- Recipes
- Breakfast Brunch
- Appetizers Snacks
- Lunch /Dinner
- Side Dishes
- Desserts
- Drinks
- Sauces & Stuff
- Collections
Learn & WatchSubmitWe independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products-learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.Improve Your Diet With the Best Healthy Cookbooks
Published: 5 May 2023When we hear the phrase ‘healthy food choices, we may end up with a visual of bland, boiled chicken and barely seasoned, steamed vegetables. This is also one of the biggest causes of our lack of motivation to improve our diets. The lack of options, repetitive meal plans, and unappetizing recipes is a disastrous combination that makes even experienced chefs rely on takeout or quick stir fry.
The ultimate solution to this? A healthy cookbook full to the brim with mouth-watering, healthy recipes. Having a cookbook will free you from the neverending stress of thinking of what to eat every day, and give you innovative ideas on how to put a healthy twist on your original recipes. If you need some expert-approved recommendations, this list contains several highly-acclaimed healthy cookbooks of 2023 down below.
Show contentsHealthy Cookbooks: A Buying Guide
Types Of Healthy Cookbooks
Based on cuisines
Every cuisine has its unique charm and set of finger-licking recipes. Ideally, a healthy cookbook should be a holistic combination of recipes from different cuisines, but you do not always get that. This is because an author cannot be an expert in all cuisines. Most people prefer going for a cookbook with a cuisine specified so they can opt for their favorite one. From the refined French and Italian cuisines to the hearty American cuisine, there is a cookbook for everyone.
Based on the category of foods
Food choices are extremely personal, and while some of us enjoy a marbled, tender cut of steak, there might be some vegetarians and vegans looking for healthy food options too. Cookbooks are also organized with this in mind. While most healthy cookbooks include a vast and unlimited variety of ingredients, some are more specific to people’s needs, with vegan and vegetarian versions gaining popularity in recent years.
Things To Consider Before Buying a Healthy Cookbook
The author
A reputable and experienced author is perhaps the most conspicuous factor which makes people buy a healthy cookbook. An experienced author has many more years of experience under his/her belt, which translates into a cookbook full of tips and tricks, foolproof recipes, and ingredient alternatives.
Ingredients list
A healthy cookbook is practically useless to someone if the ingredient list of the recipes is not relevant to them. If the ingredients are not available in your area, you won’t be able to try any of the recipes. The ingredients incorporated in the recipes should be readily available at the nearest farmer’s market, and should be moderately priced keeping budget constraints in mind.
Personal preferences
As mentioned above, food choices are extremely personal, whether it is your choice of cuisine, the ingredients you choose to consume or not consume, or recipes you find the most convenient and fun to execute. While looking for the perfect healthy cookbook, make a checklist of personal preferences and buy the cookbook which comes closest to that.
Number of recipes and meal plans
To prevent things from getting repetitive and monotonous, you will need hundreds of recipes and at least a 3-week to one-month meal plan. This will help you kickstart your healthy lifestyle without worrying about what to cook every day and you will never be bored of the clean choices you make.
What Should a Healthy Cookbook Include?
Tips and tricks
A well-explained recipe is simply incomplete without the author revealing a few tricks of the trade. Anyone can follow a recipe, but what sets apart extraordinary food is special tips only experienced cooks have under their sleeves. An exceptional healthy cookbook will include small pointers, reminders, tips on using the perfect kitchenware for a particular recipe, and much more, to help you prepare delectable meals every time.
Nutritional information
Nutritional information is a must, especially in healthy cookbooks. To keep track of your calorie intake and the percentage of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins you want to consume, nutritional information about a recipe is crucial. It also helps you maintain a balanced diet by choosing recipes that incorporate a combination of nutrients so you do not overconsume or under-consume essential nutrients.
Labels
Labels indicating possible allergens in a recipe, if a recipe is vegan or vegetarian, or if it includes dairy, are important in any healthy cookbook. They keep the reader informed of the ingredients they are using in the recipes.
Conversion charts
From cups and tablespoons to the precision of measurement in grams, each of us has a preference when measuring in the kitchen. This is why conversion charts are so crucial. If the recipe enlists ingredients in grams, but you are more comfortable with measuring using cups, a conversion chart can come in handy.
