Product Description

Wendy Cook’s fascination with nutrition began during her war-time childhood. In the midst of deprivation and food-rationing, the rich abundance of her mother’s organic garden made a profound impression. In her twenties, married to Peter Cook, she discovered the artistic and magical effects that food could have in creating a convivial atmosphere. During this period she cooked for many well-known names, including John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Dudley Moore, Peter Ustinov and Allan Bennett. But it was only later, through her daughter falling ill, that she came to study and understand deeper aspects of nutrition, and in particular the effects of different foods on human health and consciousness.

In Foodwise Wendy Cook presents a remarkable cornucopia of challenging ideas, advice and commentary, informed by the seminal work of the scientist Rudolf Steiner. She begins the volume with biographical glimpses relating to her experience of food and how it has influenced her life. She then presents an extraordinary perspective on the journey 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 analyses the ‘building blocks’ of nutrition, looking in 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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #238138 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Satish Kumar, editor of Resurgence
‘At last here is a book which tells you the whole truth about food! ... It is a book which unites taste and transcendence.’

Elisabeth Luard, author of Sacred Food
‘A rich and sensitive philosophical exploration... A how-to-book with difference - it tells you how to live.’

Professor Tim Lang, City University
‘A great testament to one person’s struggle to bring meaning to food’

Customer Reviews

A new perspective on food that needs to be heard
I was mightily impressed by this book. Wendy Cook - yes, the first wife of comedian Peter Cook - has certainly done huge amounts of homework to present a seemingly all-encompassing view of food, from how it is grown to how it is cooked. You could say this is a green, organic perspective - but it is much more than that. Wendy delves into the spiritual background of food: what it is, how it affects us, the significance of different types of food, etc. This goes far beyond the standard 'alternative' received wisdom about food, i.e. vitamins etc., to esoteric perspectives. I reccommend this book. Whatever your approach, I'm sure you will get a lot from it.