The Wahls Protocol is a revolutionary diet and lifestyle protocol that helps people living with Multiple Sclerosis. After years of study and experiences reported from the community, we have found that the Wahls Protocol also helps a multitude of other autoimmune conditions. People living with MS, thyroid diseases, cancer and fibromyalgia all report feeling better when they take on the Protocol. The biggest struggle in following this diet is all the cooking needed and finding recipes that fit the Wahls Protocol. So I put together my recommendations for the top cookbooks when following the Wahls Protocol.
Beginning a new diet can be overwhelming while you get used to a new way of cooking and this Protocol does omit the common allergy and inflammatory foods like:
- Gluten and Wheat
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners
It also limits soy, grains, corn and ideally anything packaged and processed. The Wahls Protocol is an incredibly powerful and healthy way to eat if you are trying to heal from an autoimmune condition. This may be a new way of eating for many people so I put together this list to help you get started finding compliant AND tasty recipes. I have listed these books in order of what I would recommend you add to your bookshelf. The first 4 are absolute must haves if you need to slowly add these to your collection.
The Best Cookbooks to Use on the Wahls Protocol
#1 The Wahls Protocol Cooking For Life
This cookbook is a companion to the groundbreaking Wahls Protocol® book, featuring delicious, nutritionally dense recipes tailored to each level of the Wahls Paleo Diet. The Paleo-inspired recipes are based on fresh vegetables, clean proteins and healthy fats. “With strategies for cooking on a budget, reducing food waste, celebrating the holidays without compromising health, and helpful tips from fellow Wahls Warriors, The Wahls Protocol Cooking for Life will empower readers to make lasting changes and finally reclaim their health.”
Here are a few glimpses at the recipes in this book. I just love this Kale, Sausage and Chard Soup on page 207.
There are lots of ideas for creating “skillets” which is my favorite way to create Wahls-inspired meals. The recipe below on page 242 uses premade Bratwurst sausages, then combines it with mushrooms, onion, red cabbage and mustard greens.
The Book is
- Easy To Follow: with clear lists, ingredients and descriptions to make healthy cooking simple.
- Recipes for All Levels Of The Wahls Diet: Find a recipe for wherever you are on the Protocol.
- Lots of bright pictures since we start eating with our eyes, you will get a better sense of what the dish is
#2 Wahls Protocol Premium Menus
#3 The Healing Kitchen Cookbook by Alaena Haber and Sarah Ballantyne
This cookbook focuses on nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods that promote health, rather than undermine it. I love using this book for recipes I can use with my food allergies as well as other healing diets I cook for my clients. There are suggestions for batch cooking sessions that fill a week’s worth of meals. The recipes in this cookbook are free from: eggs, grains, dairy. legumes, processed oils, nightshades and sugar so it fits right into the Wahls Protocol rules.
Check out the Garlicky Greek Lamb Skillet on pg 142 and the Sweet and Savory Shepherd’s Pie on pg 192. Two recipes I use a lot.
#4 The Whole 30 Cookbook
The Whole 30 program could be a wonderful source of support to you if these kinds of dietary changes are new to you and you are struggling with letting go of foods like gluten, dairy and sugar. The whole 30 is a 30-day program that targets people’s habits and emotional relationships with food. It is designed to help break unhealthy patterns of behavior, stop stress-related comfort eating, and reduce cravings, particularly for sugar and carbohydrates.
Get the Whole 30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom Book
#5 Ready or Not by Nom Nom Paleo
All of Michelle Tam’s recipes are Paleo, which means they are free from gluten, soy, ……. She does a lot with the Instant Pot, which is perfect if you want to make food with little fuss on the counter. Her recipes are simple. “Asian-influenced, often California-inspired, and always popping with flavor.” ” lots of pictures and step by step instructions. She has a huge collection of free recipes and videos on her website so you can check out her style before you purchase a book too.
#6 Against All Grain: Delectable Paleo Recipes to Eat Well & Feel Great
Her books will teach you to use alternative flours like coconut and almond to make baked goods. In general these kinds of treats would be best left out of your wahls journey, but could be helpful recipes for special occasions and while you are tapering off baked goods. All of her recipes omit grains, gluten, dairy, refined sugar, legumes, refined oils and processed foods. She does use eggs in this book, so its best to skip this one if you aren’t eating eggs.
#7 Clean Soups by Rebecca Katz
Rebecca Katz is probably best known for her cookbook The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen. I loved that cookbook, and this one is certainly a worthy successor! The photos are so beautiful, and each of the recipes is full of nourishing ingredients. Doesn’t hurt that almost all of the recipes can be made ahead and reheated later. And all of her ingredients fit into the wahls protocol, so fill your freezer with some of them so you have a nourishing meal when you aren’t feeling your best.
Get Clean Soups by Rebecca Katz
I also have many recipes on my website that I designed for people following the Wahls Protocol.
This mushroom and liver pate helps you to incorporate organ meats into your diet (Level 2) while taming down the liver taste and boosting your intake of sulfurs with the onions and mushrooms.
This Breakfast Hash is a perfect combination of greens, colors and sulfurs to get you closer to those 9 cups for the day.
Do you want help creating a varied and creative weekly menu? Hire me to write a menu plan for you. Get a week’s worth of meals complete with recipes and grocery lists. I will tailor the menu to your specific needs following the Wahls Protocol as the guide. Send me an email here and let me know you need a Wahls Menu Plan!!!
Check out Wahls’ Seminars
Have you already attended a Wahls Seminar? They are packed with information and ways to improve your health and increase your tools for self care. You will even see me doing many cooking demos and lectures in the past Seminars including:
- “How to Tame Bitter Vegetables” in the Basics For Brain Health Seminar Replay
- “How to Get Your Family on Board” with Healthy Eating in the Building Resilience Seminar Replay.
- “5 Steps to Successful Meal Planning” in the Healthy Aging Seminar Replay
See Dr. Wahls talk about her cookbook on The Wellness Hour with Randy Alvarez
**Please note, some links on this page are affiliate links and I will earn a small commission if you purchase them. Any product that I recommend is only because I use it myself. All of these cookbooks are on my shelf and I have used them when I cook for clients following the Wahls Protocol.