The Skinnytaste Cookbook: Light on Calories, Big on Flavor

I was visiting my parents for Christmas and was talking with my sister and mom as they exchanged recipe ideas when it donned on me that I DID NOT own a single cook book. Not one! My sister in law had bought this cookbook as a gift for a friend but kept it for herself when realizing that her friend's boyfriend was vegetarian and wouldn't eat probably 95% of these dishes. She kept it for herself and highly recommended it to me. I bought it and am just blown away. Often, you flip through a cookbook and think "oh, a few of these look nice", but you flip through this one and think "I could actually cook this thing cover to cover", and so both my sister and myself are actually doing that this year in an effort to cook more, eat better, and think outside the box with recipes! Seriously, this book is THAT GOOD. I made multiple other people buy it because I care for their well being and they were getting mad at the delicious pictures I was sending. My family now has a group text pretty much devoted to reviewing different recipes in this book (seriously). Here are some major pros: - Includes nutrition info on the page - Tips, tricks, and recommendations on most recipes - No super weird ingredients (most I actually have on hand, besides the meat) - Not impossible (I made the Chicken Cordon Bleu stuffed meatballs and they lasted me a week and were AWESOME. Who even thinks to stuff that stuff into a meatball?). Anyone can cook these meals successfully, ANYONE. - I don't get tired of the leftovers. I live alone and so one or two of these recipes lasts me the majority of the week and it doesn't bother me. Take that, bland and boring lunch - All your coworkers will become inspired by your new chef status A side note is that I have PCOS and have to watch my carbs and sugar and this cookbook is incredibly friendly to that lifestyle and is helping me keep on track with it. Having the nutritional facts right there on the page is super helpful, encourages me to actually follow the portion recommendations, and helps me get over the mental hurdle which is "I have to eat a salad everyday for lunch to keep my carb count in line". No - you don't! Eat tacos for lunch! Or meatballs! Or have enchilada soup literally every day twice a day for an entire week! Favorite recipes include: "Bangin Good Shrimp" "Santa Fe Slow Cooker Chicken" "Chicken Enchilada Soup" "Jerk Chicken Tacos" "Mashed Caluiflower" "Chicken Cordon Blue Meatballs" "Any other recipe I have made from this book" You need this cookbook. You will use this cookbook. Everyone you cook for will love you for having and using this cookbook. The mashed cauliflower recipe very well may have helped me finally let go of my destructive relationship with potatoes and it can help you, too!

