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Food, Health and Happiness: 115 On-Point Recipes for Great Meals and a Better Life
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Food & Cookbooks (2017)Oprah’s favorite meals; a stunning four-color cookbook featuring 100 delicious and healthy recipes.
Oprah Winfrey will be the first to tell you, she has had a complicated relationship with food. It’s been both a source of delight and comfort for her, but also the cause of an ongoing struggle with her weight. In Food, Health, and Happiness , Oprah shares the recipes that have allowed eating to finally be joyful for her. With dishes created and prepared alongside her favorite chefs, paired with personal essays and memories from Oprah herself, this cookbook offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look into the life (and kitchen!) of one of the most influential and respected celebrities in the world.
Delicious, healthy, and easy to prepare, these are the recipes Oprah most loves to make at home and share with friends and family. From simple pleasures like Unfried Chicken and Turkey Chili, to such celebrations of freshness as Tuscan Kale and Apple Salad and Pasta Primavera, this is food as it should a taste of happiness, a ritual to be shared, a toast to life.
Oprah Winfrey will be the first to tell you, she has had a complicated relationship with food. It’s been both a source of delight and comfort for her, but also the cause of an ongoing struggle with her weight. In Food, Health, and Happiness , Oprah shares the recipes that have allowed eating to finally be joyful for her. With dishes created and prepared alongside her favorite chefs, paired with personal essays and memories from Oprah herself, this cookbook offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look into the life (and kitchen!) of one of the most influential and respected celebrities in the world.
Delicious, healthy, and easy to prepare, these are the recipes Oprah most loves to make at home and share with friends and family. From simple pleasures like Unfried Chicken and Turkey Chili, to such celebrations of freshness as Tuscan Kale and Apple Salad and Pasta Primavera, this is food as it should a taste of happiness, a ritual to be shared, a toast to life.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 3, 2017
About the author
Oprah Winfrey
112 books5,139 followersAs the visionary and leader behind OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and formerly the supervising producer and host of the top-rated, award-winning “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” Oprah has entertained and inspired millions of viewers to live their best lives. Her accomplishments as a global media leader and philanthropist have established her as one of the most respected and admired public figures today.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
May 12, 2017
I like the idea of a healthier way of cooking, but for me some of the recipes just had ingredients that were a little hard to come by and some I know wouldn't be cheap, I tend to substitute certain ingredients for items that are too costly. But why do some these healthier celebrity cookbooks tend to call for items listed like this when the average joe just wants a good cookbook with accessible/ reasonable ingredients without having to run to a specialty shop? I liked some of the recipes in this book, but not enough to buy it, glad my library had it.
March 25, 2017
The food looks divine (and is honestly pretty similar to how we eat now, minus Oprah's love of truffle salt), but cooking these recipes everyday is a bit unrealistic. Most of them have 15-20 ingredients, at least, and not all of us can make that happen in the kitchen each night. Also, how much did Weight Watchers pay her to write this book? They are ALL over it.
February 6, 2017
I enjoyed reading Oprah's story as I can totally relate. Lifetime WW and know it's not a diet but a commitment to self-care and understanding why you turn to food. That said, not sure there's one recipe I will try except maybe the turkey lasagna. All seem too complicated and not down to earth for most people.
January 22, 2018
One more reason to love Oprah. Her book teaches us to find peace with ourselves and our bodies and learn to eat with joy.
March 17, 2017
A cookbook that will feed you both physically and spiritually. Oprah tells all about her struggles with her weight and yo-yo dieting.
Many of the recipes are more involved than I want, but they do look good. So glad Oprah is a part of Weight Watchers.
Many of the recipes are more involved than I want, but they do look good. So glad Oprah is a part of Weight Watchers.
November 18, 2017
Really good one! Made 6 things in a row that turned out great.
January 13, 2019
Great recipes and love the stories behind them. Have tried several and particularly like her chicken dishes.
March 31, 2017
Her advice and the bits about her life are interesting and inspirational, but the food that she chooses for weight loss is not something that most people can afford. Truffle oil and imported fish are both expensive, as are some of the vegetables she discusses. A few items from the soup and chicken courses could be doable, but many of the dessert recipes require specialized equipment that is not reasonable for most of her readers. Also, personal trainers aren't really an option for most of us- wish that they were though!
