Reset Your Diet: the Best Healthy Cookbooks of 2019

Whether you want to up your vegetable intake, simplify meal preparation or just clean up your diet, there’s a cookbook for virtually every kind of dietary need—and cooks of all skill levels.

Besides being a source of culinary inspiration, cookbooks are also much more convenient to use in the kitchen (no need to squint at your phone’s small screen or worry about low battery and/or screen timeouts). Plus, they make great coffee table decor and a thoughtful housewarming gift. What’s not to love?

If you’re looking to buy one (or more), here are some of the best cookbooks of 2019 that will help you eat well every day:

Whole Food Cooking Every Day by Amy Chaplin

Whole food ingredients are ones that are either completely unprocessed or processed as little as possible (think fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes). James Beard Award-winning chef Amy Chaplin’s new cookbook aims to help you incorporate more whole foods in your daily diet with delicious, no-fuss recipes like Millet Porridge, Seeded Crackers, Marinated Tempeh and Gluten-free Muffins. The recipes use in-season produce to make everyday meals healthier and heartier on a budget. Chaplin also offers tips on how to keep your diet varied by creating a wide range of flavors by playing around with the ingredients and other meal prep advice to make home cooking simple and fun. Most of the recipes can be made ahead of time, making them ideal for workdays. Additionally, there are multiple variations included for each recipe so you won’t get stuck in the recipe rut throughout the week. Plus, the gorgeous, drool-worthy close-up photos of the dishes will make you want to whip up these recipes right away.

Vegetables Unleashed by José Andrés

This cookbook by renowned chef and founder of World Kitchen Central, José Andrés, focuses on how to make veggies the star on your plate with delectable recipes like Beetsteak Burgers, Mushroom Ramen and Tomato Tart. The easy-to-follow recipes are categorized according to different seasons, inspiring you to eat vegetables in the most diverse and satisfying ways possible—all year long. Written with James Beard Award-winning food writer Matt Goulding, the cookbook also features personal essays on Andrés’ culinary adventures across the globe. And offers practical tips on home gardening, how to cut down on food waste and ways to expand your culinary horizon, among other things. Andrés’ passionate tone and personal anecdotes make Vegetables Unleashed a wonderful read.

The Gluten-Free Grains Cookbook by Quelcy Kogel

Whether you’re a strict gluten-free eater or just looking for ways to up your whole-grain intake, this cookbook will hit the spot. The Gluten-Free Grains Cookbook is full of flavor-packed recipes made with a variety of grains from ancient Aztec amaranth and Ethiopian teff to buckwheat, sorghum and black rice. Food blogger and author Quelcy Kogel shares numerous simple and fun ways to use whole grains to add layers of flavor, color and texture to your dishes and pack more essential minerals into every home-cooked meal. With mouthwatering recipes like Chocolate-Quinoa Cruncher Parfaits, Multigrain Beet Breakfast Patties, Smoky Tomato Cream Soup (made with amaranth) and Kimchi Pancakes, this cookbook is bound to get you excited about eating whole grains. In addition, the book also includes the nutritional profile of every whole grain featured in the recipes, a handy beginner’s guide on cooking grains and several key tips on building a gluten-free pantry.

Antoni in the Kitchen by Antoni Porowski

Written by Queer Eye’s food and wine maven Antoni Porowski in tandem with food journalist Mindy Fox, Antoni in the Kitchen draws on Porowski’s Polish-Canadian heritage to create a range of (mostly) healthy, easy-to-make recipes, perfect for everyday meals, off-the-cuff entertaining and everything in between. Some of the recipes are also inspired by Middle Eastern, Moroccan, French and Italian cuisines. Often made with less than five ingredients, the flavorful recipes are sure to please everyone at the table. Porowski’s personal reflections on food, his keep-it-simple approach in the kitchen and the book’s stunning illustrations will inspire anyone to eat home-cooked meals more often.

