Haile Thomas encourages you to start a journey of self-discovery with her cookbook debut, “Living Lively: 80 Plant-Based Recipes to Activate Your Power and Feed Your Potential.” This inspirational cookbook consists of two parts: 7 Points of Power (POP) and Recipes.
POP covers seven elements that have shaped Thomas’ existence: Wellness; Thoughts and Mind-set; Relationships; Social Media and Societal Influences; Education; World Perspective; and Creativity and Community. She uses them to help create life’s balance while embracing her successes and challenges. I love the self-guided journal prompts that support POP and give you actionable steps. It urges readers to reflect on their journey and then record it in this hardback.
The exercises help you get your mind right for the second part of the book that starts with, “Let’s Get Cookin’ Good Lookin!” (Before You Get Started).” This section interconnects with POP and equips you with the tools to cook healthy meals.
The vibrant dishes serve a family of four and look scrumptious, especially the maple cashew cream and banana toast with super seed crunch, the carrot-chickpea-quinoa bowl with maple harissa dressing, the BBQ sweet potato tortizza, the potachos (potato nachos) with green chile cheese sauce, the sun-dried tomato and walnut tacos and the cashew “cheesecake” squares. I appreciate the ingredient lists that boast mostly fresh vegetables, fruits, and nuts as oppose to processed vegan foods. It makes preparation just as easy and keeps the cost down.
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Thomas has been living a plant-based lifestyle for over a decade. The international speaker, youth health activist, and vegan food and lifestyle influencer grew up in Arizona with Caribbean parents. When her father developed type 2 diabetes, her family embarked on a mission to treat food as a form of medicine. As a result, her dad was able to improve his health.
Thomas became a health advocate and at the age of 10, she had given her first of many TEDx talks. At 12-years-old, she founded a non-profit called HAPPY (Healthy, Active, Positive, Purposeful, Youth), to empower youth through holistic education and to address the need for free/affordable plant-based nutrition and wellness education in underserved/at-risk communities. She also worked as the junior chef advisor for Hyatt Hotels’ “For Kids by Kids” menu. Her recipes were served at all Hyatt resorts in North American and the Caribbean. And top it all off, she was named the youngest certified integrative nutrition health coach in the United States at the age of 16.
Nineteen-year-old Thomas is an extraordinary young woman. Her personality, passion, and commitment leap off the pages. She drops seeds of knowledge that empowers people of all ages. Therefore, “Living Lively” is a must-read cookbook for 2020. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Grab your copy from Amazon.
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