November 15, 2017
The coherence and theme of this cookbook was so well done. I loved the personal information throughout and how Oprah used GOOD, healthy food to turn around her diet. I think that many of us want to be better in this area, so it was nice to see a cookbook that looked to great recipes about healthy eating, not just losing weight. In the end, we want to feel better every day, not just look better.
February 2, 2017
Oprah is an inspiration to many but I find her recipes with too many ingredients. I am glad I did not pay for this book.
March 13, 2017
The dishes look great, but the ingredient lists are too long for my taste. Let's be honest, if we get past 6 ingredients I'm usually out.
April 3, 2017
I enjoyed Oprah's personal essays throughout the book and the recipes seem doable and look pretty tasty. Haven't tried any, however.
November 30, 2017
I liked reading about Oprah's experiences with weight loss as she is using the same program (Weight Watchers) that I am. I did WW years ago and got to my goal weight but life - in the form of several major setbacks from the death of a beloved grandmother to the cancer diagnosis of my daughter - had other ideas. I gained lots of weight during my daughter's battle versus cancer. After her death, the depression that followed did not help. About a year later, at the heaviest I've ever weighed I turned back to WW and had tried off and on for several years to lose weight. It wasn't until the latest program that I started in January 2016 that I was able to lose almost 65 pounds over about 18 months. So I enjoyed her insights and the recipes were interesting, too. Most of them were immensely impractical - well, unless you have enormous amounts of free time or a personal chef - but there were several that looked doable enough that I will be trying them out:
Red Pepper, Sausage & Fennel Soup
Mulligatawny Soup
Turkey Chili
Chicken Tikka Masala
Quotes to remember:
When you know better, you do better.
You have to be willing to give yourself the best care you can, every day.
Red Pepper, Sausage & Fennel Soup
Mulligatawny Soup
Turkey Chili
Chicken Tikka Masala
Quotes to remember:
When you know better, you do better.
You have to be willing to give yourself the best care you can, every day.
June 30, 2017
I really wanted to like this cookbook. I really tried to like this cookbook but after being disappointed multiple times I finally came to the sad realization that these recipes were not for me.
One star is for the sections containing inspirational stories about Oprah's struggle with food and dieting. These were wonderful to read and I found many of the things she said relatable. One star is for the recipes that I did like.
The recipes I enjoyed the most were Spicy Bean and Collard Greens Soup, Turkey Chili, and Turkey Meatloaf. I felt both of these were fairly easy to make and the ingredients were affordable and easily sourced, with the exception of the dried chiles as these may be more difficult to locally source for some people.
The Chicken Tikka Masala was very good but felt fussier than it should have, and for that reason I put that recipe into the "good, but..." column. Also in that column is the Penne Pasta with Chicken, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Basil.
Sadly there were recipes that elicited a response of pure disappointment. These were the Kale and Farro Soup (just blah), My Smothered Chicken (very one dimensionally spicy), Art Smith's Unfried Chicken (again, one dimensional with the heat), and the Barbecue Chicken (which was somewhere between ok and meh).
There is a salad section that I did not cook from, and to be honest felt no desire to cook from. The pictures looked lovely but after so many meh and blah experiences I just couldn't justify the time and energy to be disappointed again.
One star is for the sections containing inspirational stories about Oprah's struggle with food and dieting. These were wonderful to read and I found many of the things she said relatable. One star is for the recipes that I did like.
The recipes I enjoyed the most were Spicy Bean and Collard Greens Soup, Turkey Chili, and Turkey Meatloaf. I felt both of these were fairly easy to make and the ingredients were affordable and easily sourced, with the exception of the dried chiles as these may be more difficult to locally source for some people.
The Chicken Tikka Masala was very good but felt fussier than it should have, and for that reason I put that recipe into the "good, but..." column. Also in that column is the Penne Pasta with Chicken, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Basil.
Sadly there were recipes that elicited a response of pure disappointment. These were the Kale and Farro Soup (just blah), My Smothered Chicken (very one dimensionally spicy), Art Smith's Unfried Chicken (again, one dimensional with the heat), and the Barbecue Chicken (which was somewhere between ok and meh).
