The food industry is absolutely overflowing with cookbooks. For every type of meal, cuisine, and dietary requirement, the plethora of options can be a little overwhelming. That’s why we wanted to pull together a list of our favourite healthy cookbooks that are all about simple, nutritious, and delicious cooking. For those of you with busy lifestyles who want to get the most out of your days, but don’t have time to waste.
The Roasting Tin: Simple One Dish Dinners by Rukmini Iyer
We all know the feeling of rushing in late from work, with hardly anything in the fridge and no ideas for dinner. You want something quick, easy and delicious. Enter: The Roasting Tin. This foodie favourite is perfect for those of you on-the-go who don’t have time to faff with fifty ingredients and endless chopping, frying and dicing. Just chuck all your ingredients in one roasting tin et voilà! Dinner is served. With 75 different recipes for simple meals ranging from chicken, to fish, to supergrains, there’s something for everyone. And it also means there’s less washing up to do too. Everyone’s a winner.
Deliciously Ella Quick & Easy: Plant-based Deliciousness by Ella Mills
Ella Mills of Deliciously Ella is the ultimate plant-based internet icon and healthy cookbook queen. Having amassed a following of almost two million thanks to her friendly, approachable attitude to plant-based eating, Deliciously Ella has now become a food empire consisting of cookbooks, stores, products and even a podcast. This cookbook in particular is the latest in her series, showing us that vegan and plant-based cooking doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. With over 100 recipes, everything featured is designed to be hassle-free and you’re even given approximate cooking times, for those of you really trying to squeeze things in. Here at Innermost, we love the quick, yummy pasta dishes and sweet, sticky flapjacks. You can find us in the kitchen...
5 Ingredients: Quick & Easy Food by Jamie Oliver
Believe it or not, you really can make an incredible meal with just 5 ingredients. Brought to you by TV chef extraordinaire Jamie Oliver, this book has everything you need if you’re looking to wow some friends or dinner guests with a delicious, simple meal that’s short on ingredients but full of flavour and nutrition. Some of our fave recipes include this Sicilian tuna pasta, and this wonderfully colourful harissa squash salad with avocado and mozzarella. There are multiple options for every meal time and diet type, so all you have to do is kick back and let the oven do the work. At Innermost we’re all about getting the most out of life, even when we’re short on time, and this book’s a perfect example of that. No compromise necessary.
East: 120 Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes from Bangalore to Beijing by Meera Sodha
Next on the list is another vegetarian and vegan option, but just because there’s no meat doesn’t mean it’s lacking anything. This stunning book by Meera Sodha inspired by Far Eastern cuisine is full to the brim with colourful, delicious, simple recipes that span countries ranging from India to Thailand to Japan, celebrating the wonders of Asian cuisine in a fresh, modern way. Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, or just want to try and incorporate more meat-free meals into your diet, East is the perfect all-round cookbook. From laksa to curries, dal to tofu, the communal feel to these dishes makes it perfect for gathering or dinner parties. We know you’ll find yourself coming back to East time and time again.
The Ultimate Keto Cookbook by Brittany Angell
If you’re into your health trends half as much as we are, you’ll probably have heard of the keto diet. The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that many people adopt temporarily for its main benefit of weight loss. However, it also reportedly has benefits against things like diabetes, cancer, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease. In this cookbook of over 270 recipes, popular food blogger Brittany Angell provides an expansive list of keto-friendly recipes, with options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, cocktails and just about everything else you can think of. With enticing pictures for every recipe and clear instructions, your perception of keto is about to be changed. Think homemade Baileys Irish cream, and fancy recipes made simple like eggplant sausage lasagna, and scallops with white wine bacon cream sauce. Who said keto was restrictive?
To find out more about the keto diet and how it works, sign up to our five-day free email course on it here.
Simply Good for You: 100 quick and easy recipes, bursting with goodness by Amelia Freer
Last but not least, we have Simply Good for You. Full to the brim with 100 fuss-free recipes comprising wholesome, nutritious ingredients that truly benefit both your physical and mental wellbeing, this cookbook is one of our faves. Freer is a bestselling nutritional therapist and advisor to a whole host of A-list celebrities, helping them transform their lives with what they put in their bodies. So if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for us. Perfect for those of you on tight schedules, Freer’s recipes are unashamedly simple and wonderfully delicious. Speaking to the Evening Standard about the book, Freer said: “I’d say the book is really for anyone who wants to feel vibrantly healthy from good, wholesome and nourishing nutrition, but doesn’t have much time, confidence or a huge budget to spend in the kitchen.” If that sounds like you, be sure to give this one a go.
If you've been inspired by any of these cookbooks and try any of their recipes, don’t forget to let us know in the comments below or tag us in our socials @liveinnermost. Happy cooking!
