Phase 1 Low-Carb Recipes

I bought this book in a bargain bin at a local bookstore. I am not on the Atkins or SouthBeach, but really only bought it because it was on sale. It has become my go-to cookbook for grilling meat, poultry and fish. Every recipe I have tried, I have loved! I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for new and exciting dinner recipes.

After over 3 and a half years of following a low-carb WOE (way of eating), one thing I have noticed is that low carb cookbooks, on the whole, suck, especially if you're doing Atkins. Recipes regularly contain hard-to-find ingredients (sometimes you have to order them off the Internet), ingredients that are NOT good for a low-carb lifestyle (especially in Induction/the first phase) such as grains, honey, molasses, or specific brand-name low-carb products that 1) are infamous for stalling weight loss in LC dieters and 2) may not even be produced anymore due to the crash of the low-carb craze (it's the companies' own faults if you ask me, but I digress). Now,about this book...it's awesome. The recipes are simple, with REAL FOOD ingredients that you can find at your local grocery store, there is no dessert section (on Induction/Phase 1, you're better off without sweets), and the author really seems to understand the concept of low-carb as it should be done. Veggies (sooooooo important even on Atkins, contrary to popular legend!) are featured prominently. The book does seem to have an Atkins slant and some of the recipes as-is are probably not suitable for South Beachers in the later phases, although I don't see why the recipes couldn't be adapted...there are a TON of grilled meat recipes in the book. Sub out low-fat or nonfat cheese and dairy where you see it, and use olive oil or smart balance or something instead of butter (actually many of the recipes call for olive oil), add a side of wholegrain something or the other, and there's South Beach's later phases.

I actually already owned this book but I really like the recipes in it. They are easy and can be used by a single person for multiple meals without it being too many left overs. My friend recently started low-carbing and I bought this one for her. She and her hubby really like it, he is really the cook in that household. If I ever get out of Phase I, I plan on buying Phase II.

I found this book to be very helpful for my husbands diet. He is watching calories, fat and carbs. The breakdown for each recipe was very helpful and the recipes are very appetizing. I would recommend this book even if you are not watching your weight.

I'm new to the Low Carb lifestyle and this book really helped me with creative EASY recipes that fit into any budget and helps keep you on track.