There is a salad section that I did not cook from, and to be honest felt no desire to cook from. The pictures looked lovely but after so many meh and blah experiences I just couldn't justify the time and energy to be disappointed again.
August 6, 2018
A couple of years ago, I saw Oprah on the morning talk show, Live with Kelly. During her interview, they discussed food and she shared, "I LOVE bread!" Ever since that moment, I discovered a new perspective and appreciation for this former talk show host.
I spent a lot of time looking at this book as Oprah Winfrey is a HUGE supporter of Weight Watchers. Besides prep time, cook time, # of servings, and calories, Winfrey also includes the SmartPoints value for each of her recipes.
Throughout the book, Winfrey also shares tidbits about her opinions of a recipe or the main ingredient in the recipe, etc. There is also information about her life and pics of herself through the years. Personally, I think Winfrey looks the best she ever has and I appreciate the info. that she shared in this book!
Very Good!
I spent a lot of time looking at this book as Oprah Winfrey is a HUGE supporter of Weight Watchers. Besides prep time, cook time, # of servings, and calories, Winfrey also includes the SmartPoints value for each of her recipes.
Throughout the book, Winfrey also shares tidbits about her opinions of a recipe or the main ingredient in the recipe, etc. There is also information about her life and pics of herself through the years. Personally, I think Winfrey looks the best she ever has and I appreciate the info. that she shared in this book!
Very Good!
October 3, 2019
I loved her truth with weight and trying to lose it. Reality: diets are temporary, not the definite solution and best when we have willpower. Moreover, you have to find balance and satisfaction with good without declaring war. The key is change the way you think, not just about food, but your whole life. [This will surely help, and hearing it again and again. ]
Beautiful pics, sharing her youth, adulthood, trials and triumphs.
Sheer discipline. Her 40th birthday she ran a marathon.
Regardless of touching and moving moments, the recipes do not seem doable for me Except a few that i marked like a green smoothie, opened potato with broccoli, etc. Many foods never bought or knew anything about... not many substitutes would help. 📸📷
3 stars at its best.
Beautiful pics, sharing her youth, adulthood, trials and triumphs.
Sheer discipline. Her 40th birthday she ran a marathon.
Regardless of touching and moving moments, the recipes do not seem doable for me Except a few that i marked like a green smoothie, opened potato with broccoli, etc. Many foods never bought or knew anything about... not many substitutes would help. 📸📷
3 stars at its best.
February 5, 2017
I've loved all things Oprah for what seams like my entire life. Oprah introduced me to new gadgets, new ways of living, and helped me see a better way of being. This book is a continuation of that learning.
This book is a memoir and a cook book. I mostly bought it for the memoir, but was pleasantly surprised with the recipes. Whether you are counting points with Weight Watchers or looking to eat better, the recipes in this book will not disappoint. Oprah's taste for spice is a bit higher than my own, but I can work with the variety of recipes in this book. I love that she has included some of her favourite kitchen gadgets and tells us why she loves them. I am looking forward to trying out some of the recipes in this book.
Whether you are interested in knowing more about Oprah's life and struggle with food or looking for a Weight Watcher's friendly dietary make over, this book is well worth having.
This book is a memoir and a cook book. I mostly bought it for the memoir, but was pleasantly surprised with the recipes. Whether you are counting points with Weight Watchers or looking to eat better, the recipes in this book will not disappoint. Oprah's taste for spice is a bit higher than my own, but I can work with the variety of recipes in this book. I love that she has included some of her favourite kitchen gadgets and tells us why she loves them. I am looking forward to trying out some of the recipes in this book.
Whether you are interested in knowing more about Oprah's life and struggle with food or looking for a Weight Watcher's friendly dietary make over, this book is well worth having.
September 27, 2019
This is a very well written book with excellent photos and layout. I liked the text and photos better than the recipes. There were only 3 or so I thought I might make.
