Christina Ward: Holy Food

Does God have a recipe? Christina Ward’s Holy Food:  How Cults, Communes, and Religious Movements Influenced What We Eat – An American History investigates the explosion of religious movements since the Great Awakenings that birthed a cottage industry of food fads and cookbooks.  Ward uncovers the interconnectivity between obscure sects and communities of the 20th Century who dabbled in vague spirituality and used food to both entice and control followers. Holy Food draws on a range of sources, including academic studies, interviews, cookbooks, and religious texts, to offer sharp insights into American history in this highly readable journey through the American kitchen.

“Looks yummy!”
— John Waters

“Holy Food is a titanic feat of research and a fascinating exploration of American faith and culinary rites. Christina Ward is the perfect guide – generous, wise, and ecumenical.” — Adam Chandler, author of Drive-Thru Dreams