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The SparkPeople Cookbook: Love Your Food, Lose the Weight
From the team that brought you SparkPeople.com, America’s #1 weight-loss and fitness site, and the New York Times bestseller The Spark, comes The SparkPeople Cookbook. This practical yet inspirational guide takes the guesswork out of making delicious, healthy meals and losing weight. Award-winning chef Meg Galvin and SparkRecipes editor Stepfanie Romine have paired up to create this collection of more than 160 all-new satisfying, sustaining, and stress-free recipes that streamline your healthy-eating efforts. With a focus on real food, generous portions, and great flavor, these recipes are not part of a fad diet. They aren’t about obscure ingredients, eliminating key components of a balanced diet, or slaving away at the stove. They are about making smart choices and eating food you love. But this is more than a collection of recipes—it’s an education. The SparkPeople philosophy is about encouraging people to achieve personal goals with the support of others. So along with the recipes, you’ll find step-by-step how-tos about the healthiest, most taste-enhancing cooking techniques; lists of kitchen essentials; and simple ingredient swaps that maximize flavor, while cutting fat and calories, plus you’ll read motivational SparkPeople success stories from members who have gone through life-changing transformations. In addition, you’ll · Results from the SparkPeople “Ditch the Diet” Taste Test, which proves that you don’t have to eat tasteless food to lose weight. · 150 meal ideas and recipes that take 30 minutes or less to prepare—plus dozens of other meals for days when you have more time. · Two weeks of meal plans that include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. So whether you’re a novice taking the first steps to improve your health or a seasoned cook just looking for new, healthy recipes to add to your repertoire, this cookbook is for you. Learn to love your food, lose the weight, and ditch the diet forever!
467 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2011
49 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 4, 2024
Informative and inspiring book!
Wow! This book is loaded with information, inspiring stories, recipes and two sample menus. It sounds like a great life change. I'll have to wait until my kids move out to try it though.
Wow! This book is loaded with information, inspiring stories, recipes and two sample menus. It sounds like a great life change. I'll have to wait until my kids move out to try it though.
June 18, 2011
Cookbooks can be a lot of fun and this one is no exception. Spark People is an organization that helps people lead healthier lives by promoting good eating habits and exercise. Nothing new, right? Well, I found some new ideas and think you will too. The book begins with tips and tricks as well as the success stories of real people. The Get Ready section helps you find out how to be a satisfied, sustained, and stress free diner. The Get Cooking section helps you prepare for cooking not only with the food, but also with your kitchen. There are sample meal plans, a guide to portion sizes, and more. Some of the many recipes are: Garlic Chicken Slaw in Lettuce Cups; French Onion Soup with Whole Wheat Croutons; Cornish Hens with Apple-Pecan Stuffing; Spinach Salad with Cherries and Pomegranate Vinaigrette; and Baked Starburst Fries. Come on and give this cookbook a try. What have you got to lose?
I am having a lot of fun with this cookbook. The recipes are normal foods, so they fit into a normal lifestyle. The difference is in the preparation, and the guidance is all in the book. I really love trying the recipes, especially the smoothies. Thank you to Net Galley for the copy I have on my Nook. I can't wait to buy a copy!
I am having a lot of fun with this cookbook. The recipes are normal foods, so they fit into a normal lifestyle. The difference is in the preparation, and the guidance is all in the book. I really love trying the recipes, especially the smoothies. Thank you to Net Galley for the copy I have on my Nook. I can't wait to buy a copy!
April 29, 2013
It is always pleasing to see a a big, fat cookbook that aims to help you lose weight - it just feels right in an irrational, hard-to-explain way. And this is a b-i-g book!
SparkPeople is a major U.S.-based weight-loss and fitness website and this book offers up over 160 different recipes built on "real-food, generous portions and great flavours" principles. The central chain of thought is that if you have recipes that you enjoy, that use everyday ingredients and do not require you be chained to the kitchen for hours on end, you are more likely to follow them and not put on the pounds. This reviewer can agree with that. All too many weight-loss books appear to be fanatical, faddish or unrealistic with their aims. The aims themselves sound good yet achieving them and continuing to achieve them is a different matter.
At the start of the book there is a lengthy introduction, a major look at how we eat, the science of dieting and weight-loss psychology and a primer to the kitchen and the art of cooking for those who need it. Plus what seems to be "obligatory" success stories. Now this reviewer might be unduly sceptical but a book of this nature is not likely to feature mini profiles of people who tried and failed to diet/lose weight/go forward so why "waste" pages on this schmaltz. It could be a cultural thing but in any case these inoffensive profiles seemed to just devalue or cheapen the overall programme. Your views may vary.
