The Jenny Craig Cookbook: Cutting Through the Fat

With thousands of people enrolled in her weight-loss centers across the country, Craig has a sizable audience already in place. Their numbers should increase substantially with Craig's first cookbook, in which she combines her friendly, inspirational approach with an abundance of simple, full-flavored recipes. Fat-cutting substitutions are basic though never extreme (skim milk, margarine, vegetable cooking spray), and maximum mileage is gotten from spices and in-season fruits and vegetables. Regional and ethnic flavors abound in the opening menu-planning section, which contains suggestions for ``Dinner in the Bayou'' and ``Rustic Italian Lunch.'' The chapter on breads is particularly strong, filled with recipes for such comforting selections as Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes and Cinnamon-Raisin Batter Bread. Sections on nutrition (featuring the USDA food pyramid with complex-carbohydrates base), calorie counting and exercise offer commonsense tips that are sure to motivate those making lifestyle changes. Major ad/promo; author tour. (Jan.)