If you’re a regular around here, you may have noticed that new recipes have been a little scarce this year.
I wish I could say I was taking time out for my mental health. But, in fact, I’ve been staying quite busy driving myself crazy in new and exciting ways. Which is all to say: I’m working on a new book! A big, beautiful cookbook with a side of health wisdom.
It’s called CARBIVORE and it is a health nut’s defense of everyone’s favorite comfort food—with 125 wholesome recipes for noodles, grains, loaves and spuds.
When I asked everyone on Instagram to tell me their favorite type of carb dish at the beginning of this year, the response was INSANE. It might have been my most responded to poll ever. Which was a really helpful bit of affirmation that I was on the right track with this idea.
CARBIVORE is a culinary and dietary road map for making a carb-inclusive diet part of a healthy lifestyle and nutritious meal.
If experimenting with the low FODMAP diet and researching SIBO taught me anything, it’s that WHAT you eat is so much less important than HOW you eat it.
And this is so true for both our niche approach to specific plants (like those in the FODMAP acronym) and more blanket categories that fall under the starch empire.
I’ll explain how our bodies use and metabolize carbohydrates, balancing ancient wisdom with existing data on how specialty diets affect gut health and hormone production (hint: low carb approaches are often not the answer for women).
With this foundation of understanding, in the second half of the book you’ll learn how to take what we know about how carbs benefit or harm our body to the realm of culinary technique.
I have been fully absorbed, perhaps possessed, with perfecting the recipes for this book and they are some of my favorites ever. The recipe portion of the book will be organized by type of carb: oats, rice, whole grains from around the world, potatoes, noodles, loaves and crusts, legumes, and corn.
The recipes don’t adhere to one diet, but they will be meticulously labeled for low FODMAP folks (I’m aiming for 50% to be LF Optional), plant-based eaters, and yes, even paleo! The most important goal is for every recipe to make those carbs work smarter for you by balancing them out with fiber, healthy fats, protein and essential nutrients.
Like with all my books, this one will not give you a specific diet plan or set of rules. Because we are all individuals dealing with different conditions and frailties. If we just focus on blood sugar, we might drift too far away from the foods that support our gut health. If we focus too much on what doesn’t make us bloated (like white rice), we might be doing damage to our hormones. As with all things, there is a balance to be had.
And, of course, that balance wouldn’t be possible without acknowledging the elephant in the room: PLEASURE.
I see this book as a natural progression from both The Wellness Project and SIBO Made Simple. It’s truly a healthy hedonism cookbook—an evidence-based reminder to not fear food and embrace all the delicious possibilities.
If you are excited, I wanted to share a way for you to get involved!
Like with the last book, I’m going to be taking on a group of ambassadors! The only requirement as of now is to test 3 recipes later this summer.
So if you’ve been DM-ing me begging for the recipe for that Spinach Artichoke Dip Mac and Cheese or the Olive-Oil Poached Tuna Nicoise with Crispy Potatoes …OR the Smoky, Lemony Cauliflower Wedges with Capers and Zesty Old Bay Breadcrumbs…well this is your chance to get in on the action before the book comes out in December 2023!
Click here to apply to join the CARBIVORE COHORT!
Now that the cat’s out of the bag, I can’t wait to share more of the things I’ve been working on and hear from you about all of your burning questions around blood sugar, specific carbs, and what you’re craving healthier alternatives for.
Leave any questions or requests below!
With health and hedonism, from your Carbivore Captain,
Phoebe
Regarding your visit to Amsterdam… it was one of my all-time favorite cities to visit and I’d like to offer two recommendations. One, stay with me now…The Museum of Torture. Seriously, it was fascinating and creepy and weird and a must see. Two, Wynand Fockink. It’s a tasting bar and a hot spot among the locals. The bartender was great fun, possessed a wealth of knowledge about his inventory and had us try multiple shots, on the house, until we found something we liked. Adjacent to the bar is a shop to purchase the libation if your choice. Cheers!
Will your recipes be gluten free? I also have that unfortunate sensitivity. Linda
yes, my recipes are always gluten-free.
Hi Phoebe,
I find your new cookbook outline inspiring! I have found that I do best after soaking my grains (as well as legumes, nuts, and seeds) before eating or cooking with them. This traditional food preparation step can help neutralize phytic acid, removing the plant barriers to proper absorption of these minerals. Yet, I don’t always know the appropriate soaking time and processes for various delicate grain, legume, nut, and seed structures. Might this be something you can touch on in your book? I am a foodie researcher hobbyist (is that a thing?) and I keep finding the benefits of how ancient food preparations, especially when related to carbohydrates, are the hidden gem of what unlocks the nutrition and optimizes the digestion of these delicious foods.
Thanks for all you do!
Thank you Emily! This is exactly the sort of thing I’m exploring. Thanks for the great feedback