Customer Reviews

Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Cookbook: Delicious Recipes That Will Burn Fat and Re-Shape Your Body!

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I browsed the book at the store and saw a number of interesting recipes, so I bought it. I started reading it in detail at home and noticed immediately that the "Clean Granola" seemed to be relatively low in calories for 2/3 cup (208 calories, it states) while containing a large amount of nuts. Nuts are high in fat, so there had to be a mistake. Sure enough. I took the time to slowly find all caloric values for the endless list of ingredients, and when it was all added up and then divided to the specified amount of 2/3 cup, my calculator came up with ALMOST DOUBLE THE CALORIES. All I can say to this is if you sell a diet book that people believe to be the last diet they will ever be on, please be accurate!

A very small complaint... if it's got to be healthy and clean, why not inform the reader that UNsulphured dried fruits are widely available and much healthier?

And who can afford bison? Beef is getting almost too expensive, leave alone bison!

How about this one: page 45 "Coconut oil is valued by chefs for its high smoke point...", then on page 113 appears a chart showing coconut oil to have one of the lowest smoke points. So which is it????

If there are mistakes that a layperson like myself can easily pick out, how many more mistakes are there that I haven't found and furthermore, CAN I TRUST THIS BOOK AT ALL?

Many recipes contain odd ingredients... orange blossom water, for instance. I can't think of a shop to find that in, not living in the city, not living in a high income, gourmet-yuppie area... I'm beginning to suspect that there was a bit of desperation for new recipes for yet another new book in the Eat Clean series. That would explain why recipes from the other Eat Clean Diet Cookbook are repeated here (at least it's honestly stated) Maybe there were too many books published too fast to remain true to the cause. At least Oxygen magazine seems to suggest that there is a real cause, i.e. helping women achieve a healthy lifestyle for the rest of their soon-to-be-skinny lives. But then again, Tosca Reno is married to the publisher...

So, overall only two stars. There are some recipes that aren't going to break the bank with ingredients I can find easily; if it's important enough I will doublecheck the nutritional info to make sure the dish doesn't put me over my caloric and fat allowances. But, for all the hype about the new Tosca book.... well, nuff said.

Tosca's book is a beautiful treasure, with its slick thick paper and stunning photos--enough so to be a coffee table book. The Eat Clean diet is basically getting back to whole foods and making things from scratch, thus avoiding so many of the toxic preservatives as well as excitotoxins that food companies put in food to make them addictive. Tosca uses sea salt in her recipes, which is much more healthful than table salt. (Although she uses agave instead of sugar, its healthfulness is now questionable.) She also uses many herbs. Everything is fresh!

As the author of a raw food book, I enjoy seeing what is out there in the cooked world so I can make even more nutritious raw food versions. I found plenty of inspiration in this book. To my delight, some of the recipes are already raw! The book contains over 150 recipes. The chapters contain recipes from the following food categories: breakfast dishes; salads, grains and pilafs; appetizers; soups & stews; recipes from foods from her garden; entrees; baked goods & treats. The final chapter contains recipes from a party menu. Among those recipes is a most delicious one for kale chips (a favorite one I make in my dehydrator instead of the oven.)

Most noteworthy is how the information is presented for each recipe. The title is at the top, and just below are the prep time, cook time and yield. Below that is a list of ingredients needed. To make it easier to skim, the food itself is in a distinct color whereas the amount (ex: "tsp", "ml") and other info (ex: "with leaves") is in black. This way you can quickly see which ingredients you need to shop for. To the right of the ingredients is a paragraph about the main food or recipe. Below that are the step by step instructions for preparation. Finally, at the bottom is a listing of the nutritional value for one serving (usually one cup). This includes the calories; grams of protein, carbohydrates, fats, sugars; grams of fiber, trans fat, saturated fat; mg of cholesterol and sodium. Sometimes there are tips related to this dish as well. On the opposite page is a stunning colored photo of the dish. Sometimes there small information boxes above the colored photo, telling you for example which condiments to use with the dish, how to serve it, or other info on the dish.

