Laurel of Leaves

getting back to my roots: my journey in true health and natural living

True Health

The Real Food Diet Cookbook Giveaway!

You may have seen the link to this cookbook in my sidebar, and hopefully you’ve been interested enough to check it out. It’s a fantastic cookbook–one that I wouldn’t hesitate to buy for my family and friends (which, incidentally, I did), even if I hadn’t been the project manager for the book.

I figured it was high time to share with my beautiful readers a bit more of my connection to the Real Food Diet Cookbook.

Before my husband and I embarked on our sabbatical in New Zealand, we worked for the author, Dr. Josh Axe. Drew was his Web & Graphic Designer, and I called myself the Media & Marketing Director (a self-proclaimed title since I did a little of everything from content editing to personal assisting to filming & editing 2 Internet TV shows to planning & coordinating live events and seminars, to producing his weekly radio show).

But this book was by-far one of my favorite projects.

The Real Food Diet Cookbook

The release of the book was definitely a long time coming since the early stages of development technically started in February of last year (yep, that’s 2010 folks). The concept evolved many times over, and I’m glad it did, since the final product is something I am really very proud of.

From the onset, I collected and formatted recipes for the book, adding many of my own (and those of other co-workers) along the way. You might recognize my Banana Coconut Chocolate Chip cookies on page 206.

Lori's Famous Banana Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

The gorgeous pictures in the book are thanks to Allison Hendrickson (whose picture of my cookies is above) and Don Wright. And the cooking of the dishes for the photography is thanks to my co-worker Leslie Exley and yours truly! Seriously two of the most fun days I’ve had at work (and most tiring at the same time. We figured that going out for margaritas at the end of day two was decidedly necessary).

During the layout and design process I must have edited the drafts at least fourteen times. I ate, drank, slept, and breathed this cookbook for months. I corresponded with the publisher, coordinated the shipping, signed off on customs papers, argued with the fulfillment center, and did my part with the team to market the book online.

I can’t even tell you how happy I was that the shipment of books arrived a solid 3 days before the actual release date!

If you’re anything like me, you’ll appreciate that just about every single recipe has a gorgeous color photo (I would never buy a cookbook without pictures. Just sayin’).

Inside the cookbook

And if you’re new to the whole ‘real food’ concept (i.e. you’ve just recently unplugged from the matrix), Dr. Axe has included a 50 page guide of sorts at the onset of the book to acclimate you to true nutrition and guide you as you go to the grocery store.

As if that weren’t enough, each recipe is labeled with a icon signifying a category like ‘Fast & Easy,’ ‘Kid-Friendly,’ or ‘Energy Boosting.’

Don’t you want one yet?!

That’s what I thought. So I figured a GIVEAWAY was in order!

Entry is easy. Leave a comment below to be entered into the contest. Let me know what you love at first sight about the cookbook. And if you’re keen, you can then link to my page from your Facebook or Twitter.

The winner will be announced this Friday, May 27th, so get your entry in before Thursday at 11:59pm!

***THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED***

If you can’t wait (or if you know you will want more than one copy to give away yourself), hop over to Amazon or DrAxe.com and pick up a copy (or two or three or four).

Ready, set, enter the giveaway! Also let me know what you love most about your favorite cookbook.

  1. Greenderella

    May 23, 2011 at 3:41 am

    This book sounds amazing! I just started cutting down a lot on sugar (especially on my candy routine) and white flower and allready feel a lot better. This books seems to have so many great tips and recipes for developing a truely healthy diet. I’ve put it on my Amazon wishlist :-) Thank you for sharing!

  2. stephaniejlin

    May 23, 2011 at 8:09 am

    Count me in; looks like a great cookbook.

  3. Andy B

    May 23, 2011 at 10:33 am

    At first sight it was the spiral binder. Love cookbooks that lay flat. Second was the color pictures. Always necessary to know what the meal will look like.
    Thank you for the chance to win a great cookbook that will help me feed my family healthy food.

  4. Susan R

    May 23, 2011 at 2:48 pm

    Yep, spiral binder is a BIGGIE. Nice. After that would be the color photos. But most of all, I like that it is REAL food for people like us. :)

  5. mozzie

    May 23, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    I have a bad habit of not reading, but I saw that cookie picture, bang…..hooked!!!!

  6. km36749

    May 23, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    I’ve been coveting a copy of this book since I heard Dr. Axe talking about it on the radio. My wife and I are trying to make a conscious move to eat Real Food!!!

  7. Erica

    May 23, 2011 at 4:52 pm

    Fabulous work, I must say, Lori! I’ve had the cookbook since it came out and it’s what I constantly cook from! And just so you know, I have a tiny addiction to your cookies…okay, so it’s not tiny. :) Thank you for all your hard work to this project!

