The Kitchen Commune

“As a functional medicine expert, I understand the importance of eating healthy meals, but as a parent, getting everyone to eat well is often easier said than done. [The Kitchen Commune] shows us just how easy it can be to nourish everyone at your table while still providing easy customizations to account for personal taste. A game-changing book for parents and hosts alike. Say goodbye to making separate meals, and say hello to a united table!” —Dr. Will Cole, IFMCP, DNM, DC, leading functional medicine expert, and bestselling author of Ketotarian, The Inflammation Spectrum, Intuitive Fasting, and Gut Feelings

“Saying Chay’s recipes are incredible is quite frankly an understatement. Covering gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and paleo restrictions, The Kitchen Commune truly has something for everyone! From first-time cooks to people who have been eating with dietary restrictions most of their lives, everyone will be able to enjoy this cookbook, the recipes, and every photo in between.” —Kayla Cappiello, author of Easy, Allergy Free Cooking

“The Kitchen Commune makes cooking for special diets easy by putting all the best recipes and techniques in one place and guiding [the reader] through. Chay shares her inspiring story and empowers [cooks of all levels] to cook and eat with confidence!” —Caryn Carruthers, author of Smorgasbowl: Recipes and Techniques for Creating Satisfying Meals with Endless Variation

“With one tempting recipe after another, The Kitchen Commune offers a way to satisfy diverse eating styles and health needs so loved ones can share scrumptious meals together. Chay brings food to life with such great texture, flavor, and piquancy. You’ll return to the book over and over.” —Kristine Kidd, former Bon Appétit food editor and author of Weeknight Gluten Free

“Chay Wike’s cookbook The Kitchen Commune meets diverse dietary needs… . The book’s crisp, colorful photographs ignite the imagination, and Wike’s kind, cheerful banter invites both beginners and experienced cooks to experiment without fear.”

—Foreword Reviews

Chay Wike grew up in New York City. Her parents and grandparents are from Cape Town, South Africa, and from a young age she had the privilege of traveling overseas to visit family and was exposed to all kinds of cultures and eating styles. Her path to healing began after the birth of her second child, when she was diagnosed with multiple autoimmune conditions, digestive issues, and, eventually, Lyme disease. Following a string of doctor visits, confusion, and failed medication attempts, Chay decided to take matters into her own hands and reclaim her health naturally. She has since mostly recovered using the undeniable power of functional nutrition and lifestyle medicine. She attended cooking school in Los Angeles in 2009, created the food-focused wellness blog The Kitchen Commune in 2018, and became a certified integrative nutrition health coach in 2020. Today, Chay lives in the Pennsylvania countryside with her husband and their two teenage daughters.