The Mayo Clinic Williams-Sonoma Cookbook: Simple Solutions for Eating Well

The Mayo Clinic Williams-Sonoma Cookbook: Simple Solutions for Eating Well by John Phillip Carroll

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Nice ideas, clear nutrition facts and beautiful pictures. Some recipes were fancy and some were super simple. I ranked it lower as it did not really address common "special" diets for health (diabetic, heart disease, etc) and some of the recipes were such no brainers- they could have offered more flair or methods to gussy up whole foods.

Book Review: Simply In Season (World Community Cookbook)

Simply In Season by Mary Beth Lind

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


We received this as a wedding gift and I love it. It is divided based on the growing seasons and also the kinds of meals one enjoys eating during the seasons (cool salads in summer, heavy soups in winter, etc.) I like to take it out before I hit the farmers market. It would be a great gift for a gardener.

I have found that many of the recipes can be adapted for our goal diet or that they inspire me to improvise.



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Book Review: The Grower's Guide to Herbs

The Grower's Guide to Herbs by Geoffrey Burnie

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I have a tiny herb garden this year with some great neighbors. No clue what to do with some of them; I grabbed this book hoping to learn a bit more.

This was a fine breezy read with basic information on the most common herbs. It was aimed at beginners and I appreciated that. There were very simplified directions for growing and harvesting the herbs and not a lot of detail on ways to cook with them.

I guess my next stop will be a book on cooling with fresh herbs.




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Book Review: From the Olive Grove: Mediterranean Cooking with Olive Oil

From the Olive Grove: Mediterranean Cooking with Olive Oil by Helen Koutalianos

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I would love to visit an olive grove!

This book was written by a family with such true passion and dedication to the craft of fine olive oil. The introduction was educational, entertaining and alluring, made me wish I could afford more decadent ingredients.

There are so many stylish and approachable recipes in this book, but not all in our dietary plan. I did note a couple recipes to try later and if I had a broader diet I am sure I would try more.



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Book Review: The No-Salt, Lowest-Sodium Cookbook: Hundreds of Favorite Recipes Created to Combat Congestive Heart Failure and Dangerous Hypertension

The No-Salt, Lowest-Sodium Cookbook: Hundreds of Favorite Recipes Created to Combat Congestive Heart Failure and Dangerous Hypertension by Donald A. Gazzaniga

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In 2009, my 37 year old husband has had a rough year. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and then had a very damaging heart attack. Like the author of this book, he was told he may need a heart transplant. Of course he/we have been eating better and trying to find the most flavor bang for our buck AND sodium count. We love to eat out and try all kinds of foods and we wanted to keep that as a part of our life. I have loved this book because it reads like more than a cook book. I enjoyed sitting down and reading it, I looked forward to going back to it despite the fact that I was so bummed about NEEDING it in my life when I picked it up. I cannot say that about many of the chronic disease diet books I have been browsing!

In addition to the recipes, the book gives a great primer on low-sodium eating, where sodium is found, what it is used for, and how to live low-sodium all the time. The author goes to great lengths in his own life to be at around 500mg of sodium a day, super low, and it is inspiring to read his commentary. I also like the board of people he used to help write the book. Even better, my husband and I have enjoyed all of the recipes we have tried so far. I like how the recipes are not bland and all areas of dinning are covered (comfort food, holidays, potlucks, light snacks, dressings, salads, sweets). The nutrition information on each dish is included, which is helpful for other areas of diet that we are monitoring.

The book has me excited because it is helping me adapt my cooking and shopping to what I was hoping: that being low-sodium does not mean flavorless and boring.

Book Review: The Mediterranean Prescription: Meal Plans and Recipes to Help You Stay Slim and Healthy for the Rest of Your Life

The Mediterranean Prescription: Meal Plans and Recipes to Help You Stay Slim and Healthy for the Rest of Your Life by Angelo Acquista

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This book was ok, I ended up being distracted by the author's love of his own cooking, which seems odd as he certainly must be a good cook to have a cookbook. Also, I turned out not liking the weight-loss solution tone of the book. I am not so much a diet person, but I am trying to pull and understand elements of this vast way of life to improve the quality and health of my cooking. Overall it was ok.



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Goodreads review that I wrote pasted here for you!

The No-Salt, Lowest-Sodium Cookbook: Hundreds of Favorite Recipes Created to Combat Congestive Heart Failure and Dangerous Hypertension by Donald A. Gazzaniga


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
My 37 year old husband has had a rough year. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and then had a very damaging heart attack. Like the author of this book, he was told he may need a heart transplant. Of course he/we have been eating better and trying to find the most flavor bang for our buck AND sodium count. We love to eat out and try all kinds of foods and we wanted to keep that as a part of our life. I have loved this book because it reads like more than a cook book. I enjoyed sitting down and reading it, I looked forward to going back to it despite the fact that I was so bummed about NEEDING it in my life when I picked it up. I cannot say that about many of the chronic disease diet books I have been browsing!

In addition to the recipes, the book gives a great primer on low-sodium eating, where sodium is found, what it is used for, and how to live low-sodium all the time. The author goes to great lengths in his own life to be at around 500mg of sodium a day, super low, and it is inspiring to read his commentary. I also like the board of people he used to help write the book. Even better, my husband and I have enjoyed all of the recipes we have tried so far. I like how the recipes are not bland and all areas of dinning are covered (comfort food, holidays, potlucks, light snacks, dressings, salads, sweets). The nutrition information on each dish is included, which is helpful for other areas of diet that we are monitoring.