Standard measurement
Consistency and standardization are no-brainers for any healthy cookbook. Unfortunately, many publications do not take this into account. Inconsistencies with measurement units can mess up your meals big time. A standard measurement unit must be set and used throughout the book for consistency. For convenience purposes, conversion charts can go hand-in-hand.
Price of a Healthy Cookbook
Even though cookbooks are generally not very expensive, you will come to find that some hardcovers can cost up to $50. The price mainly depends on the type and number of recipes, as well as the author’s qualification and familiarity with the public. This is probably why celebrity chefs’ cookbooks can cost a pretty penny. Healthy cookbooks with basic recipes mainly targeting beginner cooks are typically written by home cooks themselves and cost as little as $5 to $15. Cookbooks with advanced recipes can cost up to $30. Even though you may feel like $30 is an absurd amount to invest in a cookbook, it will save you money in the long run, as you’ll be able to avoid eating out.
The Most Effective Healthy Cookbook of 2023
1The Easy 5-Ingredient Healthy Cookbook
– Best OverallIf you want to start eating healthy, but you are not experienced with cooking, it can be a nightmare for you to prepare nutritious meals. But “The Easy 5-Ingredient Healthy Cookbook” by Toby Amidor is here to save the day. There are 150 simple and flavorful recipes in this book that are extremely beginner friendly. Perhaps its top selling point is that it makes use of mainly five ingredients which are mixed up for exciting recipes. With most recipes featuring a cook time of under 30 minutes, you can also add a fancy twist to your meals by simply swapping a few ingredients. This healthy cookbook is everything a beginner needs: easy-to-understand, fun, and full of healthy eating tips. It also includes dietary labels for the reader’s awareness. The delicious recipes and whole ingredients make help this cookbook earn the top spot on this list.
Pros- Recipes use only five ingredients
- Includes healthy eating tips and dietary labels
- Recipe cook times are under 30 minutes
Cons- Not suitable for advanced cooks
2Clean Eating for Beginners
– Best for WellnessWant to incorporate cleaner meals into your lifestyle? Well, the first step is to level up your home-cooking skills, because the tastier your healthy meals are, the easier it is to stick to them. That’s exactly what this healthy cookbook by Isadora Baum helps you accomplish.
It aims to help people transition from junk and fast foods to nutritious, clean, and minimally processed meals. It includes a 21-day starting plan, and 75 wholesome recipes for breakfast, snacks, desserts, and main courses. You even come across some solid diet advice in the form of everyday tips which helps you stock your pantry more effectively, and order healthier food when eating out.
Pros- Highly-effective 21-day plan to get you started
- Lists healthier alternatives to your favorite ingredients
- Recipes are clean yet delicious
Cons- Beginners may find it challenging to follow
3The Quinoa Cookbook
– Best Superfood RecipesWith so many miraculous benefits that Quinoa has, it’s shocking how we still don’t include it in any of our meals. That changes right away with John Chatham’s Healthy Cookbook! It’s designed to help you incorporate this superfood into all your meals, with over a hundred recipes to enable that.
There’s also a “bonus section” with a pre-made sample menu for entertaining foods and regular everyday dining. So, feel free to pick a recipe depending on what you feel like trying out on any particular day! You get tons of variety to try out, including international quinoa-inclusive dishes all the way from Japan to Mexico.
Pros- Hundreds of recipes including breakfast and meals
- 116 recipes — a lifetime-supply of quinoa meals
- Makes your regular diet much healthier
Cons- Many recipes aren’t gluten-free, unlike the claims
4Meal Prep for Weight Loss
– Best For Weight LossMeal prep is right behind working out as the most difficult part of anyone’s weight loss journey. The stress of unshed weight paired with the stress of preparing weight-loss conducive meals every day can be too much sometimes. But not anymore. Written by a registered dietician and personal trainer Kelli Shalal, the “Meal Prep for Weight Loss” healthy cookbook is the ultimate guide you need for sustainable, healthy weight loss. It guides the reader on how to prepare efficient batches of food through eight different meal prep plans. Beginner friendly, it starts off with 3-recipe plans and then eases into 6-recipe plans for greater efficiency. With 175 flavorful recipes with clear nutritional information and labels, this healthy cookbook is one of the top options for those looking to lose weight.