So onto the food and the recipes, which are split into different meal types or occasions. After a bit of an introduction, scene-setter and background explanation you can finally (!) get cooking. Most, but not all, recipes feature their own full-colour photograph of the final item, which helps the casual, indecisive browser fasten onto something that looks tasty. To this reviewer there is just a bit of a nagging feeling that this book is a little too verbose, particularly when there is a separate volume available dealing with weight-loss strategies. The padding, as it could be called, seems to get in the way of the recipes after a while and that is the shame. This would still be a great book with a third less pages, just focussing on the recipes...
As it is, the recipes are a perfect textbook example of how to present them to the reader. Full marks here. Clear layout, all the information you could require, step-by-step instructions and even an estimation of the total preparation and cooking time. The only niggle and a surprising oversight is the sole use of imperial measures. Even though the programme behind the book does not focus on calorie counting, there is a per-portion calculation of key nutritional information as a guide, should you really want to know.
By skimming through the various recipes you might not immediately realise that this is a weight-loss book. That is a great testament to the diversity and thoroughness of thought that has gone into this book. You get what might be comfort food, or engaging food, which has the "side benefit" of being good for you. Dependent on how you structure your lifestyle you might not lose weight in weeks, but at least by carefully watching what you eat and perhaps with a bit of exercise you will slowly see the benefits, both on and off the weighing scales. A mass of appendices at the end give further reference advice to the reader and a great index lets you dig deep into this book.
A book like this is a tough thing to review. It can be really down to personal choice if you gel with a given weight-loss programme or not. This reviewer didn't gel with the style and the verbosity that surrounded it. However the recipes on offer were great and this book could still be good investment as a general recipe book even if you ignore all of the weight-loss stuff. The price was not excessive for a book of this kind in any case. Overall, a positive experience.
The Sparkpeople Cookbook: Love Your Food, Lose the Weight, written by Meg Galvin and published by Hay House. ISBN 9781401931322, 496 pages. Typical price: GBP14.99. YYYY.
// This review appeared in YUM.fi and is reproduced here in full with permission of YUM.fi. YUM.fi celebrates the worldwide diversity of food and drink, as presented through the humble book. Whether you call it a cookery book, cook book, recipe book or something else (in the language of your choice) YUM will provide you with news and reviews of the latest books on the marketplace. //
SparkPeople is a major U.S.-based weight-loss and fitness website and this book offers up over 160 different recipes built on "real-food, generous portions and great flavours" principles. The central chain of thought is that if you have recipes that you enjoy, that use everyday ingredients and do not require you be chained to the kitchen for hours on end, you are more likely to follow them and not put on the pounds. This reviewer can agree with that. All too many weight-loss books appear to be fanatical, faddish or unrealistic with their aims. The aims themselves sound good yet achieving them and continuing to achieve them is a different matter.
At the start of the book there is a lengthy introduction, a major look at how we eat, the science of dieting and weight-loss psychology and a primer to the kitchen and the art of cooking for those who need it. Plus what seems to be "obligatory" success stories. Now this reviewer might be unduly sceptical but a book of this nature is not likely to feature mini profiles of people who tried and failed to diet/lose weight/go forward so why "waste" pages on this schmaltz. It could be a cultural thing but in any case these inoffensive profiles seemed to just devalue or cheapen the overall programme. Your views may vary.
So onto the food and the recipes, which are split into different meal types or occasions. After a bit of an introduction, scene-setter and background explanation you can finally (!) get cooking. Most, but not all, recipes feature their own full-colour photograph of the final item, which helps the casual, indecisive browser fasten onto something that looks tasty. To this reviewer there is just a bit of a nagging feeling that this book is a little too verbose, particularly when there is a separate volume available dealing with weight-loss strategies. The padding, as it could be called, seems to get in the way of the recipes after a while and that is the shame. This would still be a great book with a third less pages, just focussing on the recipes...
As it is, the recipes are a perfect textbook example of how to present them to the reader. Full marks here. Clear layout, all the information you could require, step-by-step instructions and even an estimation of the total preparation and cooking time. The only niggle and a surprising oversight is the sole use of imperial measures. Even though the programme behind the book does not focus on calorie counting, there is a per-portion calculation of key nutritional information as a guide, should you really want to know.
By skimming through the various recipes you might not immediately realise that this is a weight-loss book. That is a great testament to the diversity and thoroughness of thought that has gone into this book. You get what might be comfort food, or engaging food, which has the "side benefit" of being good for you. Dependent on how you structure your lifestyle you might not lose weight in weeks, but at least by carefully watching what you eat and perhaps with a bit of exercise you will slowly see the benefits, both on and off the weighing scales. A mass of appendices at the end give further reference advice to the reader and a great index lets you dig deep into this book.
