The Carbohydrate Addict's Cookbook: 250 All-New Low-Carb Recipes That Will Cut Your Cravings and Keep You Slim for Life (Hardcover)

by Rachael F. Heller (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Richard and Rachael Heller, both research scientists and professors, have taken the dieting world by storm with their bestselling Carbohydrate Addict's Diet and Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program. Now there's a companion cookbook, which adherents to their carbohydrate-cutting regimen can use from sunup to sundown without fear of straying from their dietary objectives. With only a short introduction on the basic goal of the diet--to limit insulin intake in order to lessen carbohydrate cravings and thereby lose weight--this cookbook presents 250 easy recipes that range from appetizers and breakfasts to meat, seafood, and vegetarian entrées and snacks.

Those who have not already read The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet or related titles and are not familiar with the program's strategy may at first find the many high-fat recipes included here counterintuitive to the notion of a diet. But the idea is simple: eliminate the foods that trigger overeating--starches, snack foods, and sweets--and replace them with protein-rich, fibrous meals that help to normalize blood-sugar levels and curb the impulse to binge. Such an approach allows for higher fat consumption--the body metabolizes fat more efficiently when there is less insulin in the blood stream--and even has the psychologically beneficial side effect of permitting a certain amount of indulgence. People usually leery of diets because they don't want to give up their weekly cheeseburger will be awed by recipes such as the egg- and cream-augmented Left Bank Burgers. Likewise, the Herbed Cheese Dip with cheddar, cream cheese, and sour cream is a startlingly deluxe accompaniment for the normally ascetic plate of raw veggies; the Crustless Spinach Pie entices with its rich mix of feta, Parmesan, eggs, herbs, and olive oil.

The Hellers' approach to cooking is by no means highbrow and their recipes are often simply no-starch variations on standard fare (Steak in a Blanket replaces the dough with romaine lettuce, for example). An unspecified teriyaki sauce is a staple in their kitchen, and experienced cooks may wonder if they really mean tamari or soy sauce. People who have health restrictions on salt and alcohol (a few recipes call for wine) will want to have the original Carbohydrate Addict's Diet book handy in order to look up suitable alternatives--they are not included with this cookbook. That inconvenience aside, dieters will have no qualms about these tasteful recipes as they eat their way toward a slimmer, healthier future. --Rebecca Wright

From Publishers Weekly
Authors of The Carbohydrate Addict's LifeSpan Program and The Carbohydrate's Addict's Diet, husband and wife physicians Richard and Rachel Heller have now compiled a series of recipes designed for readers following their popular eating plan. The recipes follow the principle of "insulin balance." When a person's insulin level is lower, he or she craves fewer carbohydrates, eats less sugar and, therefore, loses weight. In addition, having a balanced insulin level leads to overall good health by lowering the risk of diabetes and heart problems. An array of easy-to-follow recipes for appetizers, salads, main dishes, breakfasts and snacks are included. The recipes are generally simple and require relatively few ingredients. Seafood dishes such as Broiled Swordfish with Cilantro Oil and Steamed Mussels Peppercorn are particularly appealing. However, readers unfamiliar with the principles of the Carbohydrate Addict's Diet may find the fat-content of many recipes disconcerting. Creamy Veal Chops call for a cup of heavy cream, for example, and Hungarian Chicken Paprikash requires a cup of sour cream. The Hellers use a lot of red meat, and other recipes also include mayonnaise, butter or bacon. The book would have been more helpful if sample daily or weekly meal plans were included, as well as basic information on the carbohydrate plan itself. In the end, this new title works better as a companion to the Hellers' other books than it does as than a stand-alone volume. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 291 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1st edition (March 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471382906
• ISBN-13: 978-0471382904
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #111,336 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

230 of 233 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, I like to cook again!, April 8, 2000

By	Sheri Sinykin "sherics" (Wisconsin & Arizona) - See all my reviews

I have been on so many diets in my life--and all they ever did was leave me fatter, crankier, and hating to cook, because of all the weighing, measuring, and special foods I had to fix for me (that no one else would eat). I've been following the Hellers' Carbohydrate Addicts Lifespan Program, with wonderful results on all fronts--weight down, cholesterol and trigylcerides down, energy up, creativity up, and mood soaring (good-bye, Prozac!)--but I was getting tired of fixing the same old "basic" proteins, salads, and vegetables for me and my family. This cookbook makes cooking FUN again. My husband and kids eat these recipes and don't even think of them as "Mom's diet food." (Mainly, because they are NOT diet foods--they are healthy choice foods that control my appetite and cravings, while allowing my body to release stored fat). Each night has become an adventure. I especially like the unusual ways spices are used--allspice in chicken, jalapenos in green beans, for example. Those who follow the Hellers' plans do not count calories, fats, carbs, or weigh and measure food--so there is no NEED for all this kind of information (as some other reviews suggested). We balance our meals visually, and can enjoy traditional carbs (again, in balance) during a one-hour "Reward" meal each day. This is truly a way of life, and for once, I am enjoying my life while losing weight. I don't even THINK of the way I eat as dieting anymore. It is just what I do to balance my insulin levels. And it's nice to no longer hate that daily chore--cooking. Thanks Drs. Heller! I'm so grateful.

110 of 112 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY, THE COOKBOOK!, April 11, 2000

By A Customer

It's about time is all I can say! I've bought all the Hellers other books & have been using them. While each of their books have been helpful at helping me keep up with the program, I frankly found the recipes kind of duplicative. This book is refreshing! It's totally re-motivated me on the Hellers diet (promise it can do the same for you!), because it's given me tons of new meals to try. You can't get bored with this diet plan now. By they way, if you haven't tried the Hellers diet, you should. Beyond the fact that I've lost 20 pounds, I've also been able to significantly cut down my daily insulin medication. The only thing I've changed about my lifestyle is my diet, so it ain't hard to figure out what's helping! Thanks for FINALLY giving us great, real-world recipes that ANY ONE can make and enjoy!

122 of 129 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Little Disappointing, June 17, 2000

By	Donna (Michigan) - See all my reviews

I was hoping this book would be better than it is. Buffalo Wings and Chicken Salad for breakfast? So many of these recipies call for terriyaki sauce, but I haven't been able to find a terriyaki sauce with less than 18 grams of carb per serving. A much better low carb cookbook is The Low-Carb Cookbook by Fran McCullough. Besides the wonderfully delicious recipes, Ms. McCullough also provides low carb pantry-stocking suggestions and even a little carb education. She also includes protien, fat and carbohydrate counts for each recipe --something I was shocked not to find in the Heller's book.