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Real Food, Pure Flavor

As a leading authority in natural health and wellness, recipe enthusiast and food innovator, Karlene inspires people with her belief in real, whole food as she feeds her busy family of five.

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This Kitchen is For Dancing

It’s such an honor to share with you my journey of
food, nutrition, and finding my best health in this
busy woman’s guide to healthy eating.

As a mom of three, and nutritionist, I feature over 100 recipes that can help you on your journey toward healthier living through nutrient-packed, never-complicated menus that simply refuse to skimp on flavor.

Too busy to cook? Don’t know where to start? I share all my tricks and tips, from how to shop and stock a pantry, to step-by-step instructions for planning and cooking all your week’s meals on Sunday.

Along the way, you’ll be reminded of the important role played in all our lives by the kitchen, the true heart of any home. It’s a place of nourishment and nurture, love and laughter, health and happiness. Turn yours into a kitchen for dancing with my healthy and happy guide to feeding your family. And along the way I hope it will not only help nourish your family but provide opportunities to gather around the table, share the day’s moments of joy and to make memories that last forever.

I believe there is no right or wrong way to cook. Of course, there are certain ingredients that taste better together, or kitchen techniques that can create a beautifully cooked dish. However, I want you to believe that if you love your family enough to feed them healthy food- and I know you do- you will cook well. This Kitchen is for Dancing will show you how to combine fresh, healthy ingredients to help stock your pantry and freezer for maximum versatility and flexibility so you can develop practical, inspiring philosophies of food and healthy living for the day in and day out.

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  • Book Review

    By Goop

    Eat It

    “We fell for nutritionist Karlene Karst’s easygoing nature and pocketed her food tips at our In goop Health summit in Vancouver last fall. The Kitchen Is for Dancing is her first cookbook in a minute. The first few chapters cover her food philosophy and her personal health journey, then meal prepping and pantry help. Recipes are organized into breakfast, snacks, soup, veggies, weekday dinner, and sweets. But we truly applaud that there’s also a whole chapter for Sunday dinner—i.e., Braised Cauliflower and Kale, Roasted Vegetable Lasagna, and sauces to stock up on like Cashew Cream, Sunflower Seed Alfredo, and Pumpkin Marinara.”
  • Book Review

    Janine R.

    Port Moody, BC

    “As someone who is learning to cook healthy meals, Karlene’s cookbook has been a great source of inspiration with amazing tasty easy recipes for all levels of experience. My favorites are the oven-roasted chicken and spiced carrot turmeric soup (me making homemade soup, I would never have believed it).”
  • Book Review

    Meray Froese

    Fort Langley, BC

    "I am always on the hunt for a cookbook that provides healthy recipes that are both delicious and easy to make - The Kitchen is for Dancing is all of that and more. It is my go-to for quick and easy recipes on a weekday but also provides delicious recipes that I can show-off at a dinner party."
  • Book Review

    Yassi Kazemi

    RHN, Hawaii

    "This is one of my favorite cookbooks. All the recipes are made with wholesome ingredients that actually taste good, not to mention easy to follow instructions and beautiful photos. Also, I love how almost all recipes offer either a gluten-free or vegan option."
  • Book Review

    Kristin Heroux

    Warman, SK

    "The Kitchen is for Dancing is my favourite cookbook and it is a go to in my house. It is full of amazing recipes that you can tell was created with heart and love. It is visually stunning and looks so beautiful in my house. The recipes in the cookbook are not only are easy to make, they are also healthy and practical. The cookbook also provides great tips on setting up your kicthen for success in cooking and healthy living for you and your loved ones. This is a 5 star cookbook and has become my go to gift for all friends and family. "
  • Book Review

    Natalie P.

    Port Moody, BC

    "I am always on the hunt for a cookbook that provides healthy recipes that are both delicious and easy to make - The Kitchen is for Dancing is all of that and more. It is my go-to for quick and easy recipes on a weekday but also provides delicious recipes that I can show-off at a dinner party."
  • Book Review

    Lori Fontana

    Coquitlam, BC

    "The sign of a superb cookbook is one that remains open on your kitchen counter and This Kitchen Is For Dancing is just that! Karlene had a busy family who still values delicious meals together in mind when she created this book. I love that my kids can turn to any page and create the dish independently because the instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the dishes are filled with nutritious and healthy ingredients. Some pages, such as Healthy Spelt Banana Bread, Crispy Panko Hemp Halibut, Fish Tacos, and Apple-Pear Quinoa Crumble have become well-worn in my copy so you might consider purchasing a few copies!"

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