A book like this is a tough thing to review. It can be really down to personal choice if you gel with a given weight-loss programme or not. This reviewer didn't gel with the style and the verbosity that surrounded it. However the recipes on offer were great and this book could still be good investment as a general recipe book even if you ignore all of the weight-loss stuff. The price was not excessive for a book of this kind in any case. Overall, a positive experience.
The Sparkpeople Cookbook: Love Your Food, Lose the Weight, written by Meg Galvin and published by Hay House. ISBN 9781401931322, 496 pages. Typical price: GBP14.99. YYYY.
// This review appeared in YUM.fi and is reproduced here in full with permission of YUM.fi. YUM.fi celebrates the worldwide diversity of food and drink, as presented through the humble book. Whether you call it a cookery book, cook book, recipe book or something else (in the language of your choice) YUM will provide you with news and reviews of the latest books on the marketplace. //
March 22, 2012
I had never heard of SparkPeople.com when I received their cookbook for review. The introduction tells the fascinating story of the origins of SparkPeople, beginning with their first book, The Spark: The 28-Day Breakthrough Plan for Losing Weight, Getting Fit and Transforming Your Life.
That led to SparkPeople.com, helping people lose weight and eat healthier through "10-minute bursts of fitness, small goals set along the way to achieve larger ones, a tight-knit network to offer support, and healthy easy-to-prepare food to fuel an active life."
This led to the The SparkPeople Cookbook, by Meg Galvin, which is really a lifestyle book. Chapters like Satisfying, Sustaining, and Stress-Free Eating, The Science of Satisfaction, and my favorite, The Healthy New Kitchen, which lists necessary the kitchen tools and pantry staples, spell out in easy-to-read terms how to live a healthier lifestyle.
The second part of the book gives recipes that range from simple and unique, Pumpkin Pie Smoothie, to ones that take a little more time like the one I tried, Minestone Soup with Parmesan Crisps, which was hearty and filling, with only 197 calories per serving, 4.6 g of total fat and 9.4 g of dietary fiber.
The soup was very tasty, but it called for "one 4.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes". I frequently use the standard 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes, but I have never seen a 4.5 oz. of diced tomatoes, and that seemed like too small an amount, so I used a 14.5 oz. can of tomatoes, and it seemed to work.
It also calls for "one 5.5-ounce can cannelini beans". Again, I have seen 15.5 oz. cans, but not 5.5 oz. cans. Has anyone else tried this recipe, and if so, did you follow it as written? How did it turn out? Has anyone ever seen a 4.5 oz. can of diced tomatoes? I found this confusing, but I didn't see any other odd measurements on any other recipes I perused.
Each recipe has an icon index at the top that tells you such things as whether the recipe has multiple servings of fruit and vegetables, if it freezes well, if it's great for company or kid-friendly. I liked this, it makes it easy to see at a glance if it work for what you need.
It has lots of photos, again something I like, and the appendix is filled with useful information, such a table on how long fresh fruits and vegetables should last and how to store them, a comparison chart for oils, and a two week menu cycle. (I would have liked to have seen a three or four cycle; two weeks seems like you could get bored more easily.)
The SparkPeople Cookbook is a good book for someone who wants to make a healthy change in their life. It has so much great information in addition to the recipes, it is an invaluable tool for every cook's bookshelf.
That led to SparkPeople.com, helping people lose weight and eat healthier through "10-minute bursts of fitness, small goals set along the way to achieve larger ones, a tight-knit network to offer support, and healthy easy-to-prepare food to fuel an active life."
This led to the The SparkPeople Cookbook, by Meg Galvin, which is really a lifestyle book. Chapters like Satisfying, Sustaining, and Stress-Free Eating, The Science of Satisfaction, and my favorite, The Healthy New Kitchen, which lists necessary the kitchen tools and pantry staples, spell out in easy-to-read terms how to live a healthier lifestyle.
The second part of the book gives recipes that range from simple and unique, Pumpkin Pie Smoothie, to ones that take a little more time like the one I tried, Minestone Soup with Parmesan Crisps, which was hearty and filling, with only 197 calories per serving, 4.6 g of total fat and 9.4 g of dietary fiber.
The soup was very tasty, but it called for "one 4.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes". I frequently use the standard 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes, but I have never seen a 4.5 oz. of diced tomatoes, and that seemed like too small an amount, so I used a 14.5 oz. can of tomatoes, and it seemed to work.
It also calls for "one 5.5-ounce can cannelini beans". Again, I have seen 15.5 oz. cans, but not 5.5 oz. cans. Has anyone else tried this recipe, and if so, did you follow it as written? How did it turn out? Has anyone ever seen a 4.5 oz. can of diced tomatoes? I found this confusing, but I didn't see any other odd measurements on any other recipes I perused.
