Entrepreneur and clean eater Emily Kozlowski just published her first online cookbook, and it’s not just for health nuts. It’s loaded with plant-based recipes to enjoy during the holiday season, guilt-free.
A St. Louis native, Kozlowski is an advocate for clean living, and to her that means incorporating a healthy balance into daily life. She understands just how tricky it can be to make smart food choices during a time saturated with decadence and indulgence. That’s why she’s invented an easy system, using delicious substitutions and creating recipes anyone can make.
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“It all comes down to the respect you have for yourself,” she says. “I’m on a mission to inspire others to make everything we put in and on our body, better.”
In her cookbook, Kozlowski stresses one simple rule: “Eat. More. Whole food.” By that she means we should pay closer attention to food labels and stop preferring processed ingredients to real, organic, and plant-based foods. In her Holiday Health Hacks, you’ll find simple recipes for everything from a savory caramelized sweet potato and apple hash to a dessert of chocolate pecan clusters. What the book makes clear is that eating smarter does not mean deprivation. Substitution is not the same as elimination.
For example, using coconut sugar instead of white or brown is one of Kozlowski’s favorite substitutions. She also frequently uses cashew milk instead of dairy, rolled oats instead of bread crumbs, and pink Himalayan sea salt instead of table salt.
A free download for anyone reading this, Holiday Health Hacks includes quick everyday recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert—as well as ideas for that upcoming holiday work potluck or a dinner party with friends and family. In a world full of nutrition snobbery and gluten-free gurus, it’s refreshing to find an organic cookbook lacking in pretention and instead providing an easy to follow, realistic way to eat.
In addition to the mouthwatering recipes in her cookbook, Kozlowski also has some helpful tips for staying healthy during the season of ultimate temptation.
“We all have a full calendar of holiday parties, family gatherings, happy hours, etc.,” she says. “The question is, how do you stay healthy and not leave feeling full and guilty?“First off, eat before you go, if you can, or bring your own food! If you do have to eat at the event, grab a small plate, load up on the healthy fats, & go veggie heavy.” What about those amusing Christmas cocktails? “Drink between bites and chew your food slowly. Drink some H2O, and remember how you want to feel tomorrow.” Above all, Kozlowski emphasizes the importance of self-love and food forgiveness. “Set realistic goals, and remember no one is perfect!” she says. “If you go into the event with a positive mindset, you won’t feel so restricted. I love to remind myself that ‘I’d rather not eat that,’ versus ‘I can’t have that.’ If you have time, bundle up and go on a walk after! You’ll go to bed feeling refreshed and totally sleep better.”
You’ll find more of Kozlowski’s lifestyle tips and ideas on her Instagram page, @emilykozlowski.
Download Holiday Health Hacks here.
