In today's episode of the Cookbook Love Podcast, Maggie sits down with chef and cookbook author Emily Maxon, whose newest book Real Food, Every Day was born out of a life-changing health journey.

Emily is a trained chef and lifelong food lover who, at age 28, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. That diagnosis led her to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet — a rigorous way of eating designed to support gut health and healing. Drawing on her years of experience as a chef and caterer, Emily made it her mission to create recipes that not only met the diet's strict guidelines but also tasted wonderful and helped people feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally.

How Emily's personal health challenges became the catalyst for creating her cookbook Real Food, Every Day

• What it was like navigating the journey from cookbook idea to published book

• Lessons Emily learned along the way about writing and publishing a cookbook rooted in real-life experience

• Practical tips for aspiring cookbook authors on turning personal stories into strong cookbook concepts

• How to stay motivated through the long (and rewarding) process of writing and publishing a cookbook

If you've ever wondered how a personal challenge can become the foundation for a meaningful cookbook, or how chefs and food experts can turn their expertise into a published book, this episode is full of inspiration and insight.

Things We Mention In This Episode:

Emily's Fresh Kitchen
Against All Grain