I just read a cool healthy BRAIN AND MOOD-enhancing cookbook, “The Smart Mediterranean Diet Cookbook,” by Serena Ball, MS RD, and Deanna Segrave-Daly. According to the authors, their recipes help everyone feel great and improve their mood through food. Nifty!

One of my favorite things is that the recipes cover everything from breakfast to dessert, including snacks and small plates, so every meal is covered.

Some of the dishes that caught my eye are the Mediterranean Sun Gold Granola, Green Falafel Fritters with Red Pepper Sauce, and Moroccan Spiced Hot Chocolate.

There are more than 100 recipes in the cookbook that are designed to boost brainpower and increase energy.

The book also offers lots of easy kitchen tips, recipe variations and substitutions (which is good because I really don't like fish…), and meal plans to suit different dietary needs, like gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options.

So, if you're looking to bring the Mediterranean diet into your daily life, as well as improve your mood, this cookbook may be just the thing.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Authors Serena Ball, MS RD and Deanna Segrave-Daly, and Publish BenBella Books for this advanced readers copy for review.

Only available through the NetGalley shelf and expires when archived.

Lots of nuts and veggies in almost every recipe. The meals be it breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert sound fresh and yummy.

I haven’t made anything yet, but did write down a few for later cooking ideas.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have been leaning into the Mediterranean Diet for a while now. So many health benefits. The recipes in this book look pretty good. I am vegan. I don't eat fish or some of the things in the recipes but they are easily swapped for plant-based options. I wanted a decent cookbook to expand my recipes, which works very well for that. This cookbook is fairly easy to use and filled with lots of information.

Excellent informational section at the beginning describing the Mediterranean diet. Very nicely organised. As always, would like to see more photography of the dishes.

What I most enjoyed about this cookbook was the information it gave on how eating a Mediterranean diet can benefit your health. Firstly as a diet, but also to enhance brain health as we age. I found this of particular interest.

There are recipes to make which look both healthy and tasty. A few were a bit exotic so far as ingredients, but there were many that looked easy to make and with common ingredients. I liked learning that what is healthy for my body and weight management can also enhance brain function.

Thank you to NetGalley, the authors and publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Smart and tasty....

Since I need all the help I can get to protect my dwindling brain cells, this cookbook takes the approach of food that feeds your brain. I think it just makes sense and tastes good while you are at it.
Recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced readers copy. After watching Blue Zones, I was interested in learning more about the Mediterranean diet. This book was a comprehensive source of information and recipes.

I love the focus this cookbook has on improving your mood and boosting your brain while keeping health and diet in mind.

This is the first cookbook I've read from the Ball & Segrave-Daly, and I look forward to perusing more.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me an early glance!

The recipes in this book make it so simple to stay on track! I loved the freshness of the recipe I made!

THE SMART MEDITERRANEAN DIET COOKBOOK by Serena Ball and Deanna Segrave-Daly offers "101 Brain-Healthy Recipes to Protect Your Mind and Boost Your Mood." Previews of the book on sites like amazon show sample pages for recipes like Mango-cilantro Smoothies, Spiced Tomato Soup, or Coffee Yogurt Panna Cotta; those images will give a very good sense of the number and types of ingredients, the recipes' complexity, and the general layout and quality of photos. Several recipes include a Healthy Kitchen Hack with suggestions for substitutions which is a great feature, too. Overall, this is a well-crafted cookbook with appealing pictures that may inspire some creative healthy cooking. Many ingredients are new to me (or are ones I don’t regularly stock) so that is a bit of an obstacle, but I am curious to try Three Cheese Pizza with Sweet Potato, Artichoke Rainbow Veggie Bake, and Honey-Tahini Pork Tenderloin when I can set aside a block of time to experiment. There is a three- page chart about brain healthy foods and the final version is supposed to include some 5 Day Meal Plans, but these charts did not format properly in my Kindle app. Per serving nutritional information is provided for each recipe.

Great recipes and ideas to make eating healthier easy and accessible. Recipes like shakshuka scrambled eggs with chilis and smashed cannellini and avocado toast are fabulous ways to start your day. There are great snack ideas as well as meals. This is a vegetable and fish forward book and I just loved the new ideas!

This is the fourth Mediterranean diet cookbook created by registered dietitians Serena Ball and Deanna Segrave-Daly. This cookbook features more than 100 recipes featuring brain-healthy nutrients to boost your mood and reduce your risk of cognitive decline. The book starts with a brief explanation of the staples of Mediterranean cuisine and the benefits of following this diet. The recipes are then conveniently organized into Breakfast, Small Plates and Snacks, Salads, Sides, Soups, Sandwiches and Pizzas, Pasta, Vegetarian Main Dishes, Seafood, Meat & Poultry, and Desserts. Each chapter begins with a list of the included recipes (as clickable links in the ebook), making it easy to find the recipe you want.

The recipes are clearly written with helpful notes and include number of servings, prep and cook time, and basic nutrition information (very helpful for those of us who have to count carbs). Each recipe also includes a Healthy Kitchen Hack, which might suggest substitutions or variations, shortcuts, or ways to store and repurpose leftovers. The recipes do assume some cooking knowledge, and a few times I was wishing the authors had provided further preparation instructions.

Attractive photographs are included for many (though certainly not all) of the prepared recipes. Many of the recipes are or can be made gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, vegetarian, or vegan, and the back matter includes a recipe guide for these special diets. Most of these recipes use ingredients I already had on hand, but depending on how you normally eat, some of the ingredients may seem exotic to you. You might need to purchase a few items at specialty markets or online.