  8. kerry benton

    May 23, 2011 at 6:10 pm

    I’ve tried a few of Dr axes web recipies…love love love the Choc mousse made with avacados
    ..would love to see what else is in the book

  9. REBrown

    May 23, 2011 at 7:08 pm

    I love how it is spiral bound. It always gets on my nerves when cookbooks won’t lay flat!

    This looks like a good one.

  10. Jenni

    May 23, 2011 at 9:51 pm

    Would LOVE to have this book! Just got diagnosed w/ some heart issues and think this would be perfect to help me start my healthy lifestyle!!

  11. Zach

    May 23, 2011 at 9:53 pm

    Love the recipes I’ve seen on Dr. Axe’s website and would like to have this book!

  12. Liz Gerstung

    May 23, 2011 at 10:10 pm

    I love the pictures!!! I am hungry now! :)

  13. Nelly Rodriguez

    May 23, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    Love the spiral on it, it just makes it sooo much easier to cook with! More books should be like this!

  14. ck

    May 23, 2011 at 11:10 pm

    Love the nutrition guide and the easy to follow recipes. Great photography and spiral bound is a plus! Gave the cookbook to my boyfriend at Christmas and now I want one!

  15. cindy

    May 24, 2011 at 8:01 am

    Cook from scratch most of the time and would love a Real Food cookbook for some great ideals…thanx for the chance to win…

  16. laurabray

    May 24, 2011 at 9:24 am

    I love the beautiful photography–it makes the book look very classy; Also, those chocolate chip cookies are my fav and I already want to make those in the picture. yuummmy!

  17. Kait Palmer

    May 24, 2011 at 10:28 am

    I have to say I love that it lays flat! And I’m always down for more real food recipes! (although I have to say Julia Child’s cookbook doesn’t have pics but its still one of the ones I use on a regular basis. Pics would be helpful, though…maybe someone can update it for the 21st century…)

  18. kldlboyd@yahoo.com

    May 24, 2011 at 10:56 am

    Love, love, love the photos. I like to know what the finish product looks like before I make it. My family recently started to eat healthier but I’ve struggled to find a simple and quick HEALTHY cookbook. This looks like the one!

    1. CoachAimee

      May 24, 2011 at 2:10 pm

      This cover is great because it has a good looking man with some good looking food!! Need I say more!!! I love all his recipes and advice!!!

  19. Kristin

    May 24, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    I’ve been wanting Dr. Josh Axe’s cookbook since it first came out, but unfortunately I don’t have the money to spend on it at the moment. I love all information he includes in the cookbook (like advice about getting rid of plastic food containers), the color photos, and how healthy and easy all the recipes seem to be! I’ve tried one recipe he has on his website and it was wonderful, so I’d love to be able to have the cookbook and try all the recipes!

  20. 19amy82

    May 24, 2011 at 5:15 pm

    I would love to win this book! I have changed the way I eat- avoid processed foods, make things from scratch, even have a nice garden going.
    It’s amazing that even some of the “healthier” cookbooks still include “fake foods” in their recipes! I would love this book because he truly keeps it real! I love his website, and his message. It’s truly life changing! Winning this book would just be fantastic because it would let me spend the money I would be spending on the book towards the foods I need to try out the recipes! :) Thanks for holding this contest!

  21. Corrie

    May 24, 2011 at 8:23 pm

    Would love to win this….I have started on my journey of losing 40 kg using real food (I have lost 12 so far) and this book would be a real asset to my library….I have become passionate about cooking with food the way it was intended for our bodies to be eaten and enjoying how good real food tastes with very little help! Love the full page photos!! We often eat with our eyes first I believe!

  22. Jackie

    May 25, 2011 at 11:22 am

    I like that the cookbook includes the recipes he demonstrates on his website. My big brother turned me on to Josh’s recipes a while back and I’ve tried a handful of them and like them all (especially the Florentine omelet and the zucchini skillet). I’m looking forward to trying the rest! [crossing my fingers]

  23. Andy B

    May 25, 2011 at 2:09 pm

    I have tried different ways to help my husband lose weight but nothing has worked.
    I hope this will do it.
    Thank you,
    Andrea

  24. Rachael W

    May 25, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    I would love this cookbook! I’m new to whole foods and raw foods and have been taking baby steps, but am learning pretty much on my own, and from sites like yours!!

  25. SuzieQ

    May 27, 2011 at 4:20 pm

    Not new to healthy eating entirely, but after watching the documentaries Food Matters, Food Inc. and King Korn, I am more convinced then ever that whole, organic, raw roods and vitamins are the way to go. Cooperate farm practices are giving us chemically laden food without nourishment. I’d love to have recipes that nourish and taste good.

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