At the time I bought this, I'd heard nothing about it. I had simply rarely seen a cookbook with so many glowing reviews, especially for one with "skinny" in the title. I have reviewed scores of cookbooks on Amazon and have bookshelves full, like some do a reading library. But I must say, this is one of the most well-done I have personally ever seen myself. I can understand, now, the cult following it's received. First, let's touch on how "now" this cookbook is...by that I mean it has stepped out of old school cookbooks and how they have always been done, and considered today's audience and what they might need. So many of us are on special diets or have to entertain for a family member or guest who is and pull something together--whether that be gluten-free, vegetarian, something for a family who works during the day and needs crockpot meals, something for a family who works all the time and only wants to cook on weekends and then freeze the meals... this book took that all into account. Beside each recipe there is a color and letter coding-V for vegetarian, GF for gluten free, freezer friendly, crockpot etc. And, for those of us who count calories and want to know nutrients or carbs, it also has all that too! That took some time, but boy is it handy, even if you yourself only use it occassionally. The photos are plentiful and throughout and professionally done with good lighting that makes you want to eat it. I have had a few cookbooks that actually made me turned off to the meal due to the grey lighting or even ones I knew were fake like a slow cooker photo of mac and cheese that showed it browned on top (that does not occur in a slow cooker). Not so for this one, it's how the recipe turns out and they make you want to lick the page! But no cookbook is complete without good recipes and this one sets the bar. You could honestly set down any of these dishes in front of a family of boys who who never diet in their lives and they will want seconds and thirds--the taste is fantastic! These are truly restaurant quality meals, that are obviously tested and tried and perfected. I have seen many recipes for fish tacos, for example, but the ingredients here are totally different and more full of flavor. It's also easy to substitute things for even stricter diets. I LOVE that when the author finds brands that work best in a recipe, she also lists those. It feels like you are reading someone's personal cookbook that has cooked the recipe many times but found what brands stand out (for example King Author flour when using wheat flour. I agree.) Not in a commercial way or trying to sell it, but just to say which ones she personally uses. Some authors will not do this unless the company pays them to use their name in the book. This is clearly not the case and also clearly only done when it makes a difference in taste. There are great make ahead recipes and these feel original. I rarely ever eat out, preferring to cook all meals at home so I feel like over the years I have seen the same old tired recipes made the same old tired ways on the internet. These have new ways and methods and often they are with not only dieting in mind but they have a clear angle of a focus on health as well and satiety. The pages have facts for back up, like a recipe for PB & J overnight oats in a jar (make ahead the night before for a busy morning where you still need a good breakfast.) notes how filling and healthy oats are and why. (Which is true.) These are FANTASTIC recipes, not just the same ones redone with diet ingredients, but original and loaded with flavor. Nothing comes out bad, nothing comes out off, these are good enough to serve at dinner parties and more importantly--to make you feel like you are not dieting. Examples: TUSCAN PANZANELLA SALAD WITH GRILLED GARLIC BREAD SUMMER LOBSTER ROLLS MONGOLIAN BEEF AND BROCCOLI FRENCH BREAD PIZZA SUPREME TERIYAKI GLAZED STUFFED PORK CHOPS WITH PINEAPPLE SALSA ROAST BEEF SANDWICHES WITH CREAMY HORSERADISH SPREAD CHICKPEA AND POTATO CURRY SPICY BLACKBEAN BURGERS WITH CHIPOTLE MAYO PEAR AND BRIE GRILLED CHEESE STEAK SANDWICHES BLACK BEAN BURRITO BOWLS CILANTRO LIME SHRIMP CHEESY BAKED PANNE WITH EGGPLANT SILKY CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE LOADED NACHO POTATO SKINS ITALIAN SAUSAGE WITH PEPPERS AND ONION WARM APPLE PIE CRUMBLE GUMBOS, STIR FRIES, MAIN DISH SALADS, MEATLESS MAIN DISH CHAPTERS SHRIMP AND GRITS COCONUT PANNA COTTA WITH RASPBERRIES DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHUNK WALNUT COOKIES WINTER POTATO, KALE AND SAUSAGE FRITTATA THAI COCONUT MUSSELS C ROLLATINI STUFFED WITH ZUCCHINI AND MUSHROOMS LASAGNA (ZUCCHINI STRIPS ARE USED RATHER THAN PASTA AND I SWEAR YOU WON'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!) CUBANA STYLE STUFFED PORK TENDERLOIN SALISBURY STEAK WITH MUSHROOM GRAVY You get the idea. That is a very small sampling. At nearly 350 pages, you get loads of recipes and loads of photos. Whether you never eat red meat, eat only white meat, eat only seafood, eat no animal protein...or switch it up all the time, you can easily find a chapter on whatever suits your fancy or your mood that day. The dishes are GREAT, not just recipes but really things you savor. This one is done right, not just recipes grabbed to fill a cookbook but original ways of making skinny dishes taste better. It's a gem.

Stunning and mouth-watering photos accompany most of the recipes in this book. It's definitely one of the more beautiful and well laid out cookbooks I own (and I design books for a living). Each chapter's title page includes all the recipes in the section with a key to indicate: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Quick 30 minutes or less meals, Freezer-Friendly, and Slow Cooker. Awesome!These are repeated at the beginning of each recipe too so finding meals to meet a certain criteria is easy. Recipes: Five stars. This book will NOT disappoint. There's nothing worse than spending the time to cook something and then being supremely disappointed after if it doesn't taste as good as you imagined. Gina's recipes are delicious! And they're very easy to do. You'll start to wonder why you pay so much to eat out when you can have all this delicious food at home. If you're on the fence, try some of the recipes from her award-winning blog first, skinnytaste.com and you will be hooked. The food tastes just as mouthwatering as you imagine. Creamy pastas when you have that craving hit the spot (without all the calories and that heavy feeling), fried food no more because the baked version in this book is even better, and so many more to choose from. There's something in here for everyone. One thing to note, pay attention to the salt content. Gina notes in the beginning that she recommends Diamond Crystal Kosher salt, but I like to use what I have on hand, so salt lightly while cooking because you can always add salt before you serve. I bought this book to become familiar with the techniques of cooking lighter so that I can enjoy the foods I like wherever I am. And while I don't actually calorie count, the numbers for each recipe are included if you want to know, and it's definitely mentally helped me make my calories count. This book is more of a lifestyle change because you'll naturally start to become more aware of what you're putting into your body on a day-to-day basis when you're not able to make your own food, and this helps you arm yourself on those social nights out too. =) I find this book really enjoyable and I don't feel sick using Gina's recipes after eating butter or cheese like I normally would eating that stuff. The recipes in this book are light on calories and on your waist, but the flavors are fantastic! I should also note that I don't even use the low-fat options in the recipes all the time (I use what I have), and I haven't gained any weight. =)

