From health and wellness coach Amanda Brink Hull comes this collection of amusing, nostalgic stories from a time when life was simpler, when our bodies were stronger and our minds were healthier, when we understood one another better, and we were more aware of the land and community around us . Spun from these stories, you will find simple, healthy recipes, advice on how to live with more gratitude, methods to improve your overall well-being, and tips you can share with friends and family.

Growing up in Fenton, Iowa, Hull's life in the 1980s and early '90s was simple. She and her three sisters spent their days outside, harvesting fruits and vegetables from their father's two big gardens, hunting pheasant and deer, and helping out their parents with tasks around the family's three acres. They did house chores together and, for the most part, loved doing them. Hard work was as fun as play, but rest in the evenings was just as important.

There were no cell phones, video games, or meal delivery services. They made calls on a phone connected to the kitchen wall, watched limited television, and filled the rest of their time with activities. They exercised their physical abilities and used their imagination and creativity. They were taught to appreciate nature, home-cooked meals, and meaningful connections with people and the environment. These were the foundations of their childhood, the roots of their resilience to this very day. They had structure, they had the basics, and they were happy.

Today, many of us are struggling to live in this extraordinary era where obesity rates, mental illness, and financial debt are at all-time highs. We have allowed technology and the media to invade our lives, undermining the development of human connection and understanding. We are more divided and confused than ever. Now's the time to get back to the basics: nutritious food, life balance, good mental health, lasting relationships, and an overall optimum lifestyle. Rooted: The Down-to-Earth Basics of Wellness, offers a holistic health method fit for our times .