Wendy Cook lays out a remarkable cornucopia of ideas, advice, and commentary informed by the seminal work of Rudolf Steiner. She beings the volume with biographical glimpses relating to her experience of food and how it has influenced her life. She tend presents an extraordinary perspective on the journal of human evolution, relating it to changes in consciousness and the consumption of different foods. In the following section, she considers the importance of agricultural methods, the nature of the human being, the significance of grasses and grains, the mystery of human digestion, and the question of vegetarianism. In the next section she analyzes the “building blocks” of nutrition, looking some detail at the nutritional (or otherwise) qualities of many foodstuffs, including carbohydrates, minerals, fats and oils, milk and dairy products, herbs and spices, salt and sweeteners, stimulants, legumes, the nightshade family, bread, water, and dietary supplements. She ends with practical tips on cooking, planning menus, children’s food, sharing meals, and some mouth-watering recipes.

Foodwise presents a treasure of wisdom and experience for anybody with a concern for the content of the food they eat or a desire to discover more about the physical, soul, and spiritual aspects of nutrition.

Reviews: “At last here is a book which tells you the whole truth about food! Wendy Cook has brought together an astonishing ensemble of history, culture, aesthetics and recipes related to food. It is a book which unites taste and transcendence.” (Satish Kumar, editor, Resurgence)

Author Bio: Wendy E. Cook studied art at Cambridge where she met the comedian Peter Cook and later became his wife. She soon gained a reputation as a hostess at their London and New York homes; her guests were as likely to include John Lennon and Paul McCartney as Bernard Levin and Peter Ustinov. When their daughter Daisy became ill with asthma, Wendy began a journey of discovery that included complementary treatments and alternative philosophies. She studied many disciplines, including Rudolf Steiner’s approach to nutrition and agriculture. Having seen how life-changing nutrition can be, she devoted herself to cooking and teaching in clinics, communities, and schools.

Author: Wendy E. Cook
Paperback: 338 pages
Illustrations: Black and white photos and drawings
Publisher: Clairview (2003)
Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.9 inches