The Most Decadent Diet Ever!: The Cookbook That Reveals the Secrets to Cooking Your Favorites in a Healthier Way

by Devin Alexander

Book Overview

Devin Alexander, author of the New York Times bestseller, The Biggest Loser Cookbook , lets you have your cake and lose weight, too, with sinfully tempting - yet amazingly healthy - recipes for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0767928814
• ISBN13: 9780767928816
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: Broadway Books
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.4" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Healthy eating at its best - WOW!

When was the last time a cookbook actually motivated you to change? Typically I receive a book, look through it for fun, interesting recipes, try a few, and add the ones I like to my repertoire. I can honestly say that Devin Alexander's 'The Most Decadent Ever!' has done something that no other cookbooks have done - it has revolutionized the way I think about food to embrace a healthy diet. In the age of numerous fad diets, I've seen many friends try, sometimes with dramatic success, only to be met with disappointment down the road. I believe that this is because many of the diets that exist are really designed for short term gains. To me it has never seemed natural to eliminate particular food groups from a diet (except of course for medical reasons) and would make long-term maintenance a challenge. I've avoided the fads and lived in a world of moderation - which has served me pretty well. For the first time, however, this book has opened my eyes to an approach to preparing meals that makes sense. 'The Most Decadent Diet Ever!' embraces all food groups yet provides guidance on creating dishes, ranging from simple to sophisticated, that indulge the senses, are thoroughly satisfying, and incredibly healthy. After completing just one meal I felt energized, great about myself, and eager to learn and try more. My adventure began with planning "a day of decadence". Last Sunday, I decided to immerse myself in this cookbook (and put it to the ultimate test) by preparing the entire days' meals for my 3 year-old son and myself. My little sous chef and I prepared the following meals: vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry breakfast sundae (p35; breakfast); supreme and slender French bread pizza (p111; lunch); lemon-thyme chicken kebabs, tart cherry couscous, zucchini boats with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, (p131, p171, p175 respectively; dinner). The dishes were simple to prepare and came out just like the pictures. And the taste was AMAZING! My son and I loved everything. It was actually hard for me to believe that healthy meals could have panache and be completely satisfying! Along the way, Devin's book has taught me alternative ingredients and cooking techniques to maintain a healthy diet. Simply put - this book is EXCEPTIONAL! I highly recommend that you plan your own "day of decadence" with Devin Alexander's book. One day of decadence may just lead YOU to a life of healthy eating.

diet food for people who enjoy cooking!

This is a great cook book for people who are dieting and really enjoy cooking! All of the recipes are 300 calories or less and the portion sizes are normal/reasonable. The recipes are fairly simple, but there is actual cooking involved--no microwaving. I enjoy cooking, but am not a gourmet and this cook book is perfect for my ability level. These recipes are also great for a family. My husband and daughter (age 4) enjoy the food and don't know that it's "light." Some of the items are a little hard to find--you need access to a natural foods grocery store with a large selection, like Whole Foods, Trader Joes, or a regular grocery store with a large selection of natural foods or specialty items. If you don't have that available in your area, this cookbook could be a little frustrating, as so many of those ingredients are used. Also, be prepared to make an investment in your pantry if you plan to do a lot of cooking from this cook book. I have a fairly well-stocked kitchen and found myself needing to add several spices, sauces, and types of flour, which were a little on the expensive side. On the whole, this is an outstanding cook book with great tasting food!

Great Cookbook!

I never leave reviews for products but I am so happy with this cookbook I just feel like I have to share. I can totally relate to Devin when she talks about being obsessed with her weight and dreaming about eating bad food and just constantly worried about body size. All that said I have read many intros to many cookbooks and can relate, but the recipes never live up to my expectations. The recipes in this book are so easy and they are delicious and healthy. I have a husband who does not need to watch his weight he is very active and eats whatever he wants therefore he never really wants to eat "healthy" food. I have two picky children under five who don't like anything I cook no matter what. Guess what they all love recipes from this book. I feel like I can really quit obsessing over food by eating what I want but healthier versions. Thank you Devin for a realistic approach to cooking and weight loss and maintenance.

Makes it easy to eat well

I buy a lot of recipe books, but most I don't use much. This one is different. I'll be cooking with it all the time. A collection of 125 recipes, it is not meant to represent an entire diet. Instead, it's a cookbook of especially yummy dishes that just happen to be healthy, too. The recipes can be the foundation of a new way of eating, or serve as treats if you have already reached a healthy weight. Author Devin Alexander makes it easy. Each recipe is either 100, 200, 300, 400 or 500 calories (within 10 calories), so it's easy to track your calories without a calculator. The dishes are, for the most part, healthy versions of your old favorite fattening ones. So, for example, instead of the typical 746-calorie, 38-grams-of-fat slice of chocolate cake, you can have a slice of Dark Chocolate Layer Cake with Buttercream Frosting for 294 calories and 6 grams of fat. Each recipe also includes how many grams it contains of carbohydrates, cholesterol, fat, saturated fat, fiber, protein and sodium. Most also have this data for the traditional recipe, so you can easily see what you're "missing." As someone who has managed a 55-pound weight loss for 16 years, Alexander knows her stuff. At the beginning of the book, she gives you options: Do you want to count calories or not? The author details a simple diet plan either way (based on your gender, age and activity level), shows you how to put together a weekly meal plan, and covers the importance of exercise. The book itself is beautifully produced, with glossy paper, lush color photos and color-coded text. Here's the chapter list: 1. What you need to get started 2. Breakfasts 3. Burgers, sandwiches and wraps 4. Salads 5. Entrees 6. Starchy sides 7. Veggie sides 8. Savory snacks 9. Sweet snacks

This book should have been called....

...how to eat with your boyfriend without packing on the pounds! The best thing about the recipes in this book is that no one (including your boyfriend or mine) will know that they are "good for you." I love being able to make satisfying (and quite easy) meals so the urge to just eat out or get take-out doesn't raise it's ugly, expensive head 3 or 4 times each week! And I think this would be awesome party food as well - I'm thinking I could do my next party entirely from this book.