Customer Reviews

The Biggest Loser Cookbook: More Than 125 Healthy, Delicious Recipes Adapted from NBC's Hit Show

5 star:		(120)
4 star:		(39)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Based on the NBC hit show "The Biggest Loser," this colorful cookbook is a plus to anybody's library that is trying to lose weight or even just eat healthy. The promise of the book is that eating healthy can be quick and delicious AND it doesn't have to mean bland, tasteless food- and the book delivers.

Readers will find a short review of the Biggest Loser's way to lose weight- which is sensible- you eat right and exercise. Then comes the heart of the book- over 100 recipes for the various meals like breakfast, snacks, etc. And unlike a lot of cookbooks, each recipe shows you exactly how many calories, fat grams, protein grams, carb grams, fiber grams, sodium, and cholesterol it contains- which is nice for a wide variety of other populations such as those with diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease.

A sensible and practical cookbook, a lot of people will probably get their money's worth. Also recommend Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff if a shoulder problem keeps you from getting all the benefits of lifting weights.

Last year I weighed 530 pounds. After being inspired by the TV show The Biggest Loser, I have lost 140 pounds so far. I still have about 200 more pounds to go. I KNOW that with recipes and meals like the ones featured in this book, that I will be able to reach my weight loss goals. The thing that I appreciate most about this cookbook is that the recipes are simple and easy to follow. I am a bachelor and am not an experienced cook but this book makes me look like a pro. I have been asked by so many people how I've lost the amount of weight that I have. The answer is simple...eat less (make healthier food choices and portion control), move more (daily exercise) and drink lots of water. The Biggest Loser has shown me how to lose my weight - The Biggest Loser Cookbook is helping to keep me going!! PS The Blueberry Pancakes are out of this world! Yumm!!

I've recently taken up the hobby of buying cookbooks which, it was believed, would help me eat properly and lose weight. I've spent a LOT of time and money researching ways to lose weight healthily and tastily. I'm not a big cook and most of the cookbooks I have bought recently left my mouth-watering but not satisfied.

Not so with this cookbook! The recipes are the simplest things I've ever made. I made the Not Really Fried Rice this last weekend, and it was so simple and tasty! Tonight, we are eating the Jerk Salmon. My favorite things to snack on to satisfy my sweet tooth are the graham-wiches. They are so tasty and so low in calories I don't have to worry about it!

I've never counted calories before so the first week was a little hard for me to get used to - that and being careful about what I eat. But now, I feel like a pro and have total confidence on what I put into my body! Plus, the recipes have really added some 'spice' to our otherwise boring and mundane meal-plan.

I have both the Biggest Loser Weight Loss Program and now the cookbook. I have lost four pounds in the last two weeks. I highly recommend this cookbook for anyone wanting to lose weight and do it healthily! This is a great investment in your health!

I was disappointed in this book, though the other reviews should have served as a warning. This book contains a lot of information about the "plan" - diet and exercise - and the show - trainers and contestants - before it gets to the recipes. Once you get to the recipes, quite a few of them show the influence of the author's other cookbook seeming almost fast-food like, while still others, coming from the contestants themselves show their own styles and preferences. For that reason, there were fewer recipes that really excited me than I had hoped. Still, there are some definite "keepers" and if you are a fan of the show, you will like this book.

at how much I like this book. It has recipes in it that are good and good for you, even if you are not struggling (too much) with weight.

The book includes over 125 recipes developed by a chef who was well known as a celebrity chef for her good tasting but still good for you recipes.

I gave this 4 stars because there is a section in the beginning that profiles all the people who have been on The Biggest Loser, which was not my favorite part of the book, but for the TV show fans, they might like it. And, there is another chapter that is listed as the Biggest Loser exercise plan, but it really does not go into any depth at all, and just mentions how good exercise is for you.

However, then you get to the other chapters, beginning with the 4-3-2-1 food pyramid, which guides you to how many servings of each food group are suggested if you want to plan a menu. That makes it pretty easy to plan. The rest of the chapters are Breakfasts; Hearty Snacks; Sandwiches, Soups and Stews; Sides and Salads; Main Courses; and Sweet Snacks. This is the real "meat" of the book (pun intended). Some recipes were not to my taste, but some, like the Breakfast Sausage or the Ground Turkey Nachos, or especially the Chicken Lettuce Wraps, are quite good tasting.

There are photos of some, but not all of the foods, but each offering does have calorie and nutrition counts included.

This could be a good addition to your cookbook shelf(ves), if you are looking for a calorie minded, but real food cookbook.

I don't cook, but I have found Ms. Alexander's recipe's to be easy to follow and very tasty too! I can't believe that they are low cal and low fat, because they are very high in taste!

Love it, Love it, Love it ... ... you have all opened up "diet" cookbooks hoping there is that little secret in there on how to eat what you love and be healthy at the same time and the pictures look great and then you cook it and blahhh!!! Well that is NOT this cookbook. It is real food, great comfort recipes, something for everyone, easy to prepare, and dishes you can serve to your hubby and he never knows any different!!! And the icing on the cake ... all the great motivational stories, great tips and help from the people we know and love from the Biggest Loser hit show! ENJOY!!!!

