For a number of years, as an independent contractor, I displayed and sold books to the staff at various workplaces. The one popular item that I always wanted to have at least one of in my displays was a cookbook. For some reason, cookbooks were (and are) hard to resist! I probably sold more cookbooks than any other type of book. I’m not so sure everyone was looking for the best easy healthy cookbooks – to a degree, maybe – but cookbooks with simple recipes were definitely popular.
For example, I sold “The Four Ingredient Cookbook” and “The Three Ingredient Cookbook.” A can of this, a package of that, throw it together, and – presto, a delicious meal! Those cookbooks were extremely popular.
Healthy Can Be Easy
This concept is what we promote on this website! We believe that not only can healthy be easy, much of the time it is actually easier (and cheaper).
But it does take planning. You don’t have to sit down and spend hours over an Excel spreadsheet, but you need to plan when you shop, and plan when you cook.
Some people have a “sixth sense” for what foods go together. For myself, I enjoy experimenting with foods, and I make my own “mental cookbook” as I go along! If foods seem to go well together, I make a mental note of it, and if I like it, I’ll eat it again and again.
But for those who don’t have that sense, and even for those of us who do, it can be nice to have a little guidance and direction from time to time! That’s where an easy healthy cookbook comes in.
In this post, we’re reviewing and recommending two cookbooks to help us in this process.
“The Easy 5-Ingredient Healthy Cookbook” – order here.
“The Well-Plated Cookbook” – order here.
The Easy 5-Ingredient Healthy Cookbook
The Easy 5-Ingredient Healthy Cookbook is a match made in heaven for the beginning or otherwise culinarily-challenged cook who wants to eat a healthy diet. It’s easy to understand and follow, and fun and engaging.
In addition to the recipes themselves, this cookbook is a treasure trove of great basic cooking information that everyone can find useful, no matter what their cooking skill level. It’s full of tips for healthy eating, and guidelines for clean eating.
The 140+ recipes in this cookbook are made with only 5 main ingredients, plus a list of kitchen staples like olive oil and salt and pepper that you can use to flavor the main ingredients. This makes shopping and preparing a grocery list relatively simple. There are shopping tips and lists of easy-to-find ingredients to make shopping even easier. The ingredients are generally not expensive, and shouldn’t be wallet-breakers.
Most of the recipes take less than 30 minutes to prepare – which can make them game-changers for a busy meal-preparer. Who has hours to spend in the kitchen each day? Even if you are a “stay-at-home” mom (or dad), there is a plethora of other things to do.
One cool thing about the recipes in this cookbook: you only need one pot or pan to cook each meal!
This cookbook explains how to customize recipes by changing up the ingredients. You are given tips on how to make a fancier version of the basic recipe if you wish.
Recipes are grouped according to dietary specifications, and include vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free and vegetarian options. There are American “comfort” foods – and foods from all over the world.
I don’t think there are truly any cons to this cookbook! It’s a great addition to your collection that will not likely be sitting on the shelf for a long time gathering dust. You’ll be pulling it out on a regular basis.
To get this cookbook, place your order here.
The Well-Plated Cookbook
The Well Plated Cookbook is a well-reviewed cookbook that contains over 130 recipes. They are nutritious, tasty, and simple to prepare. While this cookbook doesn’t follow the 5-ingredient rule that “The Easy 5-Ingredient Healthy Cookbook” does, the thrust of the book is the same – to give the aspiring healthy cook a leg up with uncomplicated yet intriguing recipes that use readily available and affordable ingredients. It is very well written and not hard to follow. Some of the recipes feature one single ingredient – which is used in numerous different ways with different results.
For the food picture lovers, there are gorgeous photos of the various dishes.
Recipes in the book are organized by meal category, featuring chapters on breakfast, appetizers, salads, soups, main courses, and sweets. There are lots of traditional-type dishes and non-traditional as well. The author shares secrets about how to “lighten up” standard food dishes. There is truly a broad spectrum of recipes to choose from. There’s information on how to change the recipes to fit specific diets, like gluten-free or vegan. There are a number of actual vegan and vegetarian recipes in the cookbook, for those who are adhering to those diets.
The recipes are practical, budget-friendly, and can be prepared quickly. You can easily find the ingredients in your typical supermarket. Swap-out items are mentioned which you can use to replace an ingredient in the recipe. In particular, the author gives you healthier alternatives to the ingredients in the recipe, if you wish to be sneaky and make it healthier – hopefully without anybody noticing!
All in all, a really interesting, fun and innovative cookbook that might just be your ticket to a new level of simple and healthy eating!
To get this cookbook, place your order here.
You Probably DO Need a Cookbook
Why might you need a cookbook? A cookbook – if it’s a proper one with simple and healthy recipes like the ones in the cookbooks reviewed in this post – helps make your life simpler. You don’t have to do the “heavy lifting,” someone has done it for you.
A cookbook also guides your shopping experience. You look at the recipe, you know what you need, you make a note of it, and buy it at the supermarket. If you have a plan and follow it, chances are you will save money.
In Summary…
It’s hard to say if these two books are the absolute best, you’re always free to browse Amazon or your local bookstore for lots more options. But these two are great.
If you have anything to add to this, any experiences with awesome cookbooks that do the job for you and guide you on a simple path to healthy eating, for example – feel free to share in the comment section below!
