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After many years of observation and personal experience, I’ve found that dieting tends to make people cranky. Why, I remember all too well the story of a fruit-plate-eating dieter (who may or may not have been me) who almost throttled a little girl at the local burger joint when she whined about not wanting to finish her cheeseburger.
But, fortunately, now there’s hope for the health-conscious eater. Whether you’re on a diet or you just want to eat healthier, Lisa Lillien’s book, Hungry Girl, will help you do just that without hurting any small children in the process.
Hungry Girl: Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World is a collection of more than 160 low-calorie, low-fat, good-for-you recipes. But unlike many good-for-you cookbooks—which offer all kinds of recipes for boring salads, steamed broccoli, and a bunch of stuff that will make you feel depressed about eating healthy—Hungry Girl offers the kind of good-for-you recipes that will make you want to rush to the kitchen and whip up some grub. These aren’t just the same old salads and steamed veggies; these are foods that you actually want to eat—foods that you crave—only they’re made with a healthy twist.
The book is divided into mouth-watering chapters that include “Rise & Dine” (breakfast foods that are definitely worth getting out of bed for—like breakfast burritos and French toast), “Junk Food Junkie” (a collection of healthier junk foods—from the Bake-tastic Butternut Squash Fries to Fiber-ific Fried Chicken Strips to Lord of the Onion Rings), and “Manly Meals” (like chili, meatloaf, and Philly cheesesteaks). There’s even “Chocolate 911.” There are soups, salads, and sandwiches, too—along with lighter holiday dishes to make for your next party, low-cal cocktails, and even guilt-free coffee drinks. And all of the recipes come with nutrition information, so you’ll know exactly what you’re eating.
I’ve often found that guilt-free cookbooks tend to be pretty overwhelming—but that’s not the case with Hungry Girl. This book left me with a “hey, I can do this” attitude. With just a few fat-free, lo-cal substitutes, you can trim down your meals—and your waistline. And you can do it by eating stuff that tastes good, too. It’s brilliant, really.
Many of the recipes in the book come in single-serving sizes. If you’re cooking for two or more, you can easily multiply everything to meet your needs. But those single-serving sizes are a lifesaver if you happen to be single. You can whip up a great meal for yourself—and you don’t have to worry about eating leftovers for a week.
In addition to the healthy recipes, though, Lillien also provides tips for eating healthier when you’re not at home. She helps readers eat better at their favorite restaurants, at holiday parties, and even at roadside convenience stores.
So if you want to lose weight—or just eat healthier—Lisa Lillien’s Hungry Girl is a great place to start. Pick up this book of tips, tricks, substitutions, and recipes, and you’ll actually feel great about eating healthy.
