Thank you Netgalley and Chartwell Books for this eCopy of Live Longer, Live Better to review.

I am very interested in learning how to live longer so was very excited to read this book. I found it very straightforward to understand the reasoning behind the science of why people live longer in these regions. I particularly enjoyed the day in a life pages for each long living community as it really brought the information from the first section alive.

The recipes are easy to follow and most importantly for me they all have a photograph of the finished dish.

They layout of this book is horrendous.
There is so much white space; not only is this "ugly" it begs the question why the font is so insanely small when there is clearly more room to fill the page.

My other 'most hated' aspect is that recipe titles are not with the recipes, rather they are above the picture. In a print version, this may work if the photo is the opposite page but it does not work in the ebook, which is what I have and I imagine most people will buy.

I found the recipes rather simple and unimaginative. I would have preferred to see some new ideas, not the same typical foods in every single "mediterranean" cookbook or vegan cookbook. Can we please stop publishing cookbooks with lentil salads, green smoothies, chia puddings, burrito bowls, tomato soup, no bake oat cookies, etc? Literally no one needs recipes for these anymore. The amount of olive oil used in every recipe is, frankly, alarming.

To be fair, I did find some newer ideas in the Japan and Sardina section, though only because those recipes used an ingredient (e.g. bitter melons) that I've never seen sold at any store I shop at. The photos are nice.

Lastly, the "rice shake with cinnamon" from mexico is actually called HORCHATA

This is much more than a cookbook. The author takes us on a journey around the world where people have the longest lifespans. We learn about their lifestyles, the foods they live on and other aspects of their lives. Beautiful photographs accompany lovely recipes.

ARC NETGALLEY REVIEW

Such a great collection of recipes. The author paid attention to every detail, the photography is clear and detailed. Not just recipes but great information wrapped up in just a beautiful book.

Absolutely breathtaking images of the places and the food. The recipes are easy to follow and accompanied by beautiful story telling of the item's history in each place. Makes me want to travel and eat fresh food all day long!

Wonderful book and full of new ideas

Wish to purchase a physical copy now and enjoy this book further

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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Discover how the five cultures with the longest-living people eat and live, then enjoy 50 healthy recipes inspired by those locations—and perhaps live longer yourself.
When researchers identified a region in Sardinia as having the highest concentration of male centenarians, they later zeroed in on villages around the world with the highest longevity: Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California, among the Seventh-Day Adventists.
In Live Longer, Live Better, nutritionist and chef Melissa Petitto, RD, looks at the food and lifestyle choices of the people in these regions and presents it in an easily digestible format. The first part of the book describes these areas of the world, what they have in common, and how their residents excel at living a healthy lifestyle that can lead to exceptional longevity. Similar characteristics of these communities include:
* Happiness and emotional wellness
* Family and community connections
* Natural-movement physical activity
* Disease prevention
The second part of the book provides 50 original, healthy recipes that reflect each of the locations, focusing on plant-based meals, as well as a typical day in the life of a resident. Guidelines for this type of eating include reducing the consumption of meat and dairy (but not altogether), cutting back on eggs and fish, slashing sugar, and increasing the consumption of nuts, water, beans, and whole foods. The recipes offer ideas for rounding out meals so you can eat this way wherever you are. Some recipes include:
* Okinawa: Bitter Melon and Tofu Stir Fry; Okinawan Milk Tea; and Kokuto, Banana, and Dark Chocolate Muffins
* Sardinia: Sardinian Herb, Fennel, and Bean Soup; Fregola with Wild Mushrooms; and Sardinian Artichokes with Lemon and Pecorino
* Loma Linda: California Veggie Bowl with Tahini Dressing; Quinoa and Spinach Stuffed Peppers with Cashew Cream; and No Bake Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
* Ikaria: Warm Figs with Honey and Pistachio Drizzle; Ikarian Ratatouille; and Cornmeal Pie with Dried Fruit and Olive Oil
* Nicoya: Tomato Rice with Grilled Avocado and Lime; Potato, Sweet Pepper, Corn, and Tomato Hash; and Chan Seed Pineapple Aqua Fresca
Because there’s no counting calories or nutrient grams, eating this way doesn’t have to be complicated. So what are you waiting for? There’s no time like now to start living better longer!

Did you know that they are called BLUE ZONES as that is the colour of highlighter that the researchers had on hand when they coloured them in on a map? #strangebuttrue! There is a lot of information in this book but the real star of the show is the recipes as they are absolutely scrumptious and will have you making a new and improved grocery list ASAP. They are also very adaptable for families with picky eaters as you can easily add in animal proteins and dairy products if they will make them more palatable or affordable. (I work in a very food-insecure area of the city so this book may or may not do well in our area: we have a lot of vegetarians and vegans as it is cheaper as long as there are not too many "weirdly unaffordable vegan ingredients"...that is a saying I picked up at work! You cannot beat a blue zones diet when it comes to health, so this one was a great way to learn bout and potentially cook my way through: highly recommended.
#shortbutsweetreviews

Beautiful pictures and details of the city are paired with healthy recipes from that location. I really enjoyed the 10 tenets of longevity.

Thank you, Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Chartwell Books, for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.