Nader Ralph The Ralph Nader And Family Cookbook (1617757942)

Best-known for his social critiques and his efforts to increase government and corporate accountability, what some might not know about Ralph Nader is his lifelong commitment to healthy eating. In The Ralph Nader and Family Cookbook, Nader shares recipes of his upbringing, along with anecdotes. Born in Connecticut to Lebanese parents, Nader's appreciation of food began at an early age, when his parents owned an eatery, bakery, and delicatessen called the Highland Arms Restaurant. Long before hummus was available in most supermarkets across the US, Nader was well versed in a mainly Mediterranean diet that included plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains. The family eschewed processed foods and ate only a moderate amount of lean red meat.

Nowadays, the Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest on the planet, but in the 1930s and '40s of Nader's youth it was considered by many Americans as simply strange. Luckily for Nader and his siblings, this didn't prevent their mother, Rose, from serving the family homemade, healthy meals--dishes from her homeland of Lebanon. Rose didn't simply encourage her children to eat well, she took time to discuss and explain her approach to food; she used the family meals to connect all of her children to the traditions of their ancestors.

Inspired by Rose's recipes, The Ralph Nader and Family Cookbook presents Lebanese dishes that will be both known to many, including hummus and baba ghanoush, as well as others that may be lesser known, such as kibbe--the extremely versatile national dish of Lebanon--and sheikh al-mahshi--the king of stuffed foods. Including an introduction by Nader and comments throughout, The Ralph Nader and Family Cookbook will entice one's taste buds, while sharing a side of Ralph Nader that may not be commonly known, though will not surprise anyone familiar with his decades of activism and involvement in consumer protection advocacy.