Q&A with Nutrition Expert and Cookbook Author, Tina Ruggiero MS, RD, LD

Award-winning nutrition expert Tina Ruggiero knows how to make food delicious and nutritious. Read on to learn about what inspired Tina to write The Truly Healthy Family Cookbook and visit her in her home, for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a cookbook!

1. Your newest book, The Truly Healthy Family Cookbook, was just sent to the printer. How long did it take you to write the book – from shopping the idea to final edits?
   Getting a publisher to buy a book proposal can take weeks and sometimes years, so it’s important that an author be prepared to wait, after her agent begins the process of pitching the proposal. I was fortunate that my proposal was purchased quickly; however, I was only given five months to write the book. So, from concept to production, this process took one year.
2. Why did you write this book?
   The family, as we know it, has changed. Today, a family, can be anything from two mommies and a baby, to a blended family, to a single guy, his girlfriend and their dog. So, I wanted to feature “family meals” in a fresh, modern and relevant way that wasn’t being addressed in other books. My recipes are those you won’t find elsewhere. They feature mega-nutritious ingredients prepared in new ways, and the recipes offer incredible taste and supercharged nutrition. There are NO food exclusions in this book, either. I cook with wheat and eggs, milk and cheese, meat, fish and butter. Readers will be very surprised how healthy my recipes are, and each recipe is accompanied by some eye-opening facts about health and nutrition. This book is a direct reflection of how I eat and feed my family, and it transcends all ages, really. You don’t need kids to cook from this book, either (Hello, Boomers!).
3. How many recipes did you create, test and ultimately use in the book?
   I created and tested about 175 food and beverage recipes, and 125 made the final cut. For example, you’ll find quick, mouthwatering and nutrition-packed recipes for Kale and Red Potato Frittata, Stuffed Pork Loin with Swiss Chard, Farro Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash, Bruschetta with Cherries and Arugula, and Peanut Butter, Chia and Jelly Thumbprints.
4. Where can we find The Truly Healthy Family Cookbook?
   The book will be released on August 20th, and it will be available wherever books are sold. You can pre-order the book on Amazon now.

To find out more about the book, watch the trailer here!