The Conscious Kitchen: The New Way to Buy and Cook Food - to Protect the Earth, Improve Your Health, and Eat Deliciously [Paperback]

Alexandra Zissu (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 2, 2010

Your everyday food choices can change the world—and make meals taste better than ever
 
For anyone who has read The Omnivore’s Dilemma or seen Food, Inc. and longs to effect easy green changes when it comes to the food they buy, cook, and eat, The Conscious Kitchen is an invaluable resource filled with real world, practical solutions.
 
Alexandra Zissu walks readers through every kitchen-related decision with three criteria in mind: what’s good for personal health, what’s good for the planet, and what tastes great. Learn, among other things, how to:
 
- Keep pesticides, chemicals, and other harmful ingredients out of your diet
- Choose when to spend your dollars on organic fruit and when to buy conventionally grown
- Avoid plastic—including which kinds in particular and why
- Figure out what seafood is safe to eat and is sustainable
- Use COOL (country of origin labels) to your advantage
- Determine if a vegetable is genetically modified just from reading its PLU (price look up) code
- Decipher meat labels in the supermarket
- Cook using the least energy—good for the earth and your wallet
- Eat locally, even in winter
- Understand what “natural” and other marketing terms really mean
- Buy packaged foods wisely

Navigate farmers’ markets, giant supermarkets, and every shop in between to find the freshest and healthiest local ecologically grown and produced meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables—no matter where you live
 
With The Conscious Kitchen as your guide, you will never again stand in the market bewildered, wondering what to buy. You can feel confident you are making the best possible choices for you, your family, and our planet.
 
 
ALEXANDRA ZISSU writes about green living, food, and parenthood. She is the author of The Conscious Kitchen, coauthor of The Complete Organic Pregnancy, and contributes the “Ask an Organic Mom” column to The DailyGreen.com. Her stories have appeared in The New York Times, The Green Guide, Cookie, Details, Bon Appétit, Self, and Health, among other publications. She is also a public speaker and “greenproofer,” an eco-lifestyle consultant. Visit her website, www.alexandrazissu.com.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Think of The Conscious Kitchen as a nuts and bolts guide that helps make sense of the many things we consume without questioning, but probably know we should.”
Deborah Madison
 
“It could easily become as thumbed-through and trusted a resource for conscious cooks as Mastering the Art of French Cooking was for home cooks.”
LeitesCulinaria.com
 
“Zissu covers appliances, pots and pans, dealing with waste, and vetting your storage containers for toxins with a straightforward, non-judgmental tone that makes it all seem do-able. Her “some is better than none” philosophy means you can take on the suggestions that fit your life without feeling guilty about the ones you leave behind. An indispensable book for anyone looking to eat and cook more sustainably.”
The Associated Press
 
“One good book…take it along to the market with you and it will prove to be invaluable.”
The Detroit Press
 
“[A] great book…well researched and thorough and there is nothing preachy or doctrinaire about the writing….It’s filled with all kinds of useful information, like short tips about everything from fishing to making your own pasta, to lists for further reading on many topics, to sources for ingredients and organic beer.”
Treehugger.com
 
“[A] $13.99 paperback with so much information that it almost opens itself and reads to you.”
The Lakeland Ledger
 
“Concise…[and] eminently readable.”
The Montreal Gazette
 
“Looking for simple ways to be good to the environment and your bod? The Conscious Kitchen…offers how-to’s on cutting energy bills, avoiding pesticides in food, and whipping up tasty, healthy meals.”
Heath Magazine
 
“Thoughtful and extremely informative.”
Library Journal Express

About the Author

ALEXANDRA ZISSU writes about green living, food, and parenthood. She is the coauthor of The Complete Organic Pregnancy, contributes the “Ask an Organic Mom” column to TheDailyGreen.com, and blogs for PlanetGreen.com. Her stories on food and environmental topics have appeared in the New York Times, Green Guide, Plenty, Cookie, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, New York magazine, Details, Bon Appétit, Teen Vogue, Self, and Health, among other publications. She is also a public speaker and “greenproofer,” an eco-lifestyle consultant. Visit her website www.AlexandraZissu.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter; 1 edition (March 2, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307461408
• ISBN-13: 978-0307461407
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #695,829 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ALEXANDRA ZISSU is an eco lifestyle expert, writer, speaker, and consultant. She's the author of The Conscious Kitchen (Clarkson Potter, March 2010)--a Books for a Better Life Awards finalist--and co-author of Planet Home (Clarkson Potter, December 2010), The Complete Organic Pregnancy (Collins, September 2006), and The Butcher's Guide to Well-Raised Meat (Clarkson Potter, June 2011). She has worked for New York Magazine, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Lifetime and Details magazines, The New York Observer, and Women's Wear Daily.

