Recipes That Will Heal
We've all hailed food as our savior from time to time, as it can provide a comforting warmth that we embrace in good times and in bad. Whether it is breaking bread with family during the holidays or treating ourselves to something indulgent when we're sad, we're constantly elevating food to a restorative status that can transform our feelings and emotions.
For cancer survivors Annette Ramke and Kendall Scott, food was literally a healing power during their personal battles with the disease, and they tell their story about food and the role it played in their struggles in the new cookbook Kicking Cancer in the Kitchen. The book, which comes out this month in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, is a guide to fighting cancer with our favorite remedy: food. A result of their new-found passion for nutrition, the book tells the story of how Ramke and Scott took control during their fights and offers real-world guidance for woman fighting the disease in and out of the kitchen.
Part guide and part cookbook, Kicking Cancer contains a plethora of information covering all challenges that women face during their fight against cancer. The beginning of the book serves as a survival guide for the disease, covering everything from Ramke and Scott's personal stories, losing hair, how to get into your "food groove," and what cookware is best to use when battling cancer. The second section takes the fight into the kitchen, providing more than 100 recipes that can play key roles in helping one survive cancer. From supporting blood oxygen health and brain performance to helping curb nausea during treatments, Ramke and Scott cover a large variety of recipes that will help one stay healthy and feel energized.
For the authors, the book was the result of them falling in love with nutrition while coping with their illnesses. After meeting in nutrition school, the now-certified holistic health coaches found that food gave them strength to survive their battles.
"We were turned on to the power of real, whole food and started feeling better and stronger even while in the midst of treatment," explains Scott.
While the book provides a large amount of information for people dealing with cancer, it's also a great resource for people who want to eat healthier and feel good about themselves and their bodies, with helpful guides that lend a hand in deciding what your "food foes" and what your "food friends" are. Throughout reading Kicking Cancer, you'll learn that food is more than just an placebo effect for making us feel happy but can have the physical power to heal ones' body, mind, and soul.
"This soup can be enjoyed warm or cold, depending on the time of the year. The flavors mingle the longer they hang out together, so cook it well ahead of time if possible. Feel free to adjust the amount of..."
— Kicking Cancer in the Kitchen Cookbook
"Kendall Scott: I love making stuffed squash. It fills my kitchen with sweet and savory scents and fills me up without feeling bloated and tired afterward. My mother-in-law also makes her own delicious version of stuffed squash..."
— Kicking Cancer in the Kitchen Cookbook
Banana-Pecan Pancakes With Chocolate-Coconut Drizzle
"While making pancakes on a busy weekday may not work well, spending a lazy weekend morning cooking and enjoying this delicious breakfast is well worth it. Using whole-grain flour, such as spelt flour, make these less processed and more nutritious, so you will feel sustained longer..."
— Kicking Cancer in the Kitchen Cookbook
Anne Dolce is the Cook Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @anniecdolce