Favorite Clean Cookbooks?
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amyg
Cathlete
Good idea. My mom got me a cooking light magazine last year as a stocking stuffer. I wonder where I put it...
Love all the WW stuff. I used to pay for the online subscription (when I was losing) and got all my recipes from there. Those were good- I think I saved a few of them.
Thanks for reminding me!
Love all the WW stuff. I used to pay for the online subscription (when I was losing) and got all my recipes from there. Those were good- I think I saved a few of them.
Thanks for reminding me!
With the internet, I don't buy cookbooks anymore. CookingLight.com has a huge database of recipes that I use constantly. They supply fat, carbs, calories, fiber, etc for every recipe. I don't know if the content there is free to everyone. Since I have AOL I think I get it free because of them.
If there's anything in particular I'm looking for, I also just google using some of the ingredients, the word 'recipe', and 'calories' and a website with the recipe will usually pop up.
I also pay for using the Weight Watchers website. They have a feature that allows you to plug in the ingredients and it will calculate the points. With a few substitutions I can usually clean up a favorite recipe without sacrificing taste. I'm sure there's other places online where you can do the same thing.
With cookbooks, I end up using only a few select recipes and the others just don't appeal to me. I went through some of the books I had, tore out the pages with recipes I liked and threw away the rest of the book! I keep all my recipes from the internet and my cookbooks in a binder.
If there's anything in particular I'm looking for, I also just google using some of the ingredients, the word 'recipe', and 'calories' and a website with the recipe will usually pop up.
I also pay for using the Weight Watchers website. They have a feature that allows you to plug in the ingredients and it will calculate the points. With a few substitutions I can usually clean up a favorite recipe without sacrificing taste. I'm sure there's other places online where you can do the same thing.
With cookbooks, I end up using only a few select recipes and the others just don't appeal to me. I went through some of the books I had, tore out the pages with recipes I liked and threw away the rest of the book! I keep all my recipes from the internet and my cookbooks in a binder.
I have a book I like called "Saving Dinner". The meals are from scratch and healthy. Not everything is super low fat but reasonably healthy. They do use things like canned beans and canned tomatoes though, which I consider clean. There is also a low carb version of this coming out. She gives you a main meal for each day of the week, with suggested side dishes, and then a grocery list for the week.
Cooking Light has a set of cookbooks out...I have Cooking Light Rush Hour Cookbook and it is good.
Jen
Cooking Light has a set of cookbooks out...I have Cooking Light Rush Hour Cookbook and it is good.
Jen
Hi Amy! I LOVE Eating Well magazine. IMO its far superior to Cooking Light (which BTW isn't so light). They even have some vegan recipes to try. Everything I've tried has been quick, easy & full proof. Also, Stella's Kitchen was mentioned. This is an excellent book as the author was a bodybuilder. HTH, Kathy
LizN
Cathlete
The Bodyarts Cookbook www.bodyarts.net - geared towards bodybuilders/fitness athletes and gives you good foods with good macronutrient ratios. I highly recommend the protein pancakes.
Liz N
Liz N
Vegan Planet by Robin Robertson is an awesome resource and cookbook. I just received it from my husband for my birthday and not only are the recipes vegan, but most are squeaky clean or can be adjusted easily. I'm so excited about so many new options!
Of course he also gave me Small Batch Baking which is not clean at all, but the devil}( }( }(
Mattea
Of course he also gave me Small Batch Baking which is not clean at all, but the devil}( }( }(
Mattea
beachgerrrl
Cathlete
I've found that the easiest way to "eat clean" is to not rely on cookbooks. I've spent a bundle on many low carb books, and I have yet to find a recipe that is pallatable to me.
If you concentrate on each individual food type (protein portion, and then a low glycemic carb portion, and a monounsat fat type, if you need to add any oils), you can usually fare better than trying to find "recipes" for the entire meal menu. In other words, pick a LEAN protein source (chicken, turkey, fish, etc) and cook it in a very simple way (grill, broil, bake, etc) using the freshest, organic ingredients you can. Rely on spices to change the proteins up from time to time, so you don't get bored. Then, cook the veggie portion in a very simple way, ie: steamed veggies, grilled, stirfry, etc. Try not to find fussy recipes that incorporate a lot of unneccessary ingredients (sugars, fats, sauces, wine, cream, etc). The less sauces, the better, imho. I've found that most "low carb" or even most "40-30-30" recipe books do not score well in the flavor dept, for me. I've tried The Zone (great nutrition plan, but GROSS flavored recipes, if you ask me. ugh!), South Beach (has a few 40-30-30 recipes that are ok, though not great). I don't do "high protein" type meals, so I can't comment on Atkins. I find that the 40-30-30 type meals are better for me, personally, as opposed to "high protein/no carb". The Zone makes sense. It's about eating everything in moderation, and in the amount based for your specific BMI (body mass index), and activity level.
