Giadas Feel Good Food: My Healthy Recipes and Secrets by Giada De Laurentiis

Giadas Feel Good Food: My Healthy Recipes and Secrets Reviews

• 
  Tracy

  I was prepared to dislike this book and picked it thinking to reinforce my prejudicial belief that beautiful woman with fixed smiles who show-off their cleavage are women with whom I have nothing in common, especially in the kitchen. I was wrong.
  
  In her introduction, Giada says, "I have adopted a balanced way of cooking, eating, and living that works for me and my family. This didn't happen overnight, or by sitting down and scribbling a bunch of rules to follow, but rather over time, by tuning in to my body and what makes me run the smoothest and tuning out what doesn't."
  
  If I were writing a cookbook, that's exactly what I would have said about my food philosophy.
  
  Gaida: "I can honestly say that, in my forties, I am healthier than I was in my twenties or thirties."
  
  Me: "I can honestly say that, in my fifties, I am healthier than I was in my twenties, thirties or forties."
  
  Who will like these recipes? Health-conscious people who eschew fads, who like a variety of vegetables and fruits, grains, fish, chicken, dairy and occasional red meat, with a smattering of sweets. Locally-sourced, California fresh-style flavors predominate. Vegetarians and vegans will find plenty to work with, but will have to make some adaptations to many of the recipes.
  
  Who won't enjoy these recipes?Those who can't ever depart from traditional midwestern or southern fare, heavy on the comfort-laden calories. With Gaida's Feel Good Food plan, those kinds of indulgences are reserved for special occasions (but never forbidden--there are no "forbidden" foods).
  
  I especially liked the Lunch and Dinner recipes--simple and easy to follow, with a wide variety of ingredients. I use this book when I can't think to make with an ingredient in my refrigerator. After perusing the index I'm able to come up with something clever to make, like farfalle with chicken, cremini mushrooms and swiss chard; or lentil burgers with lemon-basil mayonnaise; or broiled sole with mustard-chive sauce.
  
  I found the sweets/desserts a bit strange. I don't have a huge sweet tooth, but when I do indulge, I'd rather eat a small bit of something traditional rather than a larger bit of chocolate muffins made with brown rice flour, safflower oil and applesauce. I will, however, definitely try the frozen strawberry and blueberry (ladybug) pops. Made in ice cube trays, and only 17 calories, they sound like a great way to quell a sweets craving.
  
  Gaida's juice cleanse is the most sane, balanced one I've encountered. If I was ever going to try one, I'd start with hers.
  
  Generally, I prefer to eat the whole food and I don't own a juicer. So while her spinach, ginger and apple smoothie sounded yummy to me, I did a riff on her ingredients and made a salad. Was it ever good! Here's the recipe I came up with:
  http://tracyleekarner.com/2014/03/10/...
  
• 
  Carol

  3.5 stars. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️
  Found this today in my local goodwill store.
  I really enjoy reading cookbooks and already have several of Giada's but hadn't planned on purchasing this one as I had heard this book wasn't strictly recipes and while this maybe true ( she talks about her love of yoga, her morning routine etc...) I really found a lot of foods and flavor profiles that I personally enjoy.
  Breakfast wasn't too much of a hit with me, same for juices and smoothies but Lunch recipes stood out strong...I really want to try the sweet potatoes with creamy tofu-lime vinaigrette, the chicken chopped salad in butter lettuce cups, curried chicken and apple wraps, the lemon mustard potato salad and the stuffed bell peppers (vegetarian) too name a few.
  I will be making the soba noodle salad next time I hit the grocery store!!!
  There is a snacks section ...semi- healthy.. I guess.
  Then comes Dinner and several more interesting choices.
  Dessert... not really for me but I did like this cookbook and I can't emphasize enough that all of Giada's recipes that I have made in the past have turned out exactly as intended and I haven't been disappointed either.
  Her Chicken Piccata recipe is one of my all time favorites.
• 
  Deb

  Giada's newest cookbook is full of healthy and delicious-sounding recipes--many of them vegetarian or vegan (also many are gluten & dairy free), along with her tips and suggestions for healthy living. I tagged a ton of recipes to make like Breakfast Bulgur Wheat with Poached Mixed Berries,California Tofu Hash, Detox Broth, Lemon mustard Potato Salad, Artichoke Soup with Fresh Mint, Green Pea, Lettuce and Fennel Soup, Soba Noodle Salad, Rosemary Cashews and Sunflower Seeds, "My Mom's Vegetable'Meatloaf' with Checca Sauce, Grilled Herbed Tofu with Avocado cream, Baked Salmon with Arugula Salsa Verde, Sole with Lemon-Basil Pesto, and Cranberry Lemon Cookies.
  
  I made her Vegetarian Chili Verde that used hominy instead of beans and it was excellent--great flavor and very satisfying. You can see the recipe and pictures here:
  http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/20...
  