I will start by saying that the Skinnytaste website has been my go to site for the past several years to find healthy, delicious recipes for my family. There are so many recipes on the blog that I almost didn't buy the cookbook, simply because I didn't think I would use it more than the blog. I am so glad that I bought it! The recipes in this cookbook are miraculously even better than the recipes on the website! Gina has really outdone herself! I've tried a number of the recipes in the cookbook, having made one (sometimes two!) almost every day since receiving the book. I have wholeheartedly recommended this cookbook to my friends and family as a healthy way of cooking delicious meals that you and your family will enjoy guilt free. This book was definitely money well spent. So why 4 stars? Only because this cookbook is SO GOOD I am holding it to a higher standard. The few areas that could be improved with Skinnytaste cookbook #2 (because if there is no #2 those publishers have lost their minds!): 1) I wish that in addition to the handy Q marker for quick recipes, the recipes would estimate the time it takes to make them, or at least give a heads up for recipes with longer marinade times. Twice now I've been all set to make a recipe for dinner only to realize I have started too late. 2) In my humble opinion, I have felt that many recipes are over salted. I realize that salt is typically done to taste but a salt measurement needed to be given here for the nutritional information. I've had to learn to scale back on the salt called for in the recipes, and I think a little less would not detract from the flavor while saving people some sodium. 3) After less than a month (granted of almost daily use), the pages are already starting to feel loose in the binding. I'm waiting for the day that they start to fall out. At which time I will be binder clipping them together - and then continuing to use the book daily! My four star rating is in no way intended to downgrade the quality of this book. It is beautiful, well thought out, and the recipes are killer (the black bean burrito bowls have saved me money and pounds at Chipotle, and I am fairly certain I could eat the Chicken Cordon Bleu meatballs daily and never grow tired of them). I am simply hoping to see some small improvements in the next book. In the meantime, I will continue stuffing my face with the delectable pumpkin scones I made using the recipe from this book!

Have just tried the salmon ginger recipe, big hit with the entire family! This was my grown sons first cooked salmon meal too! He's a 'tough palette' to please when it comes to healthy food . So , I am grateful I have this really great resource for cooking for my whole family . We can all enjoy the same healthy meals . Thats such a big deal , serving food I feel good about and they enjoy. I have bought many cookbooks over the years and this is really the best one in this catagory. The recipes are sophisticated in taste , delicious and satisfying , (and not overly fussy) . Theres also much to love about the clear layouts, tips , nutritional charts for each dish and stunning food photographs for almost every recipe . The photos and the styling are some of the best I've ever seen. I am drawn to use this cookbook for all these reasons mentioned but mostly for the simplicity , ease and clearness in the directions. I know im going to have this as one of those 'go to cookbooks' I can use a few times a week . Yay, finally ! Thankyou.

I absolutely love Gina and have been a fan of her blog for quite a while! I have started to plan my meals on Sunday mornings, then go to the grocery store with my list and cook up a bunch of meals for the week. I find I am eating out a lot less, and wasting a lot less money. Her recipes are amazing, and low in calories which are a plus. I have two picky kids that refuse to eat broccoli or any other vegetables. These recipes are so yummy they actually ate broccoli, and zucchini. My favorite recipes so far is the zucchini lasagna ( noodle free), The mongolian beef and broccoli, The naked Persian Turkey burgers, and the enchiladas look delicious but I have yet to try it. The chickpea greek salad is also very good. I love all of her recipes, and my waistline thanks her. Her recipes have real food that have been skinnified. If you're looking to eat healthier and lose weight as a result then I definitely recommend this book. The book itself sits on my coffee table since I am constantly picking it up, and is just plain beautiful and filled with beautiful pictures! I've made several recipes and have brought them for lunch the following day and my friends are always impressed, they've all asked me for the name of this book so they can order it too!

