Review: Carrots 'N' Cake

Summary: Let them eat cake! From one of the most popular blogs on the internet comes an innovative, even fun way to diet. Carrots 'N' Cake is all about eating your carrots…and savoring your cupcake, too.
 For some people, losing weight means restrictive dieting, obsessive calorie counting, and constant hunger. Not Tina Haupert! She learned that it didn't have to be that way. Tina shows how to drop the pounds and keep them off by adopting eating habits that are healthy, balanced, and above all, livable. She serves up easy-to-follow fitness routines, food tips, and her most popular feature: cookie Friday.

TINA TELLS HOW TO:
Hang with your friends on a Friday night without packing on the alcohol pounds
Navigate buffet tables at parties
Handle the holidays painlessly.
And more! -- Sterling

When I agreed to review CARROTS 'N' CAKE: HEALTHY LIVING ONE CARROT AND CUPCAKE AT A TIME by Tina Haupert, I admit that I was expecting a cookbook with lots of healthy recipes. And there were some recipes in this book, but for the most part, it was Ms. Haupert's story about her journey to healthy eating.

Each chapter in the book began with Ms. Haupert's personal story as well as her advice for a healthier lifestyle; and then at the end of the chapter, there are a few recipes that she referenced in the text. This book has lots of information about Ms. Haupert's personal life, and I'm not sure it added much to my appreciation of the book. I realize that she is trying to inspire others through her experiences, and I commend her for that. However, I just don't think all of the personal information about her husband and dog was pertinent to me.

I don't want to say that I was disappointed in CARROTS 'N' CAKE, but I was hoping for more of a cookbook with healthy recipes. Even though there were 50 recipes in this book, I definitely wouldn't classify it as a cookbook. There was lots of text and no pictures and it was more of Ms. Haupert's personal approach to healthy living. The book definitely has its merits, but I think it would be most appreciated by those people who are already familiar with Ms. Haupert and her blog Carrots 'N' Cake

Prior to picking up CARROTS 'N' CAKE, I had never heard of the blog Carrots 'N' Cake (although that's not surprising since most of my blog reading is book related!) I can certainly see why her blog has become so popular and how her story has inspired many people to lose weight and exercise. She's accomplished a great deal and she's only 30 years old! Carrots 'N' Cake is beautifully designed and her photographs of food are gorgeous. And I love how she gives her readers the details of her dieting journey -- both the ups and the downs.

And that was one thing I really did appreciate about this book -- that Ms. Haupert admitted she has good days and bad days. She teaches readers not to beat themselves up when they "fail." Rather, they should just start again with healthy eating and exercising. She also has some fantastic messages about learning to make the right eating choices (especially when eating out) as well as plans for effective strength training and cardio workouts.

There was one huge benefit to me of CARROTS 'N' CAKE that I wasn't expecting. Many of the recipes for "treats" like muffins, cookies, etc. were allergy friendly for Booking Son. That means there are  quite a few egg-free, dairy-free, and peanut and tree nut-free recipes! The recipes aren't being sold as allergy friendly, but I have a feeling that moms like me will truly appreciate these goodies!

I think fans of the blog Carrots 'N' Cake will enjoy this book as well as individuals who are looking for an inspirational healthy eating book.

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

Thanks to FSB Associates for providing a review copy of this book.

Review: Nutrition Diva's Secrets for a Healthy Diet

Summary: Tired of trying to figure out what you should be eating for breakfast, or whether it’s ever OK to eat before going to bed? Want to know which type of milk, or cereals, or meats are best so that food shopping is easier?

Millions of people already eat, look, and feel better thanks to popular podcast host and board-certified nutritionist Monica Reinagel. In her highly-anticipated guidebook she sorts through all the conflicting nutrition information out there—and busts outdated food myths—so you’ll know exactly what to eat (and what to avoid) once and for all. Don’t worry if pasta makes you happy, if chocolate keeps you sane, or if you just can’t stand broccoli; no food is off limits and none is required. Instead, Monica walks you through every aisle of the grocery store and through each meal and snack of the day, helping you make healthier choices and answering your burning questions, including:

· How often should you eat?

· Which organic foods are worth the extra cost?

· Does cooking vegetables destroy the vitamins?

· Should foods be combined in certain ways for better digestion?

Complete with grocery shopping lists, simple, delicious recipes, and sample meal plans, Nutrition Diva’s Secrets for a Healthy Diet will have you feeling healthier, looking better than ever before, and no longer worrying about what to eat for dinner. -- St. Martin's Griffin

It seems like I'm always trying to lead a healthier lifestyle. I try to work out and eat right, but often times, I quickly lapse back into my old bad habits. So every now and then, I try to read a book about nutrition and/or exercise to keep me back on track. The latest one that I picked up was NUTRITION DIVA'S SECRETS FOR A HEALTHY DIET: WHAT TO EAT, WHAT TO AVOID, AND WHAT TO STOP WORRYING ABOUT by Monica Reinagel, MS, LN, CNS.

Overall, I found SECRETS FOR A HEALTHY DIET to be very interesting. It's not exactly a book that I recommend attempting to read in a few sittings like I did unless you really don't know much about healthy eating. I found that I already knew much of the information in this book, but I do read a lot of articles and books about this subject matter. For someone like me, I think this book best acts as a valuable reference tool. I can easily see me picking it up again when I have a question about a specific type of food or when I am looking for a healthy recipe.

There is no doubt that NUTRITION DIVA'S SECRETS FOR A HEALTHY DIET does provide some terrific information about healthy eating. I thought the book was set up in a very unique and user-friendly way. There are two major parts -- Nutrition Diva's Guide to the Grocery Store and The 24-Hour Diet Makeover. I probably most appreciated the section on how to most effectively grocery shop. (Hint: Start with the perimeters for the freshest and healthiest foods.) I enjoyed learning some new facts about healthy (and not-so-healthy) food; however, I also liked some of Nutrition Diva's sensible dieting advice.

One thing that I definitely appreciated about this book was the author's tone. She was very informative and offered tons of advice without being preachy. In addition, her ideas made a lot of sense and were very doable. I felt as if she offered the "right" things to do but also realizes that moderation is the key. If you are interested in learning more about Nutrition Diva and her healthy eating advice, you can check out her website.

Probably what impressed me the most about this book were the various recipes. I always enjoy looking through cookbooks for new ideas, and this book had some very tempting ones. I appreciated that there were a wide range of ideas including breakfast and side dishes. In addition, I loved that she included some charts and graphics which summarized much of the data in the book. For example, she included sample meal plans for various types of eaters as well as a detailed shopping guide and a serving size guide. I found that this information in the back of the book was very helpful to implementing Nutrition Diva's concepts.

I wanted to try at least one of the recipes before writing this review, so I decided to make Apple Pie Oatmeal. I love all things apple and I do enjoy a hot breakfast, so this recipe was perfect for me!

Apple Pie Oatmeal

Serves 1

3/4 cup water
1/3 cup old-fashioned rolled oats or rolled whole grains
1/2 small apple, diced
1/4 teaspoon apple (or pumpkin) pie seasoning or cinnamon
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
Honey, maple syrup, or other sweetener, to taste

1. Combine water, oats or grains, apple, spices, and salt in saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until creamy, about 6-8 minutes.

2. Spoon into individual bowls, sprinkle with nuts, and top (sparingly) with honey, maple syrup, or another sweetener.

TIP: You'll need less sweetener if you drizzle or sprinkle it on top rather than stirring it in.

If you are looking for a good resource on healthy eating that's not preachy, then I recommend NUTRITION DIVA'S SECRETS FOR A HEALTHY DIET. 

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads and is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.