February 6, 2017
I wasn't really sure what to expect with this cookbook, but I always liked Oprah so I figured I'd check it out. I really liked it. She focuses on fresh, seasonal ingredients and while she does mention Weight Watchers and "points" it isn't the focus of the whole book, which I liked. Each section had an introduction from Oprah about her struggles with food and weight followed by recipes. The book is divided into non-traditional sections - one all about soup, one all about greens, one more international recipes, etc. There were quite a few recipes I'd like to try and overall the book was beautiful. I saw that some of the other reviews complained that the recipes were too complicated or called for too many ingredients. Looking back she does call for a lot of herbs and spices, but other than fresh herbs I would think most people would have most of them. Maybe it's just the way I'm already cooking, but this is what cooking from scratch entails - planning ahead. Of course it also helps if you have a garden in the summer to pull from as well (lots of pictures of Oprah in her gardens). Overall, if you like whole food, scratch cooking this would be a great cookbook for you.
March 15, 2017
I'm not sure this book is worth buying. If your library has it, check it out from there first to see if you find anything to your liking. I don't think there is one recipe that I would make. Don't get me wrong, they sound as if they would taste ok -- but I don't have truffle oil or truffles in my pantry. The stories of her struggles with her weight are interesting, but her accomplishments are easier done when you have professional chefs, trainers etc. at your beck and call. The photos are beautiful. If you are interested in the Weight Watchers program, I would suggest you get a dedicated WW cookbook instead of this one.
February 6, 2017
This is s cookbook with true Oprah flair. She opens up about her life, her food experiences and how she has changed her relationship with food. The photos, handwritten notes and personal stories make this book truly noteworthy. Thanks Oprah for making me love your take on life even more.
February 21, 2017
Interesting to read about how Oprah has come to terms with her weight. However, with most recipes requiring things that don't normally live on my pantry shelves and other recipes calling for fifteen or more ingredients, I won't be cooking any of them soon.
April 13, 2017
If you're a HUGE Oprah Winfrey fan, you might like this book. It has a handful of recipes worth trying. But most of us don't eat like Oprah. It's worth a browse, but not worth purchasing.
December 14, 2017
This book is sold at Weight Watchers locations and the Simply Points values for each recipe are included. The nutritional values are also printed with the recipes. That said, this is an Oprah Winfrey book and not so much a Weight Watchers book. It still works with the program. Oprah offers some full-fat and calorie versions of her favorite comfort dishes, along with a skinnied down version, a few times.
This is a quality book with beautiful photographs. Nothing heavy here from Oprah - her insights about flavor, food and her relationships with both are lighthearted. But be aware she is not light with chili peppers! Most mortals will need to adjust the spice level and add more at the table just to be safe. My only criticism of the book is that some of the recipes are too complex and some of them call for ingredients that are not readily available. I have never seen a morel mushroom in my life and do not expect to any time soon! There are enough kicked up mainstream recipes, though. The soups, stews and salads have eye and taste appeal. A good book if you are a Weight Watcher or not.
This is a quality book with beautiful photographs. Nothing heavy here from Oprah - her insights about flavor, food and her relationships with both are lighthearted. But be aware she is not light with chili peppers! Most mortals will need to adjust the spice level and add more at the table just to be safe. My only criticism of the book is that some of the recipes are too complex and some of them call for ingredients that are not readily available. I have never seen a morel mushroom in my life and do not expect to any time soon! There are enough kicked up mainstream recipes, though. The soups, stews and salads have eye and taste appeal. A good book if you are a Weight Watcher or not.
October 11, 2017
I haven't tried any of the recipes yet (though I plan to now that I've finished the book!) but this was a great read. I enjoyed the chapter dividers that introduced each section. I would be very interested in reading her autobiography if she ever felt like writing one. Sure, it's a bit "commercial" but there's something very pleasant about the tone she adopts when she writes. Some of the recipes are better explained than others but for the most part they seem easy to follow. Personally, there was a little too much spice and too many vegetables that aren't practical for me (asparagus, artichoke, etc.) but I'm still going away with a ton of new recipes to try and overall it's just a very positive outlook on food, eating, and life. The shilling for Weight Watchers is minimal. Check this one out.
May 20, 2018
SF library
I read this book more for the anecdotes that Oprah wrote in between the recipes, about how her relationship to food had changed over the years, her struggles with body image and all the fad diets she tried which were well documented in how her weight yo-yoed in the media.
