Cooking Compassion

Make food your happy place. This cookbook was designed for everyone, from the new cook to the seasoned chef. Readers will find over 80 culturally rich recipes to tantalize taste buds. "Cooking Compassion" spotlights the role of eating for resilient mental health.

With this collaboration between George Brown College Centre (GBC) for Hospitality and Culinary Arts; Stella's Place, a mental health treatment centre for young adults; and Ontario College of Arts and Design University in Toronto, Canada, readers will learn about the whole diet approach and which nutrients are the best for brain health supported by credible sources. The illustrations throughout the cookbook are meant to relax readers and provide a site for meditation as well as show off artistic flare.

Part 1 features recipes that gradually increase in difficulty over 12 weeks and can serve as the foundation for a community cooking class for young adults learning to cook. It is not necessary to go in order if readers are feeling overwhelmed. Tips are provided for cooking when fatigued, unmotivated or on a tight budget.

Part 2 reveals the secrets of some of the top chefs and their recipes from GBC Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts, offering more complex recipes. Readers should feel comfortable with recipes from Part 1 before moving on to Part 2.

Funds from the sale of this cookbook will be used to support the treatment of mental health challenges, such as depression and anxiety, for young adults who attend Stella's Place.