The book has me excited because it is helping me adapt my cooking and shopping to what I was hoping: that being low-sodium does not mean flavorless and boring.

View all my reviews >>

I went to the gym tonight

and as a reward, the universe had a copy of a recent People Magazine waiting for me to read!

Thanks, Universe!

In the magazine I saw a brief review of this book:



The Big Skinny: How I Changed My Fattitude

"Here’s the skinny: After a lifetime of yo-yo dieting with pills, hypnosis, and ill-informed half-measures, Carol Lay finally shed her excess pounds and kept them off. Now this California cartoonist shares her experiences in a funny, genuine, and eye-popping graphic memoir that tells Carol’s story and shows you how you can do it, too."

Could be a fun read. I enjoy comics and graphic novels. If I ever get aroun to reading this or flipping through it at a store I will let you know.

Portioning...sigh.

I just breezed through this article on:

100 CALORIE SNACKS
Count your calories -- but not with abandon. Small portions are healthy only when you limit them. To save money, package the treats or make them at home.

By CHRIS ROSENBLOOM, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The article talks about how people mentally affilate serving sizes and about this book:

Mindless Eating
By Brian Wansink

I just ordered the book, I wonder if it is good. The reviews are great.

Anyway, portioning takes a lot of work and research, plus allowing yourself credit for exercise that you do! I struggle to be consistent with this kind of activity.

Reading and article like this and hearing about how other people struggle with the same mistakes in logic makes me feel better and makes me think twice when I make choices...at least for a few days!

Cross-post

The blog People Reading caught a rather buff personal trainer reading this book:



Is it just me or Are Sit-Ups a Waste of Time? by Graeme Hilditch

Apparently he is big in the UK.

Here is a description:

Trying to keep ourselves fit and healthy is a challenge at the best of times. It seems that there is always someone ready to give us a piece of advice on how to exercise, lose weight, or have a more nutritious diet. But how much of what you are told can you believe and how do you know which pieces of advice to take seriously? Every day, top personal trainer Graeme Hilditch is asked just these kind of questions and, in this intriguing and informative book, he uses his extensive expertise in fitness and nutrition to explode some of the most common myths. His explanations are light-hearted and accessible to everyone and his no-nonsense advice will tell you everything you need to know in order to live a fit and healthy life.

Might be something to check out....or not!

Keep moving people! Do it for yourself!

Eat this not that!

I saw this book at Kinko's the other day:


You can see inside some of the book on Amazon.

I enjoyed flipping through the book because it basically breaks down how to eat at fast food chain restaurants and save some calories.


It is not a diet book, it is just a book saying "Actually, a plain hamburger has less fat than an overloaded grilled chicken sandwich, so consider that when you eat fast food."

What is great about the book is it has lots of pictures and fun facts and tips. Very visually stimulating.

The other thing that is great about the book is it is realistic: most of us eat fast food or go to a chain coffee shop sometimes, so we might as well learn how to order somewhat better.

The sad thing is, the cover of the book shows that a Whopper from Burger King has more fat than a Big Mac, so of course I craved a Whopper for the rest of the day!

D'oh!

Good question, Jon!

From GarfieldminusGarfield:


This made me smile for two reasons:

It made me smile because somehow I can relate to this more than a perky diet product commercial asking/telling me the same thing. It makes me feel better to know that I am not alone in struggling with my weight.

Also, it makes me smile because I get a little defensive. I know that I do not need to let myself be down and frustrated. I can cherish that I am doing the best I can with what I've got and I have plenty of potential to be more active and get those endorphins flowing!

Like MNMom said, I can enjoy long walks in my neighborhood or with my loved ones. I can experiment with new foods and fun new gym clothes.

There is a lot of potential and progress going on here, no need to be down.

As I try to make healthier choices day to day, like choosing a walk around the park over reading another chapter in my book or choosing to walk to the next bus stop for some extra steps instead of sitting on a bench, I keep thinking of an inspirational book by Thich Nhat Hanh that I read and re-read.

Peace is Every Step is a short and very approachable introduction to the idea of meditation and mindfulness in everyday life. Hanh discusses potential for brief meditative moments in things we do everyday, like relishing in the extra moments of time we have to ourselves while we wait at a stoplight instead of stressing out about missing the green light. My favorite is his idea to remember how fun it is to play in the water and enjoy a warm bath while we wash the dishes. Washing dishes is a chore, but bubbles are fun! Right?

Anyway, I suggest you read the book for a better idea, it is really thought provoking, even for a cynic like me.

I try to think this way about my choices with food and exercise day to day. My friends and my husband have been helping, which I truly value.

For example, will sitting and watching re-runs of Law & Order really make me feel as good a quick trip to the gym? Even a teeny tiny trip to the gym? That trip to the gym may not change my life, but I am always pretty proud of myself when I actually go to the gym!!

Also, when I stress about eating naughty foods, I can remind myself that I can balance that naughty food with some exercise (and if I don't think the naughty food is worth jogging then it is easier to turn down the naughty food! Ha!).

I am going to keep trying being more mindful of my choices.

The best part is, the more mindful you are about something the more of a habit that thinking becomes. suddenly you are mindful without even trying!

I hope this isn't too stream of consciousness; I wonder what you are thinking or if this gets you thinking?

Who knew Jon Arbuckle could be so thought provoking!?!?