I’ve tried quite a few of the recipes, with good results. The Nutmeg Oatmeal Custard was delicious and filling. We enjoyed the Berry Smart Seeded Dressing over Greens, although we had some trouble blending the dressing with frozen berries; next time we’ll defrost those first. The Spicy Green Bean and Potato Salad was a delicious and easy to prepare side that has gone into our regular rotation. The Sautéed Greens with Honey-Tahini Sauce was another winner. I enjoyed the Roasted Potatoes and Beets with Herbed Ricotta, although it failed to turn my partner into a fan of beets. The Stracciatella Soup with Chicken and Spinach was a soothing meal that would be great for a sick day, but was otherwise a little underwhelming. Crispy Za’atar Tilapia with Orange Slices was a lovely surprise. The Puttanesca Fish Stew was excellent—easy to prepare with bold flavors. The Lebanese Spiced Cabbage Rolls with Rice were delicious but too labor-intensive for us to make very often (next time we’ll try the deconstructed version suggested in the hack). North African Spiced Yogurt Chicken was tender and flavorful. The Cherry-Pomegranate Risotto Pudding was creamy and delicious, and I look forward to trying other variations. I also look forward to trying the Olive Oil Berry Breakfast Cake, Chocolate-Tahini Power Shakes, Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes with Mediterranean Toppers, Pomegranate Chicken with Turmeric Pistachio Rice, and Moroccan Spiced Hot Chocolate, among others.

In addition to the Recipe Guide for Special Diets, the back matter provides sample 5-Day Meal Plans, a Selected Bibliography, and an Index.

My overall impression is that this cookbook offers some intriguing choices for adventurous cooks wanting to try new recipes from throughout the Mediterranean region. Some of the recipes were a little more labor intensive than I prefer, but I can tweak them to better suit my cooking style. I found this a good source of new ideas and creative flavor combinations.

I received an ARC through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

Great recipes ideas backed by science. Simple, easy and delicious recipes with a nice variety of ingredients and flavors to satisfy all eaters.

Shop the pantry so many of the items you already have on hand. The recipes look delicious and are easy to follow. Healthy Kitchen Hack was one of the best parts and some of them are great and I bet you’ve never heard it before.

Thanks NetGalley!

This book has it all from breakfast to desserts and everything in between; including a vegetarian section. They "boiled down" neuroscientific research and created brain nourishing recipes to keep your mind sharp. I like that it doesn't give the added "fluff" of their personal backstories, but explains the "why" that certain foods and their nutrients are good for you. It includes a recipe guide for special diets as well as a 5 day meal plan. The ingredients are ones most of us already have and most have pictures included.

Thank you NetGalley and BenBella Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
#TheSmartMediterraneanDietCookbook #NetGalley

I was eager to see if there were some new-to-me recipes in this book. I love Mediterranean cuisine and have been trying to eat more along these lines recently. I found several recipes that I am eager to try like ‘walnut and herb crusted baked goat cheese’ and ‘black pepper and coffee roasted carrots’ and the ‘pan fried Parmesan pecan chicken’. The photos are fresh and enticing. I felt this was a nice collection of different kinds of Mediterranean recipes.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: May 7, 2024

If you can get past the endless preachy “eat ____ and cure ____” nonsense as if this cookbook is the answer to end all of one’s ailments, you’ll find some decent recipes in here.

The veggie-heavy recipes were definitely the highlights, as I’m always looking to make them more interesting. I do wish there were photos of all recipes, especially for some less widely known recipes. Glaze over the medical advice, and you’ll find some gems to add variety to your meal plan!

The Smart Mediterranean Diet Cookbook had a variety of healthy, easy-to-prepare recipes with readily available ingredients. The recipe intros and quotes added a personalized touch, and the nutrient information was helpful. Some recipes were quite creative but still accessible. Overall, this is a good cookbook. I'll add a few recipes to my menu rotation.

Thank you to NetGalley and BenBella Books for the opportunity to review this cookbook.

The Smart Mediterranean Diet Cookbook is jam-packed with information about this healthy lifestyle, along with practical tips and mouthwatering recipes.

I happily live part time in the Mediterranean and attest to the incredible array, quality and availability of ingredients in this region. The authors describe the many benefits of mindful eating, especially as it relates to impacting mental health. The Mediterranean diet is proven to reduce the effects of anxiety disorders, dementia, inflammatory diseases and Alzheimers. Tips for improving memory are included as well. Enjoying seafood twice weekly, extra virgin olive oil daily and fatty fish regularly are just a few.

Amongst the many recipes I will make are Honey-Turmeric Peanuts, Olive Oil Berry Breakfast Cake, Marvelous Mediterranean Olives, North African Sweet Hot Pepper Pickles, Black Pepper and Coffee Roasted Carrots, Mushroom Daube, Grilled Fish and Almond Honey Mustard Sauce, and Easiest Broiled Shrimp.

This well-researched book belongs in your culinary library if you wish to learn more about the virtues of Mediterranean ingredients. Dietary adaptations are included.

My sincere thank you to BenBella Books and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this delectable book.

A smart cookbook that shares wonderfully delicious well written easy to follow recipes (each with a purposeful kitchen hack) and aims to further educate us how and why we should eat healthier and how the Mediterranean style of eating can positively impact our lives and still be delicious. Many of the recipes can be made with many items already on hand (spices, herbs, cabinet/pantry staple wise), though some recipes will may need a trip to the store or some online digging depending on where you live. A nice addition to anyones collection that goes from breakfast to your last snack of the day. There is something in here for even the pickiest eater. Some easier than others, but lots of options.