“In this spiritually minded cookbook, Dennis and food writer Lyons (The New EBONY Cookbook, 1999) argue that the colors of the foods we eat can balance our moods, improve our deficiencies and enhance our overall well-being.

The authors divide fruits and vegetables into color palettes and aim to show readers how to “select colorful foods according to [their] mental, emotional, and spiritual needs.” The suggestions are guided by ancient Hindu philosophy that says that people have seven energy currents, called chakras, running along their spines that each emit a specific color. To maintain harmonious inner lives, the authors say, these pathways must remain clear and balanced. Accordingly, the authors attempt to help readers identify which chakras need attention, and “prescribe” certain foods and recipes to address them. The best course of action, they suggest, is to eat a “rainbow” of foods, and they offer instructions on “how to throw a Rainbow Party.” The book attempts to demystify the process of identifying imbalances; for example, if you have trouble trusting your intuition, the book asserts that you may need help in the “brow” chakra, and refers you to purple foods, such as blueberries and cabbage. In addition to simple, healthy menu ideas, the book offers engaging exercises and meditations to address each chakra and coordinating emotion. Feeling tense and sapped of creativity? Your sacral chakra may be out of balance, say the authors; a cantaloupe ginger smoothie and oven-roasted pumpkin may do the trick, along with some deep breaths and practiced belly laughs. Readers who are already familiar with the concept of energy work, or who already eat a heavily plant-based diet, may be most open to the recommendations here. The authors keep well within their knowledge base, and to their credit, they keep the book’s scope fairly small and lighthearted, never overreaching into territories best left to nutritionists, doctors or researchers.

A new, colorful angle on eating food from the earth.”