REVIEW: EAT PONO - HEALTHY LIFESTYLE COOKBOOK BY CANDES GENTRY INSPIRED BY HER 9-YEAR OLD SON

*DISCLOSURE: Complimentary product received for review purposes. All opinions are honest and entirely my own.

EAT PONO is a cookbook offering simple, but flavorful recipes while encouraging the message to “Source locally, Eat nutritiously, and Live Sustainably.”  What’s even more awesome is that it was written by a local mother and her 9 year old son - Candes and Poet Gentry.  

As a mother, I could empathetically relate to Candes describing how it concerned her when a 5 year old Poet took an interest in eating healthy and wouldn’t have a cupcake for 6 months. I loved that after she realized Poet was not just going through a phase, she embraced his interest and encouraged and supported him. I also enjoyed learning about their family, how they harvest their own fruits and veggies, and the lifestyle choices they make in order to live a healthy lifestyle. I found Poet's handwritten letter included in the book about what drives him inspiring.   

The 140 page colorful cookbook is divided into several sections: Food Sourcing Recommendations, Recipes to Start the Day, Smoothies, Bowls, Snacks, Wholesome Meals, Lite Bites, Sweets, Juicing and an overview of usage for Oils-Nuts-Seeds. Candes and Poet’s favorite recipes to make together include Overnight Oats, Empanadas, and Poet’s Famous Healthy Chocolate Mousse. From making smoothies to fish preparations, Gentry gives great simple directions for the beginner cook which makes this cookbook ideal for children and families cooking together.   

During spring break, my kids and I looked through EAT PONO together and decided to make Energy Bites as we had most of the ingredients on hand. Plus we love peanut butter. It’s a super simple recipe and what is great is that you can substitute anything you see fit. The kids did a good job and the energy bites turned out delicious.  We especially loved them right out of the freezer and it was convenient to have them on hand for a quick treat.

Cooking together is a fun family activity.

These Energy Bites were delish! Sure to be a staple in my home.

EAT PONO is available for pre-order now (Paperback $28.99 | Kindle $9.99 Instant-Download) on Apple Books,  Amazon, at Barnes & Noble. A portion of the sale proceeds will fund EAT PONO supported non-profit initiatives, rooted in providing educational and engagement opportunities for our keiki to learn to make healthy choices for themselves and their planet and empower them to eat, farm and fish sustainably. To learn more about EAT PONO and ways to support your community environment, visit https://www.eatpono.org/