When I was younger, I would go days without eating a fruit or vegetable.
My parents tried, they really did.
They made home cooked meals and encouraged me and my sisters to take care of ourselves.
But I just wanted grilled cheese sandwiches and instant noodles.
And when I got older and started studying nutrition in uni, I started to care more about what I was putting in my body.
I wanted to eat better.
And so I did.
But before long that shifted into, I want to eat cleaner.
And so food became something to control, like something to perfect.
And it all stopped feeling simple.
It just felt like pressure.
And I know I'm not alone in that, because one thing I've seen, both professionally and online, is how quickly the desire to eat better can turn into guilt and a list of food rules.
But over time, I started to see food differently.
Yes, as nutrition and nourishment absolutely, but also as comfort, as connection, as creativity and something that can nourish more than one part of us.
And so I found joy in cooking for the first time in my life.
The kitchen became my happy place.
And my hope has always been to share food in that way.
No extremes, no guilt, no counting anything. really good food that feels welcoming and full of life.
Essentially to remind people that nourishment is not just about what's on the plate, but it's also how it makes us feel.
And that hope is what led to this.
So this is our debut cookbook.
This is so surreal.
I can't even believe I'm saying this right now.
This is actually also not our cookbook, obviously.
This is just the cover of the cookbook on a foam board.
The actual cookbook comes out later this year.
And in fact we even have A bigger version of the cover.
Just didn't fit in the bike basket, but this is all thanks to you.
I have been making videos on YouTube now for almost 10 years, and every time I post a recipe video or a nutrition video, the question I get asked more than any other is when are you coming out with a cookbook?
And I'm always like, I hope one day.
Well, now that day is here.
We have a cookbook.
So I've been working on this cookbook for more than two years now.
And let me tell you, even though we make recipes all the time here at Pickup Limes, it's nothing compared to writing a cookbook.
This is something else entirely.
This is such a labor of love.
And I do want to say that, even though it's my name on the cover.
I'm so grateful to all the amazing people that have helped me to achieve this dream.
I'm so proud of this.
I love it so much.
And I hope you do too.
So let me tell you more about it.
It's called Simply Plants.
And my only hope with this book is that it encourages and helps people eat and enjoy more plants and to feel good while doing it.
So inside you're gonna find some of our best recipes.
Like for the last six years since I've known that I want to do this, I have been tucking away the best recipes that we've been making to put in here, and you're gonna love them.
They're approachable, simple recipes that use everyday, easy to find ingredients.
These are recipes you're going to want to make again and again, whether you're plant-based or not, whether you're making it for yourself or for other people to show them how amazing plant-based food can be.
And as always too, it follows our ethos, our philosophy here at Pick Up Limes, which is no extremes, no guilt, simply plants.
The cookbook comes out in October, but it's available for pre-order right now.
I'm going to leave the links for you in the description box below, and it is going to be available globally.
And one thing I want to share that I didn't know, in case you didn't know too, is that pre-orders are exceptionally important for authors, because it essentially tells bookstores and retailers hey, there's interest and demand in this book, and so they print it and stock it and that helps it get into the hands of more people.
So if you think you might be interested in getting this book, pre-ordering it right now really helps to show your support.
And be sure to keep your receipt too, because we're going to be sharing some fun pre-order gifts down the line.
And I also want to say thank you to you.
Genuinely, thank you so much.
If it weren't for you guys making our recipes, leaving comments expressing interest in a cookbook like this, I don't think we would have had the opportunity to work with a publisher on a project like this.
So, from the bottom of my heart, I just want to say thank you so much, and I'm so excited for you to hold this cookbook in your hands.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
