous new recipes to incorporate into my meal plans using food I love that is nourishing to my body.

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC version.

Was this review helpful?

This is a great addition to anyone who likes to eat healthy keto or not! This cookbook has lots of great information about keto and how to eat Mediterranean and keto. It has great recipes and really nice pictures. I would definitely recommend!

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Loved this book, easy to follow tasty recipes for the keto/Mediterranean diets. If you are on the fence between the 2 this will fit your needs. Also veggies you will like it to!

I read and reviewed this advanced complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

This is the book I didn't know I had been waiting for! Two diets that I can get behind- merging together! I absolutely love the idea of a Mediterranean take on the Ketogenic diet. There is a great deal of information at the beginning of the book explaining both diets and how they can work together and then there are countless recipes- delicious, healthy recipes. I love cookbooks that include nutrition facts, so I was happy to see that here, but Molly Devine takes that one step further and includes the macros as well. I am so excited about this book! I think it will be a game changer in the weight loss category. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone on a weight loss journey, or someone who wants healthy, low carb recipes.

Was this review helpful?