I originally purchased this cookbook in 2014 when it debuted, so I have waited a full 2 years for this review. I've been on the Skinnytaste bandwagon for many years now (2009) so I was over delighted when Gina released her first Skinnytaste cookbook. After two years of owning this gem, I've made about 95% of the recipes (and the 5% I haven't I don't plan on...because I know I won't like them). I have to say, I LOVE this cookbook. As with most of Gina's recipes, they are always a hit with my picky husband who refuses to eat vegetables unless I sneak them in. As other's have pointed out, this cookbook transcends the cookbook norm, with labels like gluten free, slowcooker, quick and easy and vegetarian, which makes it easy to decide what meals I want to prep for the week. Whether you follow a diet plan or not, you can make these recipes for yourself or for your family and know that you are using quality ingredients to make a wholesome, and delicious meal without expanding your waistline. Some complaints are that the meal prep is too in depth or takes too long, but I have to disagree. Yes, there are some meals that require extra prep time, but as a night shift nurse, I can easily wake up before my shift and prep a meal and still have time to eat it, and I'm not sacrificing any sleep! I love this cookbook so much that I actually purchased a cookbook stand so I could have it out on my countertop, I was tired of putting it away after every meal! I have also bought this cookbook for gifts for friends, who have instantly joined in on the Skinnytaste cult. If you're looking for a new cookbook with healthy delicious options, but still giving you that homecooked, comfort food taste, then look no further than The Skinnytaste Cookbook!

I have followed the Skinnytaste blog since 2010. I don't buy cookbooks anymore as I keep an iPad in the kitchen but I definitely wanted this one on my shelf! I was so pleased that it was so big, packed with recipes AND beautiful pictures. My husband and I have both lost 30 lbs over the past year and Skinnytaste recipes were a huge part of this accomplishment. Gina's Chicken Enchiladas, Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken and Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili are weekly staples in our house. My 2 year old gobbles them all down. My husband adores the enchiladas. There is a fair amount of prep in many of her recipes as others have pointed out (with the exception of the crock pot recipes of course) but pace yourself..it's totally worth it. The recipes have flavor, I promise! I put my toddler down for a nap one day last week and made 6 batches of enchilada sauce and tossed them in the freezer. We had some left over shredded chicken (crock pot style) and we tried her Buffalo Chicken melts (toddler didn't like but I didn't expect her to!) and I made Noodle-less Zucchini Lasagna yesterday (toddler had 2 helpings). After trying over 40 of Gina's recipes I've learned what to keep stocked in the pantry (SWANSON chicken broth, some special hot sauces, chili peppers in adobo sauce, cheeses, kosher salt) and I pick up lean meat and fresh veggies weekly. So nice to see my favorite recipes in the book and many new ones as well. I sip the Skinnytaste Kool-Aid as you can tell...Great job Gina!

the recipes are easy to follow and taste delicious.

Este libro igual que los otros 3 de Gina son los mejores libros de cocina. Me encanta todas las recetas. Están bien explicadas y son todas muy saludables y muy ricas. Me he aficionado a la cocina gracias a sus libros.

I bought this book after Skinny Taste Meal Prep and I can see that Gina has evolved her technique and structure of the books a lot (for the better). This book offers very nice recipes, easy to make and low in calories but it’s not as visual and rich in information as Meal Prep. Depending where you live, low fat ingredients can be difficult to find, and also some ingredients that are brands made in the US, other than that, her recipes are one of my favorites from the internet!

I bought this book almost a year ago, and it is amazing. I own a lot of cooking book, because I love to cook. This book/author was a beautiful discovery for me, the book contains a lot of pictures, lets admit it for cooking books pictures are important, and the instructions are clear, and most important, the ingredients are healthy without skipping the flavor. The flavor of this recepies are fabulous, I learn a ton of new spices mix and easy recipes thats are fast and big on flavor, so much compliment from people who had dinners at my house. I just bought her two other books. So if you like to cook, good recipes, with good ingredient, you like varieties and spices (not hot btw) this book is for you!!! highly recommed

C'est mon favoris , de tout les livres de cuisine que je peux avoir . Des recettes lights nombreuses , environ 150 , allant du petit-déjeuner au dîner en passant pas les mets végétariens et les desserts , toujours plus gourmands , les uns que les autres . Cependant , ce livre est en anglais , faire attention pour ceux qui ont des lacunes dans cette langue. De plus ce livre comporte de très belles images , et les recettes sont inratables et succulentes avec pleins de saveurs et faible en calories comme annoncer. Très belle achat , même si la livraison m'est parvenu en retard à cause du transporteur