The easiest type "no brainer" meals for me to prepare are "grilled meats and salads", or "grilled meats and grilled veggies" (as in kabobs, etc), or "broiled fish with broiled veggies, and only a squeeze of lemon and some pepper". Stirfries are super easy, and a fast meal prep. Breakfasts for me are usually an egg white omlette with 1 egg yolk (protein portion), and then some fruit -- a few minutes after I've finished the eggs, or I'll just pack the omlette with some low glycemic veggies. Or, on other days, I'll have a plum or peach (carb portion) with some low fat cheese (protein), and a glass of non sweetened iced tea, or just water, or decaf coffee.
If you think of your meals as "food types" (protein, carb, fat), it will be much easier to prepare your meals, rather than worrying about a "recipe", per se. At least, I find it's easier for me.
When you get "in Season", fresh, organic foods, I find that the food tastes incredible with very little embellishment needed. And definitely experiment with foods you haven't tried before, esp where salads are concerned. Don't just stick to boring romaine (and iceberg is virtually devoid of any nutrients, btw). There are many "pre made" salad packs at the grocers now, with all sorts of greens, radiccio, etc. Have fun in trying out different foods. I think you will find that eating clean is much easier to prepare than other types of recipes.
I've spent a bundle on many low carb books, and I have yet to find a recipe that is pallatable to me.If you concentrate on each individual food type (protein portion, and then a low glycemic carb portion, and a monounsat fat type, if you need to add any oils), you can usually fare better than trying to find "recipes" for the entire meal menu. In other words, pick a LEAN protein source (chicken, turkey, fish, etc) and cook it in a very simple way (grill, broil, bake, etc) using the freshest, organic ingredients you can. Rely on spices to change the proteins up from time to time, so you don't get bored. Then, cook the veggie portion in a very simple way, ie: steamed veggies, grilled, stirfry, etc. Try not to find fussy recipes that incorporate a lot of unneccessary ingredients (sugars, fats, sauces, wine, cream, etc). The less sauces, the better, imho. I've found that most "low carb" or even most "40-30-30" recipe books do not score well in the flavor dept, for me. I've tried The Zone (great nutrition plan, but GROSS flavored recipes, if you ask me. ugh!), South Beach (has a few 40-30-30 recipes that are ok, though not great). I don't do "high protein" type meals, so I can't comment on Atkins. I find that the 40-30-30 type meals are better for me, personally, as opposed to "high protein/no carb". The Zone makes sense. It's about eating everything in moderation, and in the amount based for your specific BMI (body mass index), and activity level.
The easiest type "no brainer" meals for me to prepare are "grilled meats and salads", or "grilled meats and grilled veggies" (as in kabobs, etc), or "broiled fish with broiled veggies, and only a squeeze of lemon and some pepper". Stirfries are super easy, and a fast meal prep. Breakfasts for me are usually an egg white omlette with 1 egg yolk (protein portion), and then some fruit -- a few minutes after I've finished the eggs, or I'll just pack the omlette with some low glycemic veggies. Or, on other days, I'll have a plum or peach (carb portion) with some low fat cheese (protein), and a glass of non sweetened iced tea, or just water, or decaf coffee.
If you think of your meals as "food types" (protein, carb, fat), it will be much easier to prepare your meals, rather than worrying about a "recipe", per se. At least, I find it's easier for me.
When you get "in Season", fresh, organic foods, I find that the food tastes incredible with very little embellishment needed.
And definitely experiment with foods you haven't tried before, esp where salads are concerned. Don't just stick to boring romaine (and iceberg is virtually devoid of any nutrients, btw). There are many "pre made" salad packs at the grocers now, with all sorts of greens, radiccio, etc. Have fun in trying out different foods. I think you will find that eating clean is much easier to prepare than other types of recipes.