Okay, I bought this to use it for myself, so I thought I’d pass along a “tell it like it is” review about the Healthy Urban Kitchen Cookbook. (Obviously, this isn’t the site for the cookbook itself. If you’re looking for that, you can find it at Healthy Urban Kitchen site.

Anyway, I’m going to tell you what I thought was good, and also what I thought was not so good.

First off, I decided to check this out after looking around some forums and different places and finding comments on this healthy eating food guide like these. . .

“ . . a MUST for anyone who really takes their health seriously.. .”

“I believe that the Healthy Urban Kitchen Cookbook is good if you are thinking about a lifestyle change. If you want to lose weight and keep it off forever, then this book will probably change the way you view what you eat and how your eat. Simply put, there is no other book out there that is like it.”

“I would particularly recommend the Healthy Urban Kitchen Cookbook if you have skin problems that never seem to go away, if you suffer from depression and if you have always had problems with your weight no matter what you have tried in the past.”

I thought, “Wow! Good for your health, lose weight and keep it off, and clear up your skin in the bargain! I’ve got to check this out.”

So I did.

I went to the information page and read through all that. I found some pretty bold claims right off the bat, like. . .

“easily lose weight…get glowing, clear skin…discover the truth about nutrition… master the basics of healthy cooking…eliminate unhealthy ‘health’ foods like gluten and soy and heal from depression…prevent disease…and radically improve their energy transform their bodies without diets, drugs or surgery.”

I also noticed the Healthy Urban Kitchen has been featured in the New York Times, Women’s Day, Sports Illustrated and more. That sounds impressive, but I wanted to be sure this isn’t just another fad diet.

So, after reading through the material and watching some of the videos on the information page, I decided to take the plunge and buy Healthy Urban Kitchen. It was a pretty simple process, and you get instant access, which I like. No having to wait around until the book gets shipped.

The first third of the book is full of information. It starts out with outlining the basics on healthy food to cook and techniques of healthy cooking. There is also tips on how to do a makeover on your kitchen so it’s easier to cook healthy, hidden food allergies to watch out for, which fats and oils are healthy and much more.

The rest of the Healthy Urban Kitchen Cookbook is devoted to recipes for everything from smoothies, to veggies, eggs, and meats.

And you don’t just get the main book, but lots of worthwhile bonus material, plus recipes updates and more. It’s a pretty comprehensive package! (For a complete list, look near the bottom of the information page where it says, “Healthy Urban Kitchen “)

On the downside, I feel the title of this book is a little misleading. I know the guy who wrote it lives in New York City, so he’s in an urban environment. But that really kind of misrepresents what the book is all about, because the information isn’t just for people in the city. You could be living anywhere and this book has great information. I mean, I live in the rural south, about as far different from New York City as you can get, and I loved the information in this book.

The other biggest complaint I’ve read concerning this healthy eating guide, and that I’d have to agree with, is the fact this guy has some pretty stringent guidelines to try and eliminate any hidden food allergies from your diet, in particular some grains and dairy products.

However, that being said, I liked his approach of telling you the ideal, but not beating you over the head with it. He tells you to assess your situation and do the best you can in light of that.
That fits well with what I try to get across in this blog. Don’t become so obsessed with doing everything “right” that you become so paralyzed and discouraged you do NOTHING to improve your eating. It’s much better to make some small changes and create some momentum towards a healthier diet, than to throw up your hands in despair and do nothing.

Overall, I’m impressed by the Healthy Urban Kitchen . It’s got some good information to explain what foods are good to eat, and what aren’t. There are lots of recipes and some good info in the bonus reports. I think it was well worth the money I spent.

If you’d like to find out more, click here –> Healthy Urban Kitchen .

And thanks, as always, for stopping by! I hope this review has been useful for you!

Post from: Health Food Made Easy

Healthy Urban Kitchen Cookbook Review

Today is Frances Moore Lappés birthday.

So just who is Frances Moore Lappé?  Well, she wrote Diet for a Small Planet, the 1971 bestselling book presenting people becoming vegetarians as a way of addressing world hunger.  According to Lappé, grains, beans, and vegetables produce five, ten, and fifteen times more protein per acre than livestock production, respectively.  So by shifting production from meat to plant foods, much more food could be easily produced.

Back in 1971 when this book was written, Lappé figured her audience would be skeptical that a vegetarian diet could supply sufficient protein. Because of that, a lot of the book was devoted to introducing her theory of complementing proteins, also called protein combining, so that their combined amino acid pattern matched that of animal foods.

As it turned out, it was later shown that the combining of different vegetable proteins to simulate animal protein is unnecessary.  Individual plant foods contain all the amino acids required by humans, in amounts which satisfy growth and maintenance.

