Unprocessed: How to achieve vibrant health and your ideal weight. Paperback – February 2, 2011

Chef AJ, in her book "Unprocessed," shares nutritional advice that she has learned from experts in the field of plant-based nutrition and gives the basis for forming her own diet regime, along with explaining her diet philosophy in a readable and friendly format. AJ enthusiastically motivates the reader to go on a whole-foods, nutrient-rich, plant-based diet, with no sugar, salt, or oil. Her reasons for adopting this healthy lifestyle are personal, which she openly shares with the reader, and she is hoping to convince others to try her way of eating so that they can overcome their addictions to food, cure their chronic illnesses, and lose unwanted pounds.Chef AJ "speaks" to the reader as a friend, giving support and understanding throughout, acknowledging that for some people the gradual approach may be best, rather than to drop all processed food at once. The "Yabbut" sections addresses people's excuses, and the resource section is helpful to those who are new to this way of eating, as well as to those who have lived a healthy lifestyle for awhile. The recipes are easy to follow, and leave room for the home cook's creativity. AJ has an informative section on what to buy in the grocery store and how to stock one's home with recommended ingredients and foods. She even addresses restaurant dining and how to eat healthfully when dining out.Pictures in the book would have been useful, but one can search You Tube for demonstrations of Chef AJ preparing some of the recipes. Also, Chef AJ gives her e-mail address so that the reader can contact her with any questions. Chef AJ's cooking classes are another resource, are a lot of fun and are unlike other cooking classes because she mixes in humor and song-and-dance routines, emphasizing her lifestyle program, along with the food demonstrations.Chef AJ's wittiness is scattered throughout the paperback, which makes the book a very enjoyable read. I would recommend the book to anyone wanting to improve their diet and lifestyle, as well as their health.

I really like that this cookbook allows me to make great tasting and delicious dishes that are also super healthy!!

I've been watching Chef AJ and the Dietitian's videos for some time and I really enjoyed her. When I went to a free online conference recently I decided to get her book. I really enjoyed reading the back story and the recipes are easy to make so anyone can do it. If an ingredient is hard to find or could be confused with something else, she lets you know not only how to pick the right thing, but where you can get it.Some have complained that a lot of the recipes are high in nuts. No one should sit down and eat the entire recipe, this is for a family. Also, she makes it clear in the book that if you want to lose weight you should not eat a ton of nuts, dates, or avocados. People need to learn to read the entire book to make sure that they know what they're saying before doing a review.The recipes are easy, and the book is awesome. Chef AJ's personality shines through every page, and every recipe. Thank you for writing it. I hope you write more.

If you're at all familar with Chef AJ You Tube videos, this book was a repeat of information I already knew about her. Plus, it appears that she has changed her way of eating quite a bit since this book was published. There are several ingredients in her receipes that she does not allow now (assuming you want to lose weight - which I don't). If you are interested in losing weight now, buy her newer book that was just released. I will not buy it because I believe it will be a review of what I already know. She is an engaging personality and knows how to market herself and everyone else that she has on her webcasts. To say she is passionate about her diet, weight loss, health and in general the whole-food plant based, SOS-free lifestyle is an understatement ! For me, to eat her way 100% would take some joy out of my life; I do not want to live so rigidly, but I am not a food addict and am not overweight. I am vegan 95% of the time and I do not beat myself when I make other choices, like alcohol or sugar, or if there is an egg in that cake, etc. I find her a hoot to watch and listen to though.

I have been searching for the perfect vegan compilation cookbook for a long time that has short, to the point, delicious recipes. You can use this book and skip the trail and error V. recipes loaded with the "un-healthy trinity" ingredients of salt, fat, and sugar w/o spending an arm and a leg on specialty products and synthetic supplements. For people who watched the movie, "What the Health' on Netflix and don't know how to start a life-changing diet this book would make an excellent gift to bring in a Happy, Healthy, and Nutritious New Year. This. Is. It. Thank-you, Chef A-J for sharing your testimonial. She also gives you the leading authors, Dr.'s and websites to lead you to the scientifically proven methods for healthy eating that will give you all the information you need to re-gain your health.

I have been vegetarian for a long time, but within the last few months have eliminated dairy, oil, salt and sugar from my diet. I do not have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. I gave away many of my cookbooks that no longer fit the lifetstyle I choose. I have been very frustrated to spend money and time to make a recipe, only to find that my family and I do not like it and no one eats it.That is certainly not the case with Chef AJ's recipes. I have spent the last few weekends making many recipes in her book and have already made many of them twice. Her recipes are simple and my entire family loves them. I have also emailed several questions to Chef AJ and she always responds promptly. I highly recommend her book Unprocessed and hope to see one of her food demonstrations when she is on the East Coast.