Crawls Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I want to get a cookbook to try out some W30 recipes, I'm on day 16 and my 'regular' options are getting stale. The Well Fed series seems to be the one with the most recommendations. Of the two books, which do you prefer? Is the second one more advanced than the first? Or does it just contain additional recipes? Thanks for the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetieBsMom Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I have both and I liked Well Fed better. I don't think Well Fed 2 is more advanced, just more recipes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jent103 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I have both, and definitely recommend both. But if you pick one, I'd pick Well Fed 2 mainly because it's bigger (more recipes, plus tons of variations on several), it includes some of the basic info and recipes (mayo, for example) from Well Fed, and a lot of the recipes from Well Fed are on Mel's blog at this point, since it's been several years since Well Fed was published. I also love Michelle Tam's cookbook Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans. I cook out of all three pretty much every week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators ultrarunnergirl Posted February 12, 2014 Moderators Share Posted February 12, 2014 What a tough question to answer! I loved Well Fed in part because it made my first whole30 amazing, tasty, and a culinary adventure. I'd say it really covers some great fundamentals (and not just for "newbie" cooks), new flavors, and maybe best of all it outlines the "Weekly Cookup" - the fastest most efficient way to prep most of your food for the week in short order. I have Well Fed 2 and adore it as well. Some really incredible recipes just like the original. If I HAD to choose, I guess it would be the first, because I have more recipes that are go-to for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
look_alive Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I had a hard time deciding which to get, so I purchased them both from Amazon for about $30 total just this week. (If you buy them both, you can get free shipping!)They are both FANTASTIC. I'm a cookbook lover. I read them like novels (literally) from cover to cover, and both of the Well Fed books are at the top of my list. I'd just plan to get both. If they both aren't in your budget at the moment, get the first one now and the second one next month. Once you see one, you will instantly want the other one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJB Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I prefer the 1st. Many of the recipes in the 2nd book just seem too odd or "exotic" for me, I don't know. There are probably 4-5 recipes in the 1st book that I make on a regular basis. I haven't even been terribly motivated to try any in the 2nd book just yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharon Simpson Thumann Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I have Well Fed and just use Amazon Prime to borrow WF2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crawls Posted February 12, 2014 Author Share Posted February 12, 2014 Thanks for all the recommendations everyone, I appreciate the responses! I'm going to order the first one and see how I like it. Knowing me, the second one will follow shortly thereafter. Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiggle Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 I have the first one and I love the pad thai recipe and bora bora meatballs. The chocolate chili was good but I felt it needed more vegetables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crawls Posted February 18, 2014 Author Share Posted February 18, 2014 Just a quick update - I made two recipes so far, the Citrus Carnitas (AMAZING!) and the Greek Broccoli - really good too, I actually threw in some extra veggies and think next time I'd skip the tomato paste, the herbs and garlic were really all it needed. Planning to try the Pad Thai, Garlic-Lime Shrimp and the Bora Bora fireballs this week. Thanks again for the recommendations, this was just the boost I needed! Day 23 and going strong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJB Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Pad Thai is fantastic. I also love the Shepherd's Pie, and I make the Eggplant and Sausage Striata with zucchini instead...awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
**Ann** Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Is Well Fed full of Whole 30 compliant, or do they need modifications? It was on my Amazon wishlist for me. I google most of my recipes, so I don't tend to buy cookbooks anymore (rather bookmark the recipe). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jent103 Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Almost all the recipes in both Well Fed and Well Fed 2 are Whole30 compliant. There are three or four combined in the two that aren't, and they're clearly marked (I think a fruit crisp, banana ice cream and sweet potato waffles). Well Fed 2 also includes a list of modifications to make the recipes compliant with the autoimmune protocol, for those who need to do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dfroehlich Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 I have both, but have cooked more out of Well Fed. I love Mel's spice mixes! I use them in a lot of different recipes. My favorite recipe in Well Fed is Meatza! I'd eat that every week! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crawls Posted February 25, 2014 Author Share Posted February 25, 2014 Thanks for a great discussion everyone! Day 30 and SO excited to have made it! Well Fed was a definite boost over the last week, I ended up making the Pad Thai (good, but even better the second day after the sauce really soaked into the squash), Garlic Lime Shrimp (my favorite), Bora Bora Fireballs (user error - I did not drain the pineapple as well as I should have and they were a soggy mess but tasted good), Eggplant Strata and the Zucchini Aglio et Olio (together these were SO GOOD). I'm going to keep cooking out of the book as I attempt some re-introduction over the next couple of weeks and just off-road here and there. Thanks again for the recommendations, Well Fed was an excellent book and it definitely helped break me out of a rut and finish the 30 days strong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauraashley Posted February 25, 2014 Share Posted February 25, 2014 I spent an arm and a leg buying both these books at once, but I do not regret it at all. There are so many different receipes in both, I am exctied to cook everything. I took receipes out of each one for this weeks meals. I would say, if you can afford it, to buy both of them ... you will be happy you did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janie2577 Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 I bought both of these books while I was still reading ISWF, WellFed2 has more recipes than the first but they are both worthy. I've tried many recipes in both books and Melissa really takes it to the next level - the food is GOOD!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toriellie Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 My first W30, I mostly made meals of ingredients, not recipes - a meat, a couple veggies, maybe a salad. I had my 80 year old father-in-law living with me at the time and I just wasn't up for cooking two separate meals, so I made un-fancy things that he would eat. It was actually easier for me that way, and a lot fewer dishes than the food I had been cooking prior to the W30. :-) Having said that, I have been buying paleo cookbooks over the last year and have made several recipes, especially during the W30 I just completed. Nom Nom Paleo is my favorite - The recipes are quick and easy and yummy! The immersion blender mayo, the salmon cakes, the Korean ribs, the kalua pig... all so very yummy! I think this book is more kid-friendly. I'd say her recipes are more American food with an Asian slant. I prefer Well Fed 2 to Well Fed. I haven't made as many recipes, but I really like those I have made. I made the Japanese Gyoza Meatballs the other day and they were fabulous! Melissa's recipes tend to be much more uniquely spiced. While I do like them, I like to cook for leftovers and I don't usually care to have the same flavors two days in a row. I like her recipe for zoodles too. If you don't mind eating the same flavors for leftovers, or if you don't cook for leftovers, Well Fed is great - her recipes are definitely not boring, American food. If I want lots of ethnic spices and flavor, Melissa's recipes are definitely a go-to. I have also found several recipes in The Ancestral Table (lemongrass pork chops - mmmmmm) and Practical Paleo that I like, and Make it Paleo as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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