For many of you, Meghan Telpner needs no introduction. She’s the inspiring, Canadian (yay!), and playful voice behind her website, Making Love in the Kitchen. After being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 26, Meghan made it her mission to regain her health via non-traditional methods. That’s when she rediscovered the powers of her kitchen and found healing through plant-based food, a yoga mat, and other alternative treatments. Her first book, UnDiet: Eat Your Way to Vibrant Health, shows you how to live well without painful restrictions. Much like my own approach to wellness, Meghan forgoes calorie counting, dieting, and deprivation while focusing on vibrant foods, nutrition information, and wellness tips she has picked up along the way.
UnDiet is jam-packed with health and wellness tips, infused with Meghan’s authentic and inspiring writing style. It’s hard not to get excited about a healthy lifestyle when you read this book.
Some of the topics include:
- A handy guide for storing produce (I love this because my fridge is a hot mess most days)
- Food additives and preservatives to avoid
- Plastics, BPA, and waste
- 10 best reasons to drink loads of water
- A 7-day UnDiet Meal Plan
- Natural beauty products and cosmetic additives
- Optimizing your time in the kitchen
- and much more…
While this is a wellness guide as opposed to a cookbook, you will still find 40 easy gluten-free recipes sprinkled throughout the chapters. Many of the recipes can be made vegan with a simple swap like using a chia egg for a hen’s egg or maple syrup for honey. Some examples of the recipes include: Veggie Rice Wraps, Booyizzle White Bean Green Curry, Blue Green Power Smoothie, Morning Green Juice Shazaam, Spiced Apple Carrot Muffins, Super Berry Fruit Crumble, and more.
After spending a good part of the weekend with my nose in book, I got thirsty. Really thirsty. Thankfully, her Easy Ginger Ale recipe came to my rescue. I’ve never been a big ginger ale fan, but something just told me I’d really love this au naturel version.
With just 4 simple ingredients – fresh ginger, carbonated water, lemon juice, and sweetener – I had a much healthier version of ginger ale ready to quench my thirst. It’s bursting with digestion and immune-supporting ginger and lemon juice making it a fun drink that’s also good for you. I also have a feeling this would be amazing with some orange or pineapple juice mixed in! And you know, maybe spike it on one of those hot summer evenings….
Meghan’s Easy Ginger Ale
Excerpted from Undiet: Eat Your Way to Vibrant Health. Copyright © 2013 Meghan Telpner. Published by McClelland & Stewart, a division of Random House of Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.
Yield: 2 cups
Ingredients:
- 3-inches (8cm) fresh ginger root
- 2 cups (500ml) soda water
- 1 tbsp (15ml) raw honey (I used 2 tbsp maple syrup)
- 1-2 tbsp (15-30ml) lemon juice (optional) (I used 1 tbsp lemon juice)
- Ice cubes or frozen grapes
1. Drape a cheesecloth or milk nut bag over a bowl or jar, and grate ginger over top.
2. Once fully grated, squeeze out juice. (Angela’s note: I had about 1 tbsp of ginger juice after squeezing)
3. In a pitcher or jar, stir together ginger, soda water, sweetener, and lemon.
4. Serve chilled with a few ice cubes or frozen grapes, and add a glass straw for a party in your glass.
It’s GIVEAWAY time! (update – see below for winners)
You have a chance to win:
1. A copy of UnDiet: Eat Your Way to Vibrant Health.
2. Meghan’s online course UnDiet Meal Prep Made Easy (this course is vegan aside from honey which you can swap out for other sweeteners) valued at $279.
This book giveaway is open to anyone in North America and the online course is open to anyone, anywhere!
[Contest now closed]
1. Leave a comment below.
2. For a second entry, follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram and leave a second comment letting me know you did so.
Thanks to Meghan and the folks at McClelland & Stewart for the wonderful opportunity to review UnDiet. Goodluck to all of you in the contest! Winner will be chosen at random on Thursday April 4, 2013.
Please note: The UnDiet link in this post is an Amazon Affiliate link – if you click on the link and purchase something I will receive a small percentage from Amazon which helps support costs involved for this blog. Thanks in advance!
UnDiet Giveaway Winners!
Thank you to everyone who entered the UnDiet giveaway! Without further ado, the winners are…
1 copy of UnDiet goes to #394 – Carol E. “I’ve followed you on Facebook for ages, but I just started following you on Pinterest.”
And the winner of Meghan’s online course UnDiet Meal Prep Made Easy goes to #1512 – Jackie P. “This book looks amazing!!”
Congrats to you both! I will email you shortly to collect your information.
Sounds like a great way to revamp my eating habits this spring. I’ve been looking for some motivation on the cooking front. :-)
So looking forward to this book. I have a friend who is vegan and because of her, we have tried many delicious recipes, that we wouldn’t have otherwise. This book will add to my existing recipes and be great for creating a healthier kitchen! Can’t wait!
I need this cookbook!
I love your website! My entire Easter menu was inspired by your delicious creations! :) Thank YOU!!!
I’m still trying to figure out what foods I can and can’t eat with my digestive system so definitely could be helpful!
I follow you on instagram and facebook!
following you on pinterest!
would love to own this book!
Looks like a fabulous book – hope I win, looks like a great resource!
This book sounds amazing! I’ve recently switched to a vegan diet and discovered your blog, such inspiration! Thank you for the giveaway!
Looks like a great book! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
this book sounds great! would love to give it a try and kickstart my own UN-diet :)
I love your blog and would love love love this book!!!! Thanks for all the great tips, ideas, and delicious recipes!!!!
also i followed you on pinterest!!
excited to see your wonderful pictures up on my pin boards :)
This book looks amazing! I went onto Meghan’s website and checked out some of the recipes. The first one to jump out at me was the cookie dough one! Reminded me of the one you previously posted. Book looks colorful and cheerful! Her online class sounds amazing. So exciting! Heading to FB to post a comment on there!
This book looks amazing. I can’t wait to take a look inside !
Hope I win a copy!
Looks like a great book! I’d love a copy!
Love the Easy Ginger Ale recipe which I will use my Meyer Lemons. Thank you. The book looks awesome as an all around reference.
What a great giveaway! Would love to learn more about the UnDiet.
Hi Angela! I am so happy having come across your website by “accident” some time ago, in search for a butternut squash recipe. Not only did I find a great one to enjoy quite often, but also found a site that really resonates with me and my current life. Your tips and pointers are great – thank you!
Your review of Meghan’s book immediately made me want to buy it! Living in Finland I don’t have a chance of winning it, but I hope to be lucky with the on line course…!