Healthy Cooking Cookbook Reviews

Over the years I have learned more about my meal plan needs. In doing this I learned about Gluten Free, low carbohydrates, and natural sweetener options. I have gathered many cookbooks and have learned how to gradually improve my dietary plan as well as a holistic plan for all of my health needs.

Today it is a list of my favorite cookbooks. I hope you find a great cookbook in this guide. They can help you to explore different recipes, learn about different cultural dishes, find new and exciting ways to cook when you need to leave out or add ingredients which are not traditionally common (such as gluten free or low sugar).

Think of ways to use cookbooks for gifts. There are several ideas on this page. And if you are collecting your favorite family recipes then be sure to create your very own cookbook as well (check for the software you can use to make the book right on your PC).

If you have decided on a gluten free diet.

Little did I know a year or so after I first heard of gluten free I myself would need to approach that lifestyle. We never know what lies ahead. One thing for sure is when I was told that might be a solution for me I wasn't completely in the dark and remembered where to look for the information.

I started spending more time at the grocery store until I discovered there are actually a lot of gluten free foods to choose from. Since I do not need to be strict on my gluten free meal plan, because I caught the issue so early perhaps, I am able to use items which may have been prepared in the same place as a gluten product. In other words... if I was only a little bit allergic to peanuts then I could eat items which were made in the same place as peanut products as long as peanuts were not in the product. While someone with a super sensitivity would not be able to have anything which was anywhere near a peanut.

Alternating & Limiting Sweeteners

With so many alternate sweeteners around and so many claims that they are all basically horrible for us it can be confusing.When I started looking at a low sweets meal plan (for weight maintenance) I started noticing I really didn't want to use an artificial sweetener.

So instead I have gone gradually UN-SWEET. When I use any sweetener I alternate between 'natural' sweeteners.

The only sweeteners I do not use at all are chemical.

Going Un-Sweet can be a challenge, but it isn't as difficult when you look at a few things and plan your meals. Ask yourself these questions when considering sweets.

• Is it a chemical sweetening?
• Has the sweetener been processed?
• Is it a natural sweetener but high in carbohydrates?

The goal is to:

• Remove chemical sweeteners from the meal plan.
• Gradually reduce processed sweeteners.
• Reduce the carbohydrate intake if they are higher than recommended (ask your health care professional what is right for you).

The gradually part is to adjust to moderation levels over a month or two. Which is healthy unless you have diabetes. If you do, please do this immediately and check your blood sugar levels often ask your doctor about the safest way for you to maintain a healthy blood sugar level.

Portion Meal Plans Made Easy

One of the things I did (and lost 40 pounds in 10 months) was to do a portion meal plan.

• Every three hours I would eat 2-300 calories. This was 5-6 times a day.
• That with a gradual walking program and the weight has gradually melted off.

Some say "10 Months?" then add " I have a plan you would have lost all that in half the time" well... awesome for anyone that works for.

For me the gradual way is the way I can ensure I will maintain all this over time. My whole outlook on food has changed. I am feeling better making better choices and when I am hungry I eat.

My overall health has improved and I have been better able to identify other areas I need to work on so I am approaching my self care in a holistic way.

I wish you the best in your journey to health.

Giving a cookbook is a great idea, but, it is even nicer when that book is part of a larger selection of gifts. For example. Make a great vegan dish and take it with you to a gathering. Wrap up the cookbook and give it to your hostess. "The recipe I used is in this book"

Another idea is to gather the ingredients (pantry shelf life items) and put them in a basket with the cookbook. The items they will need to get later will be anything which need refrigeration or is optional.

Why not add a cookbook in with an appliance gift. Such as a crock pot or bread maker for a wedding gift. Include a great cookbook with the appliance. This sparks a lot of ideas.

I have been studying what I need for my meal plan. Along the way I have shared about it and noticed there are many readers who are looking for the same answers I am.

These polls (to the right) will help me to know which topics I am learning about to share most often with you.

Thank you for taking the time to share your answers!