  Although more interested in the recipes than her secrets and tips, they are doable suggestions and sprinkled into the book versus being the focus. I think this may end up being my favorite Giada cookbook. 4.5 stars.
• 
  Shilpa

  As far as celebrity chefs go, Giada De Laurentiis, holds the title beautifully. She's earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lifestyle Host. Her popular daytime cooking show Everyday Italian feature quick, healthy, satisfying Italian dishes. In her new book, Giada's Feel Good Food, published by Random House, she shares her healthy recipes and secrets.
  
  Wherever she goes, fans ask Giada the same question: How can she cook and eat all of that delicious food she cooks on television, and still look so fabulous? Finally, Giada is letting everyone in on her secrets, sharing the delicious, easy recipes she uses to maximize energy and remain fit.
  
  With a calorie count and nutritional analysis for each recipe, you'll be able to keep track of your daily intake. The recipes in the book are categorized into the following categories (ensuring you get your fix of every delicious indulgence -- but in a healthy way):
  
  breakfast - juices and smoothies - lunch - snacks - dinner - dessert
  
  For the complete review visit: sukasareads.com
• 
  Jocelin

  The recipes were very simple, extremely healthy looking. This was really a life style book. She gave advice about exercise, makeup and every day healthy changes to feel better. Really great cookbook, worth the purchase price.
• 
  Nora St Laurent

  I loved the diversity of recipes in this book. I enjoyed the beautiful pictures sprinkled throughout, they made me want to try every recipe. There are 120 recipes that are her favorites. She has ingredients that are easy to find and simple instructions.
  
  What makes this cookbook different from the others? She’s included the calorie count and nutritional analysis for each recipe, along with a colored icon that signifies if the dish is GF (gluten free) DF (dairy free) V(vegan) VG (vegetarian) it also contains the servicing size it makes.
  
  This chef gives readers a peek into how she takes care of herself from skin care, exercise and rest. She says, “everyone is different; …(this is a )…personal look into how I keep my body and mind in a happy and healthy balance.”… “My philosophy on eating: Eat a little of everything, but not a lot of anything.”
  
  This author is quick to say this is not a diet book. She is just showing readers how she came about the routines and food choices that have worked for her and her family over time.
  
  My family enjoyed the following meals; California Tofu Hash, Sweet Potatoes with Creamy Tofu-Lime Vinaigrette, Kale and Mushroom Wrap and Lemon-Mustard Potato salad. These were easy to make, yummy best of all my family loved them.
  
  Disclosure of Material Connection: I checked this book out of the local library. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
  
  Nora St. Laurent
  TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
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• 
  Jessica

  I’m kind of bummed.. as someone who is primarily dairy free and eats a lot of vegan/gluten free foods, i barely found any appealing recipes. I guess if your a fan of capers, hominy and couscous you might gain some new recipes. Unfortunately, I’m not.
• 
  April

  This isn't my favorite of Giada's cookbooks in general but it does have some of my favorite recipes. The Kale Mushroom wrap in particular is awesome! I love her writing, her health and beauty tips, and many of the recipes are just really good. There are some that require special ingredients or equipment like juicers or chia seeds or expensive seafood, but most are accessible and easy to make. I like her philosophy that healthy food should include all food groups and taste just as good. Also, the photography in this book is way better than her older cookbooks!
• 
  Pam

  I have every single one of Giada's cookbooks, so I didn't even hesitate to order this one.
  
  
  While it is a very nice book, it is definitely not one of my favorites. When I saw the subtitle – My Healthy Recipes and Secrets – I thought the “secrets” would apply to cooking. Little tips and techniques to eat healthier. I didn't realize that it meant Giada's make up and skin care routines, how she cares for her hair, and even what she carries in her purse. I just don't think all that needs to be in a cookbook.
  
  One of the things I did like about the book was the sample month of menus. I like seeing how recipes can be put together. I don't think I would actually ever cook a full day from this book (breakfast, lunch and dinner), but it does give me ideas.
  
  The book itself is divided into 5 cooking sections: Breakfast, Juices and Smoothies, Lunch, Snacks, Dinner. I found the lunch and dinner fairly interchangeable with some dishes seeming big enough for dinner and some for dinner seeming light enough for lunch. Nutritional info is given for each recipe and they are marked vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and/or dairy free. They do not list prep or cook time.
  
  A good variety of recipes and several I have marked to try:
  
  Breakfast: Chia seed pudding
  
  Juices and Smoothies: grapefruit mint juice, banana walnut and date smoothie
  
  Lunch: frittata with tuna and tomatoes, chicken chopped salad in butter lettuce cups, whole wheat orzo with artichoke pesto, brown and wild rice with brussels sprouts, and herbed quinoa
  
  Snacks: avocado hummus with crispy pita chips, rosemary cashews and sunflower seeds
  
  Dinner: grilled salmon and pineapple with avocado dressing, salmon with lemons, capers, and rosemary, and garlic roasted chicken and root vegetables
  
  Desserts: chocolate fig bites, spiced pumpkin raising cookies, and mini carrot-apple cupcakes
• 
  Kelly

  See this review on 1776books.net...
  
  http://1776books.blogspot.com/2013/11...
  
