cover image THE HEALTHY FAMILY COOKBOOK

THE HEALTHY FAMILY COOKBOOK

Hope Ricciotti, Vincent Connelly, . . Norton, $16.95 (408pp) ISBN 978-0-393-32419-8

Obstetrician/gynecologist Ricciotti and her chef/husband Connelly combine a wellness strategy and recipe book, believing healthy eating "should be your lifestyle—not a diet." With two sections ("Health and Nutrition" and "Recipes"), the authors' fitness plan leaves almost no dietary contingency unexamined. They explain the myriad healthy eating "pyramids" and sort through the carbohydrate conundrum. To underscore the connection between diet, exercise and health, they include body-mass index charts for adults and children. In assessing today's trend diets (including The Zone and Atkins), Ricciotti and Connelly maintain "it's not what you eat; it is how much you eat." To support their "Don't diet—learn to cook" thesis, the authors include a "Kids in the Kitchen" chapter, and healthful, straightforward recipes for dishes like Spinach with Raisins and Pine Nuts, Smoky Backyard Chicken, and Hummus with Horseradish. A chapter on kids' favorites includes Oven-Baked Tacos and Fish Sticks made from halibut fillet. Another on treats like smoothies and Frozen Chocolate-Marshmallow Soy Cream Pie complete the book. Orderly and brimming with commonsense advice for seeing and changing unhealthy eating patterns, this gimmick-free cookbook's creative yet substantial recipes should appeal to seasoned cooks or to any readers looking to improve their diet. (Aug.)