I have chosen to go sugar and flour free, but since I have zero imagination when it comes to combining nutritious food it becomes even harder when you factor in the no sugar, no flour. Written in a friendly way, this cookbook is perfect for anyone who wants to get some healthy recipes. All of the recipes are sugar-free, contain no artificial sweeteners, are free of flours of all kinds, and are gluten-free. Many of these recipes contain meat and/or dairy. This is NOT the case. Each recipe is incredibly easy to prepare (not much prep time) and then you throw it in the oven. Or if it is not the oven, you basically have to cook in the frying pan for a maximum of 10 or so minutes.

I have already made quite a few recipes and from start to end, including cleaning up (but not eating) it takes less than 20 minutes or so. This is perfect for me - healthy and very easy. The author has also included her personal story and inspirational Before and After photos during her weight loss journey. But today that is a thing of the past. Nearly two years ago I realized and accepted that I do best to put boundaries around my food quantities and to abstain from sugar and flour altogether. And since I am also gluten intolerant, I decided to break up with all three of these, once and for all! I am vegan and there are a few recipes, but I have found that I can easily substitute to make basically the same recipes with a few tweaks. Each recipe includes a color photo, and often includes tips on food prep and batch cooking. They are easy to follow and show the food category breakdown of each weighed or measured ingredient.

Another important point - all the ingredients are easily available at most supermarkets and if you are trying to save a few dollars, the recipes are geared towards using several of the same ingredients, so you can use up the items you have opened (i.e. pumpkin puree for example). In the Tasty Freedom Cookbook you'll enjoy a total of 79 easy recipes for food peace and weight loss. 20 Dinners, 20 Lunches, 20 Breakfasts, and 19 additional recipes such as side dishes, dips, and gravy. I LOVE food. But I have a history of yo-yo dieting. The adage “everything in moderation” never worked for me. Sugar and flour had an addictive hold on me. One bite would have me off the rails for weeks, driven to get my fix of sweets and fast food. I was either dieting while battling cravings or I was giving in, helplessly watching my weight climb higher and higher. I felt powerless. Almost forgot, the author has indicated beside each item in each recipe what that item counts toward if you are working with a food plan. Giving up sugar and flour has been a game changer. I lost 63 pounds in nine months (without working out.) I went cold turkey. The first five days were rough with withdrawal symptoms, but I didn’t give in. Once the sugar and flour were out of my system the cravings were GONE! Whew! From then on it became easy to stay away from it because I no longer had the cravings tormenting me. I know that I’m someone who can’t win if I continue to “dabble” in sugar and flour. It would take a grip on me again, so I choose abstinence.

The weight loss is amazing, but it pales in comparison to the benefits of the freedom I feel without having to battle my willpower or be a slave to cravings anymore. Today, nearly two years later, I still don’t eat sugar or flour…and because of my recipes, I don’t miss it one bit! I eat comfort foods like casseroles, homemade bar food, cakes, muffins, salads, soups, sushi and more!