Cookbook Showcase: Recipes chart course to a healthier lifestyle

In a nutshell: Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook, Momentum program edition covers every aspect of a meal, from stock and sauces, to marinades and dry rubs, to appetizers to breads and desserts — all of it prepared to fit the guidelines of the company's popular and successful weight-loss plan. Though the book includes a synopsis of the Weight Watchers program (encouraging readers to visit a meeting for more information), it offers great information for anyone who wants to embark on a healthier lifestyle.

Features: 500 recipes for such staples as the Classic Hamburger and Spicy Meatloaf and exotic dishes such as Raita, an east Indian condiment, and Red Snapper Seviche, a Spanish appetizer in which raw fish cooks in lime juice. There are plenty of luscious-sounding low-calorie desserts. Most recipes come with tips, such as suggestions on where to find unusual ingredients or time-saving substitutes.

Pluses: These dishes are very accessible. Very few have long ingredient lists and few have complicated directions. They don't call for weird substitutions to reduce fat or sugar, instead focusing on spices and alternate preparations to save calories. As a Weight Watchers member, I've tried several of the company's recipes, and I have yet to find one that doesn't taste at least as good as its higher-calorie counterpart. Many taste better because they're heavy on fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs instead of processed food. This cookbook appears to be no exception. Each recipe offers a Points count (every member gets a certain number of Points per day), along with standard nutrition information: calories, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbs, fiber, protein and calcium.

I also like the book's format: a three-ring binder that sits flat on the counter. The type is big enough for my middle-aged eyes, and the layout has enough white space to make it very readable. And the numerous photographs are gorgeous.

Minuses: Because recipes call for fresh ingredients, lean meats and sometimes unusual spices, they aren't the most economical dishes to prepare. That's less a cookbook problem than a problem of following a healthier lifestyle in general: It's cheaper in the short run to buy processed foods, fat-laden cheese and cheap, more fat-filled cuts of meat. But you get a trade-off in the long run — you have more energy, fewer doctor bills and the potential to live longer.

We tried: Provençal Chicken Strips

The verdict: This was an absolute snap to put together: You sauté boneless breasts, add garlic, chopped tomatoes, shallots, capers, fresh rosemary and red wine vinegar, and you have a fresh-tasting feast in about 15 minutes. It is served over whole-wheat pasta. The recipe called for parsley, which I forgot to buy, but it didn't seem to suffer without it. I also substituted red onions for the shallots (the shallots on my counter had gone bad). It seemed to be a fine substitution.

Contact the writer:

444-1342, betsie.freeman@owh.com

« Food & Dining

Share