cover image Weight Watchers 50th Anniversary Cookbook

Weight Watchers 50th Anniversary Cookbook

Weight Watchers. St. Martin's Griffin, $29.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-250-03640-7

For 50 years Weight Watchers has been helping dieters make sound choices through its science-based approach to nutrition, enabling people to enjoy their favorite foods while losing weight. In many cases that involves purchasing premade meals and following the program's point-based program (now called PointPlus, part of the new Weight Watchers 360 program). To complement that system, these points are included with each of the 250 recipes here, enabling followers to whip up classics like Cobb Salad or vegetable lasagna at home. But readers don't need to participate in the program to find worthwhile recipes%E2%80%94nutritional information is provided in conjunction with the points. Those expecting tired, recycled recipes from the program's early days will find them, but they'll also find calorie-friendly takes on Pad Thai, Tofu-Lentil Burgers, Oven-Fried Fish and Chips, Lamb Kebabs, and Boston Cream Pie. By relying on healthy cooking methods (such as baking instead of frying), using low-calorie and reduced-fat ingredients, and imparting flavor with fresh herbs and spices, readers will find they can create healthy, toothsome meals at home without sacrificing taste. That's great news for Weight Watchers followers, but those outside the program will also find this to be another perfectly acceptable low-cal, low-fat cookbook. (May)