In a later edition she included this new information that it is not necessary to worry about combining proteins with the exceptions of:

“diets very heavily dependent on fruit or on some tubers, such as sweet potatoes or cassava, or on junk food (refined flours, sugars, and fat). Fortunately, relatively few people in the world try to survive on diets in which these foods are virtually the sole source of calories. In all other diets, if people are getting enough calories, they are virtually certain of getting enough protein.”

Now there is a new 20th anniversary edition of this book available. It features simple rules for a healthy diet, a streamlined, easy-to-use format, protein-rich meals without meat, hundreds of recipes, and kitchen hints with a comprehensive reference guide for planning and preparing meals.

Now I’m not advocating everyone needs to think about instantly becoming vegetarians.  However, having vegetarian meals at least once in a while is a good idea.  Here in the U.S., we have a tendency to eat way too much red meat.

The 20th anniversary edition of Diet for a Small Planet is a good place to look for recipe ideas and information.  It’s an updated version of a classic!

Post from: Health Food Made Easy

Happy Birthday Frances Moore Lappé

The Healthy Slow Cooker by Judith Finlayson is a cookbook best described as having recipes that are a winning combination of healthy eating and convenience. There are more than 100 recipes included that make use of the convenience of the slow cooker, while providing a tasty, nutritional meal.

There are also tips on using your slow cooker, and chapters entitled:

• Bread & Breakfast
• Soups
• Poultry, Seafood & Fish
• Meat
• Pasta & Grains
• Just Veggies
• Desserts

About The Recipes In The Healthy Slow Cooker

One of the advantages of this book is the wealth of information included with each recipe.

To start with, there are labels above the title of each recipe for those that are compatible for vegetarian or vegan diets.

At the beginning of each recipe you’ll also find a short comment about that particular recipe from the author. It’s a nice touch that gives you a little more “feel” for the recipe and some information about it.

In a column to the left side of the recipe are even more tips about the recipe giving you variations on how to make it. An especially nice feature here is a box entitled “Make Ahead” with instructions on how to make the dish ahead of time and use it later.

Size Matters

The main section of each recipe page starts with information on what size slow cooker the recipe will work in. Smaller recipes need a smaller cooker or they’ll dry out, and of course, a larger recipe would overflow a smaller cooker. This is important information and sometimes left out of slow cooker cookbooks. It really isn’t a “one size fits all” situation. You need to have an idea what size cooker you should use for the recipe to turn out properly.

Of course, as in all cookbooks, there is an ingredient list. The steps for making the dishes are thorough and easily understood.

Even More Goodies Included With Every Recipe

At the end of each recipe there is even more information. There are four blocks included:

1. Mindful Morsels: Usually has specifics about nutrients in the food, such as what vitamins there are and how they are helpful to your health.
2. Nutrients Per Serving: Specific information on calories, protein, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, sodium and cholesterol.
3. Natural Wonders: Expands on one of the ingredients in the dish, with more information on its’ nutritional value.
4. Good Sources: The last box gives a short overview on the nutrients available in the featured ingredient.

If needed, the diabetic food values for each recipe are also included at the end of the book. I’m not sure why they weren’t included on the same page with each recipe, but they are available. It’s just a minor inconvenience to have to check back at the end of the book to find them.

Recipes for Bread & Breakfast in The Healthy Slow Cooker

This section includes such recipes as:

• Apple Cranberry Bread
• Pumpkin Date Loaf
• Banana Walnut Oat Bread
• Creamy Morning Millet with Apples
• Breakfast Rice
• Multigrain Cereal with Fruit
• Apple Oatmeal with Wheat Berries
• Irish Oatmeal

Yes, the breads are made in the slow cooker. It works by putting a smaller pan inside a slow cooker and letting the bread cook.

The breakfast cereals are especially handy, since you can start them the night before and the food will be ready when you get up the next morning.

As an example of ingredients, the Pumpkin Date Loaf has flour, baking soda, dates, pecans, eggs, sugar, olive oil, pumpkin puree, and spices.

Soups Chapter

Soups are the mainstay of slow cookers, and a variety of recipes are included. There are over 20, including:

• Mushroom Lentil Soup
• Turkey and Black Bean Soup
• Two-Bean Soup with Pistou
• Thai-Style Pumpkin Soup
• Caldo Verde
• New World Leek and Potato Soup
• Cockaleekie
• Chestnut Soup
• Greek-Style Split Pea Soup

There is a wide variety of flavors, so that there should be soups included for about anyone’s taste.

As an example of ingredients, the Turkey and Black Bean Soup uses onions, carrots, celery, garlic, oregano, cracked black pepper, lime zest, tomato paste, cumin seeds, chicken stock, turkey, ancho chili powder, jalapeno or chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, and bell peppers.

