Sarah Davies - The Naked Kitchen Veggie Burger Book: Delicious Plant-Based Burgers, Fries, Sides, and More

It wasnt until I became a wifeand, more important, a motherthat I realized if I wanted to enjoy a long and healthy life with my family, I would have to start taking care of myself. When I started researching different types of food and their effects on our bodies, I soon discovered the beauty of a whole-foods, plant-based diet. Many people assume the term is just a fancy way of saying vegan or vegetarian, but this is not at all the case. So what exactly is a whole-foods, plant-based diet? In the simplest terms, it is a diet that involves eating plants. It focuses on organic vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes and eliminates artificially processed and refined foods, meat, dairy, and eggs. Its the elimination of processed and refined foods that sets a plant-based diet apart from other diets and lifestyles.

For example, many highly processed foods qualify as vegan simply because they contain no meat or animal products. An Oreo cookie is vegan for this very reason, yet most of us would agree that it is not a healthy food choice. If you read the ingredients on a package of Oreo cookies, you will see how unhealthy each and every ingredient is! Sometimes even products that are marketed as health foods, including most imitation meats, are loaded with refined sugars, artificial ingredients, and added chemicals and preservatives that belong in a laboratory, not on your plate. It was during this journey into a plant-based diet that The Naked Kitchen was born. When I started out, I was by no means skilled in the kitchen. I just wanted people to see that eating healthy didnt have to be boring or taste bad.

Many of the unhealthy foods that people like to consume can easily be recreated to be not only nutritious and vastly better for their health and well-being, but every bit as flavorful and enjoyable, too. Fortunately for me, my mother, Kristy, had already been eating a healthy, mostly plant-based diet for years, so I peppered her with questions and eventually she became my brilliant cooking partner. Together, we worked to design and develop The Naked Kitchen. Today, The Naked Kitchen is a website where health-conscious eaters of every background can come together to find nutritious, sustainable, and, most importantly, amazingly delicious recipes. Our goal is not to establish labels or convert people to any dietary dogma, but to encourage everyonefrom meat eaters to vegetarian to vegansto create wonderful meals that all their friends and family members will love. We believe in a down-to-earth, hands-on approach to everyday cooking, which is why we are drawn to comfort foods.

And what could be more comforting than a yummy burger? One of the first plant-based meals I created for my family was a basic bean burger. We paired it with a side of baked sweet potato fries, and it was so delicious that we never looked back. When Kristy and I were discussing a theme for this cookbook, I kept going back to that simple, easy meal I first created and how effortless it made the transition from a meat-based diet to a plant-based one. We thought how great it would be to provide people with a wide variety of tasty burgers that they can quickly whip up for themselves and their families to enjoy. Some of our most popular recipes on The Naked Kitchen website are traditional, family-friendly dishes. Our readers constantly ask us for easy meals that are hearty and filling.

Through our cooking classes, social media, and website, The Naked Kitchen community has provided us with tremendous support and invaluable feedback, which we have poured lovingly into every page of this cookbook. May these recipes bring you health and happiness as you feed yourself and those you love with wholesome, delicious plant-based creations! Sarah DaviesOceanside, CA

When you sit down to eat tonight, ask yourself, would you ever think about spraying your dinner with Roundup? Of course not! Its poison, after all. Just read the labelits labeled as hazardous with a warning to Keep away from food, drink and animal feeding stuffs. Yet this is exactly what is sprayed on our foods, and it doesnt wash off with water either. Buying organic food products also protects you from consuming GMOs, which are plants or animals created through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology. Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe. In nearly fifty countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs.

In the United States, the government has approved GMOs based on studies conducted by the same corporations that created them and profit from their sale. Increasingly, Americans are taking matters into their own hands and choosing to opt out of the GMO experiment. The organic food industry is now a billion-dollar industry and supermarkets all over the nation are stocking their shelves with organic produce and products. When shopping for organic produce make sure to check the label. Organic produce labels will have a five-digit code that begins with the number 9. For packaged food items look for labels that say 100% Organic or USDA Organic.

These labels will ensure that the items you are buying are made with at least 95 percent organic ingredients. When buying organic produce, its always best to buy items that are in season. Not only will the produce be fresher, it will also help to save you money. Farmers markets and co-ops are also great places to buy inexpensive organic produce and specialty items. Youll not only be buying fresh, local foods, but youll be helping to support your local farmers. Seeking out your local community-supported agriculture network (CSA) is also a wonderful way to get fresh, local, organic produce.