6/23/2008

THE BIGGEST LOSER COOKBOOK
More than 125 Healthy, Delicious Recipes
Adapted from NBC'S Hit Show

By Chef Devin Alexander, et al

(picture jacket here)

A review by Marty Martindale

The whole Biggest Loser concept is good, it seems, for these times, in that they have dealt with not only the food and its recipes, but a pyramid, general instruction for good sense and several graded workouts with Bob Harper and students on CD. This is a good program for these times when weight seems a problem for too many.

The Biggest Loser Diet is "calorie-controlled, carbohydrate-modified, fat-reduced and high in protein (which controls hunger.)" They want you to eat three meals and two snacks each day. "The 4-3-2-1 Biggest Loser Pyramid" is four tiers, the base, or largest is fresh fruits and vegetables, the next level is protein foods, seafood, cheese, beans, fish and yogurt. The second from the top level is whole grains, your breads, cereals and wheat pasta. The top level, or "The Extras" are sweets with a 200 calorie daily limit. They have an equation for your calorie quota: if you weigh between 150 and 300, multiply your weight by seven, and this is the number of calories you should keep your maximum to. Some simple pointers: No white potatoes, limit amount of starchy vegetables such as pumpkin, winter squash, sweet potatoes and yams. Avoid dry fruits. Choose whole fruits over juices. Vary your proteins and limit red meat servings to two a week. Avoid processed cold cuts. There's a few more guidelines, but nothing too restrictive, really common sense.

They divide the recipe section into Breakfasts, Hearty Snacks, Sandwiches-Soups-Stews, Sides & Salads, Main Courses and Sweet Snacks. Here's some examples:

MANGO STRAWBERRY BREAKFAST SUNDAE: Calls for orange juice, ice cubes, honey and high-fiber, low-sugar cereal

SUNRISE OATMEAL: Orange juice, oats, blueberries, water and orange extract

BRIAN'S BREAKFAST SCRAMBLE: Green bell pepper, onion, tomato, egg whites, and Cheddar cheese

COCKTAIL-HOUR TUNA TARTARE: Mango, cucumber, lime juice, cilantro, green onions and sesame oil

JESSICA'S "THE RANCH" BLT WRAP: Turkey bacon, wheat tortilla, Galeo's Miso Caesar Dressing, lettuce and tomato

PB & J SPIRALS: Wheat flour tortilla, peanut butter and strawberry all-fruit spread

PAM'S COTTAGE CHEESE MARINARA: Cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese and spaghetti sauce

JEN'S ASPARAGUS GUACAMOLE: Add sour cream, guacamole seasoning mix and tomato.

INDIAN CHICKEN SALAD POCKETS: Mayonnaise, lime juice, curry paste, cucumber, red onion, wheat pita and lettuce

MATT'S GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH: Rye bread, Cheddar cheese and oil spray

PARMESAN-PEPPER SWEET POTATO FRIES: Olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne and ketchup, if desired.

DANA'S SPINACH AND FETA BROWN RICE: Onion, garlic and feta cheese.

PARMESAN-ROASTED CAULIFLOWER: Parsley, garlic powder and olive oil

FRESH AND COLORFUL JICAMA SLAW: Cucumber, carrots, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil and red pepper flakes

BROCCOLI SALAD WITH SWEET VINAIGRETTE: Orange juice, plain yogurt, mustard, orange marmalade and red onion

HOT AND COLD BROWN-RICE SALAD: Chicken, broccoli florets, bell pepper, red onion, Italian dressing, and balsamic vinegar

DARI'S PICANTE CHICKEN: Picante sauce, cream cheese and Cheddar cheese

HEATHER'S MEXICAN ROLLUP: Ground turkey, extra-lean, wheat tortilla, sour cream, romaine, tomato and salsa

ANGEL HAIR WITH ROCKIN' RED CLAM SAUCE: Onion, garlic, baby clams, tomatoes, oregano, olive oil, red-pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese

ICED BUFFED MOCHA: Powdered coffee, chocolate soy milk, vanilla yogurt, Splenda, fat-free whipped topping and cocoa powder

RASAH AND EDWIN'S WARM GRAPEFRUIT DESSERT: Add ground cinnamon and bake.

TIFFANY'S CANDIED ALMONDS: Butter spray, almonds, cinnamon and Splenda

In a world where too many are jeopardizing their health by carrying too much weight, the whole Biggest Loser program, the exercises, advice and recipies are well worth considering.

You can reach Marty Martindale at Food Site of the Day.

Special interests: Healthy Living

I am not on this diet. I am actually on Weight Watchers, but this book is VERY WW friendly.

The recipies are easy and delishious. I have made some dishes for my husband and he LOVED it.

This has got to be the best cookbook I have owned.

I was expecting a book that was filled with recipes that the show and/or trainers had the contestants eating to help them lose the weight. Instead it was full of recipes the contestants themselves came up with after the fact. Just okay, nothing out of the ordinary. Creative recipe names.