The Healthy Slow Cooker

Recipes For Poultry, Seafood & Fish

Main dishes using poultry, seafood or fish, do well in the slow cooker. There are 21 recipes in this chapter, with such offerings as:

• Caribbean Fish Stew
• Chicken Cassoulet
• Chicken Cacciatore with Broccoli
• Spicy Peanut Chicken
• Peppery Turkey Casserole
• Creamy Tuna Casserole
• Salmon Loaf
• Onion-Braised Shrimp
• Thai-Style Coconut Fish Curry
• Louisiana Seafood Stew with Chicken and Sausage

As with the soups, there is a wide variety in styles and tastes.

For an idea of the ingredients used, the Chicken Cacciatore with Broccoli is made with olive oil, onions, garlic, dried oregano leaves, salt, cracked black peppercorns, cremini mushrooms, wine or chicken stock, tomatoes (canned), chicken thighs, dried red chili peppers (optional), green bell peppers, and broccoli.

Meat Recipes In The Healthy Slow Cooker Cookbook

Several different meats are found in the 16 recipes in this chapter, including veal, beef, lamb, and pork. A sampling of the recipes offered include:

• Veal Goulash
• Greek-Style Beef with Eggplant
• Lamb with Lentils and Chard
• Spanish-Style Pork and Beans
• Ribs with Hominy and Kale
• Buckwheat Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
• Indian Beef with Cauliflower and Peppers

Various cuisines are represented in the recipes. To give you an idea what kind of ingredients are used, in Spanish-Style Pork and Beans, you need olive oil, boneless pork shoulder, onions, garlic, oregano leaves, salt, cracked black pepper, white wine or chicken stock, sherry vinegar or white wine vinegar, tomatoes (canned), white kidney beans, paprika and kale.

Pasta & Grains Offerings

The pasta and grains chapter has recipes utilizing rice, barley corn meal, millet and more. It also includes some sauce recipes for use over top of pasta and grains.

Among the 15 recipes included are:

• Barley and Wild Rice Pilaf
• Creamy Polenta with Corn and Chiles
• Shrimp ‘n Grits
• Vegetable Cobbler with Millet Crust
• Tamale Pie with Chili Millet Crust
• Mushroom Tomato Sauce

There is also a recipe for Basic Polenta and a yummy sounding Caramelized Onion Sauce with Whole Wheat Pasta.

Ingredients example is for the Mushroom Tomato Sauce, which uses olive oil, onion, celery, garlic, rosemary, salt, black pepper, white wine or chicken or vegetable stock, tomato paste, canned tomatoes, and optionally, red pepper flakes. The sauce is served over whole wheat pasta, polenta or grits, with an optional sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

Just Veggies Chapter of The Healthy Slow Cooker

Slow Cookers can be used for side dishes too! And of course, sometimes veggies make a great meal all by themselves. There are another 15 recipes with such offerings as:

• Ratatouille
• Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie
• New Age Succotash
• Vegetable Chili
• Vegetable Curry with lentils and Spinach

And many other yummy sounding ways of getting your vegetables!

Ratatouille provides our ingredients example, using eggplant, salt, olive oil, zucchini, garlic, onions, herbes de Provence, salt, black pepper, mushrooms, canned tomatoes, bell peppers, and parsley or basil leaves.

Last, But Not Least, Desserts For Any Meal!

Having a nice warm dessert ready in the slow cooker at the end of the meal is a great way to finish things up. Some of the recipes included are:

• Coconut Cranberry Rice Pudding
• Basmati Rice Pudding
• Cranberry Pear Brown Betty
• Apple Oatmeal Pudding
• The Ultimate Baked Apples

Another recipe for Pumpkin Rice Pudding uses brown rice, pumpkin purée, dried cranberries or dried cherries, evaporated skim milk, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and other options.

What People Are Saying About The Healthy Slow Cooker

Almost 2/3 of the people reviewing The Healthy Slow Cooker cookbook at Amazon gave it a 5-star rating, the highest available. Most comments were quite favorable.

Some of the comments include:

“I like the slow cook alternative, particular those delicious, quick to prepare recipes that I can throw in the cooker at the start of the day and have ready for supper. That these meals are actually nutritious is an added bonus.” – Actual User Comment on Amazon Canada

“This book has been a life saver for having healthy cooked meals, during the week, at a decent hour.”. – Actual User Comment on Amazon Canada

“. . .best slow cooking book! I own many, but this is easily my favourite.” – Actual User Comment on Chapters.Indigo

The only complaints seem to be that some of the dishes require a little prep work beyond just throwing raw ingredients into the slow cooker, such as this review comment:

“…. there’s a LOT of prep…including sautéing food before putting it in the crock pot. A good buy if you have time, but if you’re looking for … throw it all in and leave… this one may not be right for you.” – Actual User Comment on Amazon.com

Info Odds And Ends About The Healthy Slow Cooker

This is a paperback by Judith Finlayson and has 288 pages. The publisher is Robert Rose (December 2005). It includes several color illustrations of the food included.

If all this sounds like a cookbook you can use, it’s available at Amazon:

The Healthy Slow Cooker

Post from: Health Food Made Easy

The Healthy Slow Cooker Cookbook Facts