It was great to read childhood memories, how she was introduced to different cuisines through travel and the people she met along the way, the meals she shared and the favourite meals she has prepared and tweaked.
I personally think that some of the recipes that had too many ingredients that I'm not prepared to tackle, but they did sound delicious!
The big takeaways for me are:
* Find a way of healthy living that you can follow for the rest of your life.
* Be accountable for your actions.
* Be grateful for all of life's blessings.
I read this book more for the anecdotes that Oprah wrote in between the recipes, about how her relationship to food had changed over the years, her struggles with body image and all the fad diets she tried which were well documented in how her weight yo-yoed in the media.
It was great to read childhood memories, how she was introduced to different cuisines through travel and the people she met along the way, the meals she shared and the favourite meals she has prepared and tweaked.
I personally think that some of the recipes that had too many ingredients that I'm not prepared to tackle, but they did sound delicious!
The big takeaways for me are:
* Find a way of healthy living that you can follow for the rest of your life.
* Be accountable for your actions.
* Be grateful for all of life's blessings.
April 23, 2019
Love the recipes. A really beautiful cookbook. Stock your spice cabinet it's worth it!
This is a book for people who love to cook and love good food. I cooked the Indian spiced apricot chicken and served it with Jasmine rice (not included in the recipe). It was delicious. I was looking through other cookbooks but this is the only one my tummy told me to buy. My tummy started growling as I read through the book. As far as other viewers saying too many ingredients it's because of the spices. Most recipes are prepped in about 30 min or less. The calories are in the low end but the flavour is off the charts. Most recipes have heat to boost metabolism. Spices for good health benefits. This book is for people that are interested in flavour, health and love making good food in the kitchen. Open a bottle of wine and enjoy the moment.
This is a book for people who love to cook and love good food. I cooked the Indian spiced apricot chicken and served it with Jasmine rice (not included in the recipe). It was delicious. I was looking through other cookbooks but this is the only one my tummy told me to buy. My tummy started growling as I read through the book. As far as other viewers saying too many ingredients it's because of the spices. Most recipes are prepped in about 30 min or less. The calories are in the low end but the flavour is off the charts. Most recipes have heat to boost metabolism. Spices for good health benefits. This book is for people that are interested in flavour, health and love making good food in the kitchen. Open a bottle of wine and enjoy the moment.
March 6, 2017
This book has great recipes and advice in it, however some of these you have to be well off financially to be able to afford. Some of the ingredients I can't even get when I live and I don't make enough money to be able to make most of these recipes, not counting all of the extra tools and equipment I would have to buy before hand. I'm glad this worked for her and continues to work, but I'm not as well off as Oprah. Plus, the more I read, the more I realised that most of these recipes I would never make, because they're too complex or too elegant. I mean, I would love to be able to afford to hire someone to make all of these for me.
June 18, 2017
A while back I saw Oprah Winfrey on TV talking about her latest cookbook she was putting out. I was excited. Oprah is one of my female hero’s. I went on my libraries website and got in line to read her new book. That book was “Food Health and Happiness”.
I am going to purchase this book. It’s gorgeous and the recipes look delicious although some of them seem to be a bit expensive for my budget. Yet, they look delicious. This wasn’t just a cookbook, this was a wise book about battling weight, the imperfections we feel about ourselves, and making peace with who we are inside and out. This is why I love Oprah. She is on a soul diving mission for herself and she communicates her journey.
I am going to purchase this book. It’s gorgeous and the recipes look delicious although some of them seem to be a bit expensive for my budget. Yet, they look delicious. This wasn’t just a cookbook, this was a wise book about battling weight, the imperfections we feel about ourselves, and making peace with who we are inside and out. This is why I love Oprah. She is on a soul diving mission for herself and she communicates her journey.
November 29, 2017
I won this book via goodreads giveaway. I found Oprah's story inspirational and the photos in this book are beautifully done. There are a few recipes that I will likely never try, because some of the ingredients are hard to come by. I do like that she included some recipes that are in the original format and then the healthier version. I would recommend this book overall to my friends and family that enjoy cooking and are looking for some healthier dishes to try, or if you are on the Weight Watchers program and are looking for something different to eat. Oprah not only included the calories for each dish, but also the WW points.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews