COOKING FOR NOW

Simply Laura Lea

By Laura Lea Bryant

Healthy, everyday home cooking should be easy and accessible, delicious and fun. That is at the heart of certified holistic chef Laura Lea Bryant’s approach to food. She first presented it in The Laura Lea Balanced Cookbook and builds on that foundation in her latest, Simply Laura Lea. Through her stories, recipes, and stunning photography, Bryant leads you through the preparation of 130 creative, nutritious dishes. She outlines how to stock your pantry with nutrient-dense staples (avocado oil, farro, and coffee are new to her list of must-haves), and gives tips on best use of kitchen equipment. (Hello, Instant Pot!)

Originally from Nashville, Bryant began her culinary journey more than 10 years ago when she was working in Manhattan. Overworked and undernourished, Bryant relied on a late-night partying lifestyle to relieve stress. Instead, she was becoming apprehensive and spiritless. Desiring change, she began staying at home and cooking for herself. On a tight budget, she bought beans and whole grains from the grocery and fresh vegetables from the farmers’ market. Lean meats, fish, poultry, and eggs figured into her menu planning, more as supporting ingredients rather than centerpieces. Over time, her results were steady and dramatic. In regaining vitality, she awakened her passion. She enrolled in the National Gourmet Institute, which focuses on health-supported cooking. After getting her certification, she returned to Nashville to launch LL Balanced to help individuals and corporations meet their wellness goals.

“What I try to do is meet people where they are,”