Pros- Written by a registered dietician
- Encourages sustainable, healthy weight loss
- Includes 8 meal prep plans
- Beginner friendly and easy-to-understand
Cons- Repetitive meal plans
5The Heart Healthy Cookbook for Two
– Best for Heart HealthMost people in their forties have had at least one scare where they felt rapid palpitation, breathlessness, or high blood pressure. Maintaining your well-being, especially your heart health, becomes extremely important as soon as you enter your forties. And “The Heart Healthy Cookbook for Two” is just where you need to start when it comes to your diet. With extensive information on how to maintain your heart health through diet and exercise, this cookbook consists of 125 delicious recipes low in both sodium and fats. A four-week meal plan helps you get started on the right foot while managing both nutrients and portions. The recipes are specifically for two portions, so you eat just the right amount. This healthy cookbook is written by nutrition expert and cardiac dietician Jennifer Koslo.
Pros- Written by a cardiac dietician
- Recipes low on sodium and fats
- Four-week meal plans
- Portion-control and nutritional balance
Cons- Small-sized font and illustrations
6The Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook
– Best for BeginnersHealthy eating is not only about weight loss. A clean, organic diet is equally important to maintain weight and fulfill your body’s requirements for healthy bones and muscle. To achieve this, you need a holistic cookbook that caters to all your health needs. Enter, “The Health Meal Prep Cookbook.” It not only offers more than 100 flavorful recipes but also two-week meal prep templates, so you can enjoy all the benefits of meal planning. With recipes reserved for clean eating, weight loss, and muscle building, this cookbook is for everyone. Food safety and storage guidelines ensure that no food goes to waste and you have something ready to be eaten within minutes. An integrated approach to recipes and health tips written by the renowned dietician and best-selling cookbook author Toby Amidor makes this healthy cookbook a must-buy.
Pros- Holistic combination of recipes
- Two-week meal prep templates
- Suitable for weight loss and muscle building
Cons- Lack of illustrations
7The Complete Healthy Eating Cookbook
– Most Flexible and Easy Meal PlansEating healthy food should not add the stress of meal prep to your day. The recipes should be fun, easy, and flexible, especially for beginners. “The Complete Healthy Eating Cookbook” offers you just that. Incorporation of a familiar but vast range of ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and lentils help you attain a perfect, balanced diet. Many meals can be prepared in one pot, in under 30 minutes, greatly expediting cooking time on a busy day. The best feature of these recipes is that they set realistic and practical goals for a healthy lifestyle. The author of this healthy cookbook, Lauren O’Connor, is a dietitian specializing in Acid Reflux/GERD diet therapy.
Pros- Written by a private-practice dietitian
- Sets realistic health goals
- Easy, under-30 minutes recipes
- Specific recipes for vegans and vegetarians
Cons- Does not include pictures of food
People Also Asked
Q: Why is meal planning important?A: Meal planning is important for various reasons. Having to run to the nearest grocery store at the last minute just because you are missing an item on the ingredient list is frustrating and time-consuming. Meal planning also helps you achieve a balanced diet. Last but not least, you can determine the quantity of food you want to prepare beforehand so food doesn't go to waste.
Q: How many recipes are in a typical cookbook?A: Spending on the type of cookbook, there are approximately 100 or more recipes in a cookbook. Varied cookbooks which include recipes from different cuisines may include a higher number of recipes than cookbooks focused on a specific cuisine. The same goes for vegan or vegetarian-specific cookbooks.
Q: How can I make healthy food choices?A: A balanced diet is key to healthy food choices. Make sure you consume lots of fruits and vegetables, as well as a balanced combination of healthy fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Avoid processed foods as much as you can and focus on organic, whole food ingredients.
The Cuisine Review Team’s in-depth guides and product reviews are designed to help you pick the best products for a beautiful and professional-grade kitchen and dining room. The Cuisine Review Team curates this content, and Cuisine’s editorial staff is not involved. Cuisine at Home is reader-supported: When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Please contact aimperiapt@gmail.com for all inquiries regarding articles or product testing.