I found this to be a very basic book. I wanted more guidance than it offered. However, it is a very good book for someone new to a diagnosis of diverticulitis

Sunohara, a registered dietician, gives an approachable overview to diverticulitis, and lays out a plan for managing the condition through diet. She includes meal plans based on whether the reader is experiencing a flare-up, with delicious-sounding recipes like dark chocolate mug cakes and turkey chili. The recipes themselves are easy to follow, although you may need to invest in some specialty ingredients like chia seeds and lentils. (Perhaps these are pantry staples for you; they're not at my house.) Recipes include nutrition information. As usual with cookbooks, I would have liked to see more photos accompanying each recipe. But anyone with diverticulitis--or cooking for someone who has it--will find this a helpful reference guide.

Diverticulitis.... what a mouthful. I have not been diagnosed with this or any inflammatory bowel disease but I have issues from a gall bladder removal, and hypothyroidism. Watching your diet and keeping a food diary are huge aspects in controlling flare ups. This book is well put together...informative...and rather unique.

What did I like? Wealth of information in this book, with some really great and diverse recipes. The book offers an eat this....avoid that chapter, already helping you avoid items that may cause flare ups. The book also includes meal plans, and a pantry staple section so you can adjust your pantry to a clean eating. Plus it has a grocery list if you wish to follow the eating plan. Simple and efficient. The recipes themselves give serving size, prep time, cook time, and in depth tidbit about the recipe, ingredient list, cooking instruction, and some helpful hints at the end. Basic recipe with tidbits added go the extra mile in my eyes.

Would I recommend or buy? The book has a lack of pictures for the recipes which may detract from buying but the medical advice given in the fore part of the book may overcome the need for pictures of food. I found the book informative, and a wealth of information. The book is also on KU so probably a no brainer for people looking for help on diverticulitis. I would recommend for people with any form of bowel disease,

Thoughts for the author? Kudos to a great guide to helping people. I received a copy to read and give an honest opinion.

Essential Diet for Diverticulitis is a well curated collection of recipes to help manage and control diverticulitis and soothe flare-ups. Released 16th June 2020 by Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 160 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The book has a logical and easy to follow format. The first three chapters cover the background of ingredient selection, what diverticulitis is, what the diet entails and some general quick-start weekly meal plans. The author also includes some logical pointers, ingredients, and supplies. The recipe chapters are arranged thematically: fluids, low residue recipes (less stress on the gastro-intestinal tract), and high fiber recipes to provide bulk and help peristalsis and help prevent acute flare-ups. Nutritional information is included in the footer at the end of the recipes and includes calories, fat, sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, and micronutrients.

The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only. Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Most of the ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. The book also includes a short author bio, but lacks a metric conversion chart, index or ageneral ingredients index. The author has also included a comprehensive bibliography and resource list. The recipes themselves are varied, and represent a number of world cuisines. They're tasty and easily prepared.

My main quibble with the book is that the recipes are mostly not photographed. There are a few photos, and they're clear and attractive, but they only represent about 5% of the recipes included in the book. It is, however, a very well written book for a niche (and previously often ignored) group.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.