The Ultimate Healthy Greek Cookbook by Yiota Giannakopoulou

The Mediterranean diet emphasizes the consumption of whole foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and sources of healthy fats (such as fatty fish, nuts and olive oil). Voted the best diet of 2019, its main benefits include improved cognitive and cardiovascular health, better weight management and lower risk of Type 2 diabetes. Greek author and recipe developer, Yiota Giannakopoulou’s latest cookbook features over 70 nutritious Mediterranean-inspired recipes like Lemon Chicken with Rice, Bean Broth, Black Olive Bread and Seafood Salad. The cookbook covers everything from appetizers to main dishes and sides—so you’ll be spoiled with choice. Each recipe uses seasonal produce and limited processed ingredients, making this cookbook a must-have for all health-conscious foodies.

5 Ingredients by Jamie Oliver

Celebrity chef and restaurateur Jamie Oliver’s newest cookbook, 5 Ingredients: Quick & Easy Food, proves that healthy eating can be both easy and enjoyable. This genius cookbook has a collection of more than 100 wholesome, easy-to-make recipes that you can whip up any day of the week. With access to five-ingredient recipes for everything from pasta, meats and salads to delish desserts, you won’t have any more excuses to order unhealthy takeout on weeknights.

30-Minute Vegan Dinners by Megan Sadd

If you’re looking for ways to cut back on takeout and make your plant-based diet more flavorful and filling, look no further than Megan Sadd’s 30-Minute Vegan Dinners. With scrumptious restaurant-inspired recipes like Roasted Cauliflower Romesco Tacos, Harissa-Roasted Carrot & Portobello Gyros and Spicy Buffalo Tempeh Wraps at your fingertips, you’ll no longer be tempted to dine out or order in again. Made with nourishing, easily available ingredients, each recipe clocks in under 30 minutes—so you can easily put them together, even on a busy night. Other than hearty vegan recipes, Sadd also offers practical advice on how to make time for home cooking every day, along with quick tips for faster and more efficient cooking.

The Healthy Sheet Pan Cookbook by Ruthi Kirwan

Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. With 60 delicious recipe ideas, The Healthy Sheet Pan Cookbook aims to make healthy eating super quick and easy. Whether you want to feed the whole family, put together a make-ahead lunch for work or use up leftovers, there’s a sheet pan recipe for everything. Additionally, the collection includes a wide range of vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free recipe ideas as well. Apart from mouthwatering recipes, Ruthy Kirwan shares a number of foolproof techniques and recipe shortcuts to speed up the meal prep process. And the best part? You’ll only have one piece of cookware to wash after you finish eating.

The Living Kitchen by Tamara Green and Sarah Grossman

Written by two nutritionists and cancer care experts, The Living Kitchen features recipes specifically created for people who are either undergoing or recovering after cancer treatment. The certified nutritionists share nearly 100 easy-to-make, freezer-friendly recipes that are designed to promote healing and alleviate specific symptoms and side effects of cancer and its treatment. Besides nourishing recipes, the cookbook also includes research-backed nutritional information on the relationship between food and health and suggests various strategies to prepare your body and your kitchen for cancer treatment. It’s a quintessential read for every cancer patient and their caregivers.

Damn Delicious Meal Prep by Chungah Rhee

With more than 100 easy and nutrition-packed recipes, Chungah Rhee shows that meal prep is the key to having perfectly portioned healthy options within reach at any time of the day. The wide range of recipes cover everything from delectable protein-packed breakfasts and energy-boosting snacks to slimmed-down versions of your favorite comfort foods—none of which sacrifice flavor. Think Chicken Burrito Bowls, Rainbow Coconut Smoothie and Miso Ginger Detox Soup. In addition, the author arms readers with dozens of handy cooking tips to quicken meal prep and explains how planning your meals ahead of time can simplify your life. This brilliant cookbook is sure to help anyone who wants to live a healthier (and more delicious) life.

[“source=forbes”]