  Giada De Laurentiis has certainly proven herself time and time again as a food force to be reckoned with. Between her many appearances on the TV circuit, her regular shows on the Food Network, and her many bestselling cookbooks, she's gained and earned a very loyal following. In fact, my husband has stated that Giada’s Short Ribs with Tagliatelle would be his pick for last meal if ever he needs one. However, as she is a proud Italian, she covers many of her dishes with rich sauces and fills them with fatty cheeses.
  
  In Giada’s Feel Good Food, she turns the tables around, putting it out there that you can't eat these fatty dishes all the time and still expect to stay trim. While everything is fine in moderation, sometimes you just need to take care of your body by eating right. The book is filled with those recipes that she feeds herself and her family (including dessert), with little vignettes interspersed along the way about when she usually cooks them. She also puts in pages about how she packs when she travels, how she takes care of her skin and hair, and what she eats when she needs a sweet treat.
  
  I always keep many of Giada's cookbooks on the counter, and this one will be no exception. The only nitpick I have is that I wish pictures were included for all the recipes because I always need to see what the finished product looks like. However, I realize space in these books is at a premium. All in all, I would definitely recommend Giada's Feel Good Food and look forward to making many dishes from it.
  
  MY RATING - 4
• 
  Laura

  This book was interesting, though I doubt any of the dishes will make it into heavy rotation at my house. It's kid and weeknight-friendly, which is great. And it provides complete nutritional information.
  
  While the book is Italian in spirit, the recipes are generally for more American-style food. The health and beauty tips provided are not really worthwhile - they would appeal to fans, but they're pretty generic and not newsworthy. The photography and food styling are also good here, but the food just didn't appeal to me that much.
  
  I'd recommend this for true fans of DeLaurentiis, but if you're just looking to improve your diet you're probably better off with a Cooking Light or America's Test Kitchen book.
• 
  Jessica

  I LOVE Giada and everything she makes on her TV shows looks incredibly tasty, but I don't seem to have much luck finding recipes I want to try from her cookbooks. There were one or two recipes that looked good from this one, but what I liked more about this book was that she shared her tips for living a healthy life - what she does for exercise, skin care, etc. Overall, I really like her, but this book not so much.
• 
  Bonnie

  I found some great recipes in here! Many are vegan and/or gluten free or can easily be modified to be that way, and many are sugar-free too. I'm sure to try some of these and some have inspired me with ways to improve/change up my own recipes. Many of the recipes use straightforward ingredients and are not overly complicated to prepare. A great cookbook for folks with dietary restrictions and/or people looking to improve their health.
• 
  Lisa

  i rented this from the library i love giada's show in the food network and thought that this would be really good considering that this one would be healthy. i found one recipe to copy it was a trail mix. if your a chef would you really just eat a banana or a boiled egg for breakfast?
• 
  Sharon Bressen

  Giada continues to bring us interesting recipes that are easy to make and look delicious. This still she includes some suggestions for living a healthy lifestyle by making small adjustments to our eating patterns.
• 
  Michelle

  I was, of course, excited to read through this cookbook. There are so many healthy recipes that I can't wait to try (and alter a bit). But, there are also a lot of "tips" Giada reveals about her beauty routines and such. Definitely a cute book but not as well designed as Weeknights with Giada.
• 
  Natashya KitchenPuppies

  Love Giada and this book has lots of great new recipes and ideas for a healthy lifestyle.
• 
  Sarah

  Although I only got two recipes out of this book, I appreciated the glimpse into the life of my favorite chef!
• 
  Nicole

  This book is full of good tips from Giada, and the recipes are FABULOUS. Made a few already and just love them, and they are healthy which is a plus!
• 
  Robin

  Good ideas without too many weird ingredients.
• 
  Cynthia Zulla

  Fun read, will try several of the recipes. Also, her recipe for facial scrub works really well.
• 
  Lynnie

  2 1/2 stars.
  
  The recipes in the book were okay- there are 2 or 3 that I am likely to make though I can't see making any of the others. Mostly there are a lot of recipes similar to ones I already have so I just didn't find too many new ideas. Add in the strange tips about packing, her beauty routine, what she carries in her bag, etc... (does anyone care what Giada keeps in her bag?)...that were just weird & felt a little self-congratulatory. I suspect Giada fans will adore this book, so perhaps I'm not the target audience.
• 
  Jocelyn

  I am a big Giada fan. I don't understand why so many women talk so negatively about her, maybe because she's beautiful and they are jealous? If she were unattractive would it be ok for her to dress like a normal woman?
  Anywho, with that said, I liked this cookbook. I liked her little tips on how to stay healthy. The recipes were mostly a little too labor intensive for me because I would more than likely be eating alone as my husband and kids probably wouldn't eat them but I will.for sure give them a try.
• 
  Megan

  I enjoyed this cookbook, for the healthier type food (I'm not a huge fan of crazy healthy recipes but we are trying to make a shift in our diet) they seems like healthy but still tasty recipes and still some good indulgences. But I also enjoy her stories and info about the other things she does in life to keep healthy and balanced.