Cookbook Review: The Moms' Guide to Meal Makeovers

I'm not sure where I first heard about the Meal Makeover Moms but the title of their book alone made me want to check them out!  Seriously, I was a mom and I know as moms, we so often face the challenge of getting a healthy meal on the table night after night, day after day.  The reality is that the information we see on television or read in magazines or online says Americans need to eat more fruits and vegetables and fewer processed foods.  Yeah right, not an easy task!

Well, think again!  The Meal Makeover Moms, Liz Weiss and Janice Bissex, are dieticians and busy moms so they understand the challenge and give tips to overcome those challenges.  The conversational style lends itself to easy reading without it seeming too "preachy".  They first start out with a primer on WHY a meal makoever may be in order.  Statistics on the ways we eat and how changes can be made.  Next up is the 5-Step Meal Makeover Plan that gives you baby steps on how to get started.  Things like "Add One Extra Serving of Fruit Each Day" or "Include One Healthy Snack Each Day".

Still thinking that upping the health content of your family's diet is an unsurmountable task?  Weiss and Bissex tackle convenience and fast foods also and show us how to find the best options when time is just not on our side and we need a meal quick!  Lastly, Part One includes a primer on setting up your Meal Makeover Pantry and why you need to keep certain things on hand to get dinner on the table in a jiffy.

Part Two includes tons of recipes to help you get started.  Sure, there are tons of recipes out there but how are these different?  Well, the authors have managed to add a bit (or more) of extra nutrition into each recipe to boost its nutrients (all while keeping it's kid-appeal).  Here's what I especially love about the recipes in this book...the authors don't just give you the recipe and expect you to trust them that it's good for you but included with each is a nutritional breakdown of calories, fat, fiber, etc.  But the best part is that they tell you HOW they've "made it over".  Things like:

--"Replacing the packets of Ranch dressing and taco seasoning with a flavorful blend of spices and seasonings to reduce the sodium" for Halftime Taco Chili
--"Adding blueberries, banana, and wheat germ for vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and fiber" to Blueberry Banana Pancakes
--"Including shrimp for lean protein and healthy-omega-3 fats" for Shrimp "Not-So-Fried" Rice.

Each recipe also includes a "Mom's Kitchen Notes" that gives extra tips on how to make even more substitutions, turn leftovers into another meal and more.

Worth checking out, this book offers another way to get your family eating a little bit more healthy and enjoying what they eat too!

If you liked this post, you may want to check out:
Cookbook Review: The Sneaky Chef
The Search for the Perfect Chicken Nugget
Cookbook Review: Deceptively Delicious