Book Description If you are ready to make a life change for the sake of better health, look no further than this simple, no-frills guide to healthy eating. In the pages of
Get Real and Stop Dieting!, fitness instructor and wellness expert Brett Blumenthal cuts through the chaos of fad diets and scientific mumbo jumbo to demystify healthy eating once and for all. After decades of experience in the health and wellness industries, Blumenthal has zeroed in on five simple “Get Real” principles, nutritional tools founded in cold, hard facts. The principles are accompanied by the “Get Real” toolkit to make implementing them easy and effective. Plus, Blumenthal provides forty pages of healthy, satisfying recipes—from whole-grain pancakes to rich chocolate clusters—to help readers launch their nutritional makeover. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated. Now, thanks to this easy-to-implement diet and nutrition program, you too can be inspired, empowered, and motivated to live a healthier, happier life.
From Get Real and Stop Dieting: Chicken Piccata 
Chicken Piccata is, by far, one of my favorite dishes for easy and satisfying entertaining. Spices are what make this dish so tasty: capers, lemon, rosemary, thyme, and parsley combine perfectly to create a wonderful flavor that will have your guests wanting seconds! (Makes 4 Servings)
Ingredients
- 4 cups diced small red potatoes
- Canola oil cooking spray
- 3 tablespoons rosemary
- 3 tablespoons thyme
- 1/3 cup whole-wheat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 pound chicken breasts (four 4-ounce breasts)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth—low sodium
- 1/4 cup capers
- 1/8 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup white wine
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- 3 cups asparagus—ends snapped and cut
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
Directions
Potatoes. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread a single layer of red potatoes evenly in a baking dish. Spray with a very light coating of canola oil. Evenly sprinkle rosemary and thyme over top. Bake for 45 minutes, misting them with oil and shaking them every 15 minutes to ensure they cook evenly. Five minutes before serving, broil potatoes to get them extra crispy.
Chicken. Mix whole-wheat flour, salt, and pepper and spread evenly in a shallow dish. Beat eggs in a wide bowl. Dip each breast into the eggs and then coat with a thin layer of wheat flour on all sides. Pat off excess flour. Spray bottom of pan with 2-second spray of canola oil cooking spray. Set on medium heat. Add breasts to pan and cook until outsides of breasts are light brown (approximately 2–3 minutes on each side). Transfer to a platter and keep warm. Using same pan, spray another 1-second spray of canola oil and add garlic. Cook for 30 seconds. Add chicken broth, capers, lemon juice, and cooking wine, and bring to a boil. Add chicken and put thin slices of lemon over chicken. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes.
Asparagus. Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add asparagus and cook until bright green. Remove from pot and drain. Run cold water over asparagus. Serve potatoes, asparagus, and chicken together, and sprinkle the 2 tablespoons of parsley on top for presentation.
From Get Real and Stop Dieting!: Angel Layer Food Cake from Heaven 
A slice of this cake will remind you of heaven! I love making this dessert for guests because it is easy, delicious, and beautiful. It’s also low in fat and offers a bit of protein. It is a great way to end a fun-filled evening with friends—just get ready for lots of compliments. (Makes 12 Servings)
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup whole-wheat flour or whole-wheat pastry flour
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 12 large egg whites—room temperature
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 2 teaspoons almond extract
- Angel food cake pan
- 2 1/2 cups Truwhip topping*
- 1 kiwi—peeled and cut crosswise into 1/8-inch slices
- 1/2 cup strawberries—stemmed and cut lengthwise into 1/8-inch slices 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1 small banana—cut into 1/8-inch slices
Directions
Cake. Preheat oven to 325°F. Blend whole-wheat flour in food processor until very fine (if using whole-wheat pastry flour, you don’t need to do this). Sift together finely blended flour, ¾ cup of the sugar, and cornstarch in a bowl. Set aside.
Beat egg whites, salt, and cream of tartar until they form soft peaks. Gradually, add remaining ½ cup of sugar and almond extract, and beat until mixed. Gently fold in flour mixture, one third at a time. Pour into angel food cake pan and bake for 1 hour or until cake is springy when poked. Remove from oven and invert cake to cool. Allow it to cool completely before removing from pan.
Decoration. Defrost Truwhip in refrigerator for 4 hours prior to decorating (do not microwave). Once cake is completely cooled from baking, remove from pan and cut in half to create an upper layer and a lower layer. Using a spatula, evenly apply a layer of truwhip onto the top of cake’s lower layer.
Take a portion of the kiwi, strawberries, blueberries, and bananas, and place into truwhip to create a single layer of fruit. Place upper layer of cake on top. Use rest of truwhip to evenly coat sides and top of cake. When done, use remainder of kiwi, strawberries, blueberries, and banana to decorate cake on the top and sides, creating a beautiful, colorful, and tasty dessert.
Store any unused portion in a sealed container and refrigerate.
* Truwhip is an all-natural whipped topping that has zero trans fats, no hydrogenated oils, and no GMOs, making it a better product than other whipped toppings.
"Where other books offer quick-fix dieting fads, Brett Blumenthal offers a refreshing approach to healthy eating as a lifestyle. Whether you've been dieting for years or are already on a path to healthy living,
Get Real is a fantastic resource that's relevant for a lifetime." --Lauren Mackler - Bestselling Author of
Solemate: Master the Art of Aloneness & Transform Your Life "
Get Real is a refreshingly pragmatic and easy guide to leading a healthier lifestyle. It's the 'diet book' for people who hate diet books!" --Andrew Brooks - Founder, Gnu Foods
"While many people want to lose weight and try a wide variety of 'fad diets,' most dieters fail at dieting or regain the lost weight once they achieve their goal.
Get Real and Stop Dieting! offers a no nonsense approach to a healthy lifestyle that will make a huge difference to anyone who follows its precepts. Ms. Blumenthal has done a superb job of demystifying the subject and presenting, in lay terminology, facts and strategies that make healthy eating understandable, possible and...yes...even enjoyable." --William H. Koch, M.D.
"Brett Blumenthal's approach to a healthier and leaner body is presented in a straightforward, no nonsense way.
Get Real and Stop Dieting! shows you how to 'keep it natural' while keeping it simple!" --Pete Cerqua - Author of
The 90-Second Fitness Solution "Insightful, clear and concise! Brett Blumenthal's
Get Real and Stop Dieting! is a wonderful guide to better health." --Alex Ong - Author of
Mind Your Own Wellness
