Sooo… as you have probably realized, I’m not a certified Chef, Nutritionist, Doctor or Farmer. Just a diligent foodie determined to educate others on my findings.  With that said, I have many go-to books and advisors that help sate my thirst for food knowledge (ha, wasn’t that punny?).  Below you will find an ever growing list of books and people that I constantly rely on (but that doesn’t mean you should cut out the middle woman, me!). Although short now, I hope to add a ton of new suggestions soon!

1. YOU: The Owner’s Manual: An Insider’s Guide to the Body that Will Make You Healthier and Younger
By Mehmet C. Oz (aka Dr. Oz) and Michael F. Roizen

I love this book because it provides a comprehensive guide to the major organs and functions of the human body using language and visuals anyone can understand. It also provides eating and excersize suggestions that target specific organs and ailments. More than anything, it stresses the power of food in an overly medicated (and clueless) society. Don’t miss the the reference sections in the back for daily, weekly and even monthly food and exercise plans!

2. A Field Guide to Buying Organic
By Luddene Perry and Dan Schultz

In a world where the term “organic” is garnering more and more attention, this book arms you with the facts you need to navigating the farmer’s markets and grocery stores.  It provides label references to help you decipher what is fully organic, partially organic or not really organic at all, despite the “organic” label. The book also gives suggestions on what products are worth the often higher priced organic version, and what products you can get away with buying non-organic and still be healthy. Take this pocket size guide with you when grocery shopping and have more confidence in your choices.

3. Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual
By Michael Pollan

This quick read provides you with a short and simple guide for what and how to eat.  With each tip only a page or so long, it makes for a uncomplicated and common sense set of rules in a world packed with complicated diets and advice.  This book provides the basic points and summaries of his longer works “In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto” and “The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals“, which came highly recommended, but were unavailable at the airport where I was browsing.  Make no mistake- I will be buying both of those at my next trip to the bookstore, but “Food Rules” is a great basis for understanding Pollan’s take on eating and food. (Thanks, Brittany!)

4. Alton Brown (duh!)

My secret to everything from the greatest Thanksgiving Turkey to Pickled Okra… I love him not so much for his recipes, but for his explanations. He makes it easy to understand the chemistry and history behind cooking, therefore making it easier to cook great food, with or without a recipe. He makes sure you not only know how to do something, but why it works, which is great when in need of a subsitution for a missing ingredient or when writing your own recipes. All Hail Alton.