Scattered throughout the book are 2-page information boxes with topics such as the health benefits of using herbs in cooking, specialty oils (such as pumpkinseed or avocado oil), the magic of mushrooms, and cooking game and other lean meats. The last page has a handy conversion table of liquid or volume measurements and dry or weight measurements.

I purchased this book with excitement, I even pre-ordered it! I purchased the first book and absolutely loved it. I have been a clean eater for many years. Tosca's first book was a great addition to my cookbook library. The follow up book to me seems "too much" yet at the same time "nothing". It has way too many ingredients and even some hard to find items. Then the extreme with filler recipes. What's the fascination with coconut products? Some recipes are almost boring. Trying to get the general population to even remotely eat healthy, let alone clean is a hugh task. If you make it too involved and to some too much effort, the book will either be sold as new/used or it will sit on the shelf. I don't see the passion in this book as with the first. The first book is clearly more of an example of clean eating. Simple, fast and tastes great. Tosca has lost touch with her roots on this book. If I want a real international cuisine cookbook, I will purchase a real international cookbook. Thanks, but no thanks.

I LOVE this new cookbook! I am a Eat-Clean Diet fan but have since become vegan. Guess what? There are 77 vegan recipes in this book as well as 41 vegetarian recipes. For all of you meat lovers don't worry there are 25 meat dishes as well and some of the vegan/vegetarian recipes could easily have the addition of meat if you wanted. Tosca also uses coconut oil in a few of the recipes and I'm so happy about that because it is such a nutritional powerhouse! Thanks Tosca for another fabulous book!!!

I got this book just a little while ago and am now obsessed with the recipes & eating clean! Reno's last cookbook was great but this one is even better! I love the Moroccan Pumpkin Soup, especially for a cold fall day and am impressed with the variations she's come up with. I definitely recommend this hardcover book for a gift or anyone looking to eat healthier but not wanting to give up the joy of food! Breakfast style bread pudding anyone?? :)

I am a big fan of Tosca and have enjoyed her other books, so I purchased this one hoping to add a greater variety of recipes to my current favorites. Although I like the format of the book and the beautiful photos, many of the recipes are just not appealing to me, and I know my family would never try them. I also agree with other reviewers that many of the unusual, hard to find ingredients prevent me from even wanting to try a recipe. If you only purchase one of Tosca's cookbooks, I would recommend the original Eat Clean Diet Cookbook.

The recipes in this book are great. I have one of her earlier books and just got this one for a friend as a christmas present.
The recipes are not necessarily "easy," particularly for a relatively novice chef like myself. However, eating these foods require a certain amount of commitment, and your pantry will need to hold an eclectic variety of very interesting foods (some of which might be difficult to find). This is really more of a lifestyle than just a simple diet. If you are interested in changing the way you shop, eat and think about food, then this book will certainly give you the tools to do so. When I am regularly "eating clean," I feel amazing. It does take some effort; it's not easy. It's a matter of establishing new routines.
As for the recipes in this book, I have made several and they are all absoutely delicous. You don't feel like you are sacrificing anything because you're not. These are not necesarily "low fat" foods, but wholesome unprocessed products that your body will love you for. I make several of her recipes on a regular basis (even if I'm not being as strict as I would like to be). They are just delicious.
The one qualm I have (since this is a gift for a friend) is that the book arrived with some damage to the front cover. I expected better from Amazon.
I reccomend these recipe books. They are good for you AND delicious. What could be better?

The recipes have alot of ingredients, some that I have never heard of. The instructions are not always clear. I will keep trying the recipes, maybe I will find one I enjoy!

I have all of Tosca's books and this is her best for recipes. I love the fact that it is a hard cover and that all of the pictures make you want to try everyone of them.

I bought this book two days ago and have not put it out of site. I LOVE IT. I have been so sick with food intolerances and inflammatory bowel disease that is easily triggered by foods. This book features recipes that are 100% safe for me to eat. There are no processed or packaged ingredients. Everything is prepared in its natural form. I am a registered dietitian and I feel this book would help anyone encompass healthful eating. I cannot say enough positive things about this wonderful book. Thank you to the author. I will look for more of her books in the future.