My ears perked up at Dr Vora’s explanation of her term “false anxiety.” It’s a polarizing way to define the physical and environmental factors that contribute to a likeness of anxiety, rather than a pure chemical imbalance. This is not an easy line to toe and I read her book with some hesitation.

What I loved was how she was able to hold multiple truths of an experience with anxiety at the same time while challenging the ways we’ve treated mental illness in Western medicine. It reflects her unique experience and training, both as a licensed psychiatrist and functional medicine expert.

It’s full of not only recipes but also very actionable tips for being more resourceful in the kitchen (including a section on different ways to cook with common ingredients). I’ve found it so helpful for cooking things on the fly. This book has helped me become more creative in the kitchen and even more excited to cook.