Whole Foods to Thrive - Brendan Brazier - Review AND Giveaway

Continuing on my quest to 'clean up' the way I live and eat, Whole Foods to Thrive by Brendan Brazier definitely caught my eye. Subtitled: Nutrient-Dense, Plant Based Recipes for Peak Health. Yes, it's about what's good for us, but the planet as well.

"What impact do food choices have on your health? Have you ever been curious as to where your food came from, who grew it, and the path it took to get to your table? Have you every wondered how much of each natural resource was used to produce your food—in other words, the soil-to-table environmental cost? In Whole Foods to Thrive, Brendan Brazier clearly explains how nutrient-dense, plant-based foods are the best choice, not only for your health but also for the health and sustainability of the planet."

And you might be saying to yourself - well, who the heck is Brendan Brazier? Well...

"Brendan Brazier is one of only a few professional athletes in the world whose diet is 100 percent plant based. He’s a professional Ironman triathlete, bestselling author on performance nutrition, and the creator of an award-winning line of whole food nutritional products called Vega. He is also the 2003 and 2006 Canadian 50km Ultra Marathon Champion.Nominated in 2006 for the Manning Innovation Award, Canada’s most prestigious award for innovation, Brendan was short-listed for the formulation of Vega.

In 2006, Brendan also was invited to address US Congress on Capitol Hill, where he spoke of the significant social and economic benefits that could be achieved by improving personal health through better diet. The focus of his talk was to draw attention to the role that food plays in the prevention of most chronic diseases currently plaguing North Americans. In 2007 Brendan was named one of The 25 Most Fascinating Vegetarians by VegNews Magazine.

Brendan has become a renowned speaker and sought-after presenter throughout North America, helping individuals and businesses thrive by sharing his dietary stress-busting program, the Thrive Diet.

Brendan is from North Vancouver, BC. But spends most of his time on the road touring."

So, yes, he knows what he's talking about.

I've been eating gluten free for over a year now and this has had a positive impact on my health. Whole Foods to Thrive provides a wealth of information on taking eating well to the next level. The first chapter - Health's Dependence on Nutrution is one I will be referring back to quite a bit.

Frazier describes the key components of nutrition as well as the nutrient value of each of the ingredients used in many of the over 200 recipes included. And the recipes are honestly very simple. Some of the ingredients are new to me, but readily available at the health food stores I have been frequenting. And Here's a quick smoothie you could try for breakfast.

Chocolate Almond Smoothie with Sacha Inchi Milk (A protein rich Peruvian fruit)

Rich in protein and omega-3, this smoothie will keep you going for hours with sustainable, non-stimulating energy. Time: 5 minutes • Makes about 3 ½ cups (2 large servings)

1 banana

2 fresh or presoaked dried dates

1 cup water

1 cup Sacha Inchi Milk (or chocolate variation) (see p. 126)

¼ cup almonds (or 2 tbsp raw almond butter)

1 tbsp ground flaxseed

1 tbsp hemp protein powder

1 tbsp roasted carob powder

• In a blender, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth.

I grow a large garden and there are a wealth of salad recipes I'll be trying out this year. This is also the time of the year to start thinking about trying to eat local.  Head out to your local farmer's market, join a food co-op, plant a few seeds yourself. The chapters covering the environmental toll of food production are really eye opening.

To celebrate the release of Brendan's book, one lucky reader will win a prize pack containing six Vega smoothie mixes (either Shake & Go Smoothie mixes or Complete Whole Food Health Optimizer mixes) in an assortment of flavours like Vanilla Chai, Bodacious Berry, and Choc-a-Lot. Thanks to Penguin Canada and Vega.

Simply comment to be entered. This one's quick - ends Sunday June 5th at 6 pm EST. Open to Canada only.