From the Introduction:

"Revamping your diet and lifestyle can be hard and stressful. I get it. When I first started my journey nearly seven years ago, I felt lost, hopeless, frustrated and very sad that I had to give up many of my favorite foods. I found myself wallowing in self-pity, wishing I could eat this or that, sneaking foods that I knew would make me feel ill, only to be sent on a downward spiral. There just came a day when I was just so sick of being sick, and I knew I had to take control of it.

What needed to change first? I needed to change my mind-set. I began researching and learning and practicing in the kitchen. I spent more time reading labels at the grocery store, and I started including more fresh, whole foods in my diet as opposed to processed stuff that comes in boxes. Little by little, I started to crowd out the "bad" stuff and replace what I thought were my favorite foods with healthier alternatives that soon became the new foundation of my diet. And when I say "diet," I don't mean the kind you try and seemingly fail at-diets don't work, friends. It's really all about lifestyle changes, both big and small, that enhance our quality of life so that we can be the best versions of ourselves and carry out the tasks that God created us for.

Savory foods were pretty easy. I got the hang of that relatively quickly. However, gluten-free, vegan baking is not only challenging at times, but it also might not compare to the way we used to enjoy our desserts. But because going gluten-free and vegan wasn't a "choice" for me, rather it was essential for my health, that held me accountable and kept pushing me forward. Today, I can say that I feel confident in my gluten-free, vegan dessert-making, and I find these recipes to be quite delicious and comparable to the "real" versions. I am just so grateful that there are other ways to indulge in my favorite sweet treats, and l am so incredibly excited to share these dessert recipes with you!

What have I learned most? If we keep an open mind, we keep experimenting. When we express gratitude for new ways of enjoying our faves, then anything baked with that kind of outlook will turn out great, even if it does take a few tries. Where there's a will, there's a way-and my carb-craving, sugar-loving sweet tooth wasn't ready to ditch desserts altogether, so here we are!"

Take the mystery out of gluten-free vegan baking with this beginner’s guide to delicious desserts. PUB DATE: 44544 Author: FONTANA, GINA MEDIUM: TRADE PAPER Illustrator: Imprint : Page Street Publishing