Each recipe has an icon index at the top that tells you such things as whether the recipe has multiple servings of fruit and vegetables, if it freezes well, if it's great for company or kid-friendly. I liked this, it makes it easy to see at a glance if it work for what you need.
It has lots of photos, again something I like, and the appendix is filled with useful information, such a table on how long fresh fruits and vegetables should last and how to store them, a comparison chart for oils, and a two week menu cycle. (I would have liked to have seen a three or four cycle; two weeks seems like you could get bored more easily.)
The SparkPeople Cookbook is a good book for someone who wants to make a healthy change in their life. It has so much great information in addition to the recipes, it is an invaluable tool for every cook's bookshelf.
January 10, 2012
I joined a book club when I was a teenager and one of the "free" books I got was Joy of Cooking, which I still use today. I loved it because it gave instructions and tips on how to choose the best ingredients and how to create great meals with them.
This book is a lot like that one, with a big emphasis on healthy living and eating. It's so much more than a cookbook. The recipes themselves don't start until Chapter 4 and up until then, the book explains the importance of eating REAL foods as often as possible. It does not use the "d" word (diet) at any point, but it gives the blueprints needed to lose weight while eating healthy and feeling satisfied at the same time.
I've tried four of the recipes so far and my husband and I both liked them all. I can tell I'm going to be using this cookbook for a very long time!
This book is a lot like that one, with a big emphasis on healthy living and eating. It's so much more than a cookbook. The recipes themselves don't start until Chapter 4 and up until then, the book explains the importance of eating REAL foods as often as possible. It does not use the "d" word (diet) at any point, but it gives the blueprints needed to lose weight while eating healthy and feeling satisfied at the same time.
I've tried four of the recipes so far and my husband and I both liked them all. I can tell I'm going to be using this cookbook for a very long time!
December 6, 2011
Was looking forward to this because I need to lose weight and I'm a fan of the SparkPeople website. I was disappointed in this because I'm VERY visual (as are many people when it comes to food) and the #1 reason I got this is because I tend to only make recipes I find that have photos. But this book barely had any photos. Hopefully in the future they will correct that...
In the end I found only 4 possible recipes that I would make in this.
In the end I found only 4 possible recipes that I would make in this.
April 17, 2013
This cookbook gives a lot of useful healthy information in between the recipes. I know there are some recipes that I would not like, but I never expect to like every single recipe in any cookbook. I would definitely recommend checking out this cookbook.
I actually own the Kindle version of this cookbook, but I borrowed it from the public library so that I could page through the physical book and write down the pages of the recipes that I would like to try.
I actually own the Kindle version of this cookbook, but I borrowed it from the public library so that I could page through the physical book and write down the pages of the recipes that I would like to try.
December 9, 2011
I've made a lot of meals based on the SP website recipes and have found the ones provided in this book just as tasty. The added bonus of having the book vs. Just the website...the book is handy,& contains just as many useful ideas, tips, tricks, suggestions, and motivational stories. This cookbook will be replacing the position of glory my Betty Crocker cookbook has held next to my stove.
January 8, 2012
Another diet/lifestyle book among the many I have read. Perhaps it is time to stop reading and time to go for a walk!!! I liked the approach of this book to lifestyle changes. I especially liked the food serving description. Like hard cheese is a pair of dice....I have been measuring more like a deck of cards. So going to give it a go and maybe drop a few :)
October 28, 2012
Lots of good, basic recipes made with real ingredients. Best of all, every recipe has nutritional information. If you use the SparkPeople website, the recipes are already in their nutrition tracker, which is very convenient.
September 26, 2012
I was disapponted with the recipes. This was suprising as I am a devotee of the website www.sparkpeople.com and use it daily. I do like the other information in the book which was VERY helpful. For example, it gave a guideline on how many calories per meal/snack for a 1500 calorie day.
January 17, 2013
One of the best cookbooks I've read! Great recipes and really good information about how to lose weight. I love how low-calorie Chef Meg was able to make these recipes. I can't wait to try so many of them out!
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February 21, 2012Brand new from my favorite healthy website! Can't wait to try some of these out. :)
January 3, 2012
I have sat with this cookbook for the past three hours. The majority of the recipes are easy. The ingredients are easy to find, which is great. I will be trying a lot of them.
July 10, 2012
I like this cook book and use it often. It's well written, & easy to follow. I tend to add a but more seasoning to a few recipes though.
September 1, 2012
This book is a great tool for those wanting to eat healthier or for counting calories. I found so many recipes! LOVED it! Has great tips too.
May 18, 2016
I would have preferred fewer long essays and more recipes.
October 18, 2011
Excellent cooking book
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews