Get Waisted Book Review, Vegan Cookbook Reviews, Tested Vegan Recipes

Get Waisted 100 Addictively Delicious Plant-Based Entrees, Mary Wendt, MD & Tess Challis (Doctor Doctor Press, 2013)

If your New Year’s resolutions include losing weight or eating healthier, let me be the first to congratulate you on finding the perfect cookbook. I stumbled upon it quite by accident and am so happy I did! Get Waisted 100 Addictively Delicious Plant-Based Entrees by Mary Wendt, MD and Tess Challis (Doctor Doctor Press, 2013) is proof positive that you can satisfy your desire for abundant flavor while promoting permanent weight loss and vibrant health.

Tess Challis is an author, wellness coach and plant-based chef. Mary Wendt is a physician who practices internal medicine. The two met at one of Tess’ cooking classes and soon realized they shared a common vision for a plant-based holistic alternative to Weight Watchers. The good doctor and the vegan chef -- both of whom battled weight problems at one time -- teamed up in 2012 to start the Get Waisted program. This remarkable plant-based weight-loss program offers online and community support. The Get Waisted 100 Addictively Delicious Plant-Based Entrees cookbook is one of several books offered as a result of the partnering of Dr. Mary and Chef Tess and one of the best healthy eating cookbooks found anywhere. So far, I’ve made over a third of the recipes in the book and I would want to eat Tess’ food even if it was not healthy. The fact that it is healthy makes this a very special cookbook indeeed.

Tess’ recipes incorporate fresh ingredients that are easily adaptable to those people typically have on hand. While many cookbooks require a laundry list of ingredients and/or lengthy prep time, Tess’ recipes are practical for busy people who want healthy food with lots of delicious flavor. With few exceptions, the recipes are all very easy to prepare.

According to Tess Challis, reader favorites include Chicky Baby Seasoning, which is used in a number of recipes in the book, Thai Red Curry Noodles, and Black-eyed Peas & Kale. My favorites include the Asian Vegetable Pancakes (which I enjoy most mornings during the week) and Tess’ Hearty Chili. Also don’t miss the Garlic Veggie Noodle Bowl or Chicky Burgers. I typically prepare the Chicky Burgers in advance and keep the mixture in the refrigerator so a quick and delicious meal is always readily available.

Tess Challis believes that weight loss and health “should be joyful and fun, never boring and tasteless”. With the recipes in Get Waisted, eating healthy and losing weight will never be tasteless or boring. Thanks Chef Tess and Dr. Mary!

Kris Giovanini

1/7/2015

Hearty Vegan Chili from Get Waisted 100 Addictively Delicious Plant-Based Entrees

2 T olive oil
2 small-medium onions, chopped
2 cups tempeh, crumbled
2 cups liquid vegetarian broth (vegetable or vegetarian “chicken”)
2 cans (15 oz. each) red kidney or pinto beans, with juice (not drained)
2 cans (14.5 oz. each) diced tomatoes, with juice (not drained)
6 tablespoons chili powder (a blended chili powder mix, not ground chilies)
¼ cup tamari, shoyu, or soy sauce
10 (yes, ten!) medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 tablespoons EACH: agave nectar and balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons sea salt

1. Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, sauté the onions and tempeh in the oil until the onions begin to soften. If necessary, add a little of the broth to prevent sticking.

2. Add everything else (except for the salt) and stir well to combine.

3. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring often, until the mixture is thick and the

For more information on the Get Waisted online/community support weight-loss program go to http://getwaisted.com/?affiliates=28#sthash.NAI1gECC.dpuf