Over the past decade, her stories have also appeared in The New York Times, The Green Guide, Plenty, Cookie, TheDailyGreen.com, Bon Appétit, Health, Vogue, Teen Vogue, Self, Child, Time Out New York, Harperʼs Bazaar and The Huffington Post, among other publications. Some of her recent articles can be found on her website, AlexandraZissu.com

She speaks often about all things eco-friendly at private firms, mothers' groups, schools, non-profits, and industry expos, and consults about green living for individuals and organizations. Though she should probably be on a biodynamic farm in Vermont, or growing dill in Finland, she actually lives in New York City, across the street from where she grew up, with her (organic) family.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Knowledge makes all the difference! April 18, 2010

By quinnschilling

Format:Paperback

You know, it is not often that you can change your entire life in a month. However, around here, we have basically done just that. This all began with a simple book called The Conscious Kitchen from Alexandra Zissu...
First off, I have to admit, while I always felt guilty about it, I was not very environmentally conscious. When my youngest was born almost 5 years ago, I realized her birthday coincided with some cool Earth Day festivities in our town. So, I paid a bit more attention. You know how once you "see" something, you see it everywhere? Well, I had that going on. So, I visited health food stores and began attempting to recycle.
Sadly, I have to admit, my feeble attempts to get "greener" never lasted. I have 5 kids and making drastic grocery changes seemed so hard...so maybe that played a role? Is it because I am ADD? Oh, and we are not rich or really hippie, so maybe that was it? In my mind, I rationalized all kinds of reasons why I could not be more environmentally concerned.
Then I read Alexandra Zissu's book, The Conscious Kitchen. And I changed. Because...well, I could. I suddenly got it. Now, I am just sorry I did not understand some of the concepts earlier. I feel bad that I was not one of the pioneers. Because this is worth doing and it is not hard anymore.
I totally recommend reading her book (You can buy it on Amazon, here). The clear writing with specific examples about how to have great tasting food and maintain a green and healthy kitchen made going green the most natural thing in the world for us!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Natural living with ease March 17, 2010

By Pamela Robinson

Format:Paperback

"The Conscious Kitchen: The New Way to Buy and Cook Food - to Protect the Earth, Improve Your Health, and Eat Deliciously" is a delightful collection of advice on how to live a healthier lifestyle through careful choices of food and household products.

Loaded with ideas ranging from knowing how to identify the best eggs to selecting organic wine to disinfecting a home.

What author Alexandra Zissu wants to make clear is that healthier eating and living are within reach of most people, and that they don't need to spend a fortune at a fancy health-food store to achieve it.

Among other things, the author explains how to read labels to buy the safest products, understanding PLU codes to learn if a vegetable has been genetically modified, and how to shop at a farmers' market.

This is a bright and smart book, easy to read, easy to search for specific information, and a great addition to any home and is small enough to be easily carried on a shopping trip to verify the right way to go about making purchases.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Organic "beef" March 4, 2010

By Bobbi Avery

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

My biggest beef with organics is that they seem very expensive and only affordable to the affluent. However in "The Conscious Kitchen" Alexandra gives great money saving tips! I love the "The Conscious Commandments". The list of better kid gear is a great guide to buying dishes and utensils that are toxin free. But I must say my favorite part of the book is the wine and beer section!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars enlightening and a little frightening January 17, 2012

By herdingcats

Format:Paperback

This is a very enlightening book. Also a little frightening to me. It gives great ideas on what foods to eat only organic and which things are ok if not organic. It explains why non-organic foods are bad for you - and sometimes I think ignorance is bliss. It is interesting that canned tuna is healthier than fresh - because it is from smaller species w/ lower levels of mercury. This book has made me think about and become more aware of where my food comes from, how it is grown and how it is packaged. The book also discusses proper kitchen ware - the proper materials for pots and pans and food storage, appliances and more.
I was inspired to clean out my pantry, refrigerator, and pot and pan cabinet yesterday. When I went shopping today, I paid more attention to where the food I bought came from. I bought locally made corn chips (ok, I know corn is bad and chips are bad, but I hope the local part helps), and local milk and yogurt and eco-friendly kitchen trash bags. It would take a lot to pry me away from all the plastic in my kitchen - food storage and zip lock bags - although I do use glass jars for many things. Reading the part about getting rid of all plastic made me feel like the rich man in Mark in the Bible:

And she said to her, "author, all these healthy things I am trying to do." And the author, looking at her, said to her, "You lack one thing: go, recycle all the plastic kitchen items you have and give your aluminum pans to the poor and throw away your non-stick pans, and you will have a healthy, conscious kitchen. Disheartened by the saying, she went away sorrowful, for she had many plastic storage containers and non-stick pans in her kitchen.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Love love love this book December 2, 2010

By cestlav

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I checked this book out of the library and had so many pages I wanted to take notes from that I ended up ordering my own copy that I can reference. It's small, but it's packed with info - highly recommend!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Environmentally Conscious cook book November 20, 2010

By Robert Haro

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Intriguing book about how to buy and cook food with an environmentally conscious approach.
Helpful tips on what to buy, different ways to cook food, and the health advantages of
eating better with sutainable foods.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent July 25, 2010

By Betty Alford

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I think this is an excellent, informative book. My daughter is an envirovental engineer and I gave her a copy even if she already knows it all! I also gave copies to her sister!