cover image Half the Sugar All the Love: A Family Cookbook

Half the Sugar All the Love: A Family Cookbook

Jennifer Tyler Lee and Anisha Patel. Workman, $22.95 (224p) ISBN 978-1-5235-0423-7

Lee (New Foods Challenge) and Patel, an associate professor of pediatrics at Stanford University, offer alternatives to sugary store-bought, processed food in this collection of 100 low-sugar, family-friendly dishes that don’t lack in flavor. The authors here eschew added sugar, fruit juice, and concentrate in favor of more fibrous “whole or pureed fruit and vegetables.” An overnight French toast strata with raspberry sauce (made with fresh raspberries and maple syrup) calls for one teaspoon of sugar compared to 16 in many other recipes; carrots are subbed for sugar in tomato soup; and using dark chocolate in chocolate chip cookies reduces the need for sugar. The recipes run the gamut and include barbecue chicken with grilled corn salad, rainbow chard lasagna with tomato sauce, and a sugar-free blueberry pie. Kid-friendly favorites like DIY toaster pastries, maple caramel corn, stuffed chicken parmesan strips with marinara dipping sauce, and sloppy joes are sure to win over the harshest (and youngest) critics in the house. This is a smart choice for families interested in improving their diet. (Jan.)