Cook This, Not That! Easy & Awesome 350-Calorie Meals

I bought this book at Walmart (paid a lot more for it there) and it was completely worth it. So far, I have tried a half dozen of the recipes, and ALL of them have been a huge success. One reviewer rights about how it is only restraunt selections..... false. At the bottom of each ORIGINAL recipe in here, they show what a restaurant alternative is, and how much money and calories you save by cooking at home. Also helpful in this book is new cooking tips and techniques. For example, as a southerner I love fried foods. This book showed me how to "oven fry" foods to have that familiar taste and crispy outside without all the extra calories from submerging foods in hot grease. Other techniques in this book that have been helpful are how to braise meats and use the natural drippings to make your own sauces while cooking, increasing the natural flavor of dishes.

2 weeks in, 11 pounds down

5 Stars in my book!

I am shocked at how engrossed I am with this book. I want to cook every single recipe! The biggest surprise--aside from learning how many calories I could save by cooking for myself--was how motivating the recipes are. Beautiful pictures and simplified cooking tips turn complex dishes into super-easy recipes. Many of the recipes even come with variations in case you can't find a certain ingredient or just want more variety. Here are my four favorites so far:

*Red Pepper Alfredo AMAZING dish, and I saved 830 calories and $10 over the same meal at Olive Garden.

*Loaded Calzone Far easier than I ever imagined, and I saved 1,025 (!) calories and $4.50 over Pizza Hut's Meaty P'Zone Pizza

*French Toast Stuffed with Strawberries -Whole-wheat toast stuffed with ricotta cheese, strawberries, honey, and almonds. Yum. I will definitely be making this again! And I saved 810 calories and $11.40 over IHOP's version.

*Curry with Cauliflower & Butternut Squash I had no idea I was capable of making curry. Or that I could save 717 calories and $8.50 in the process.

My kitchen skills are improving, I'm motivated to cook, and I already feel healthier. And if I don't feel like cooking one night, I'll just dive into the chapter dedicated to 10-minute meals. That should be easy enough. Though, to be honest, nothing I've cooked so far has taken me much more than 20.

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With the calorie counts calculated from reliable sources, that lovely, fluffy, "340 calorie" burger on the front cover has 504 calories, and I suspect the rest of the math in this book is just as hopeful. (Come on, you knew that food looked too good to be *that* low-calorie.)

I used the USDA database (very reliable) for fresh meat/produce and the sides of packages for the prepackaged stuff. I tried to use the lowest calorie available options.

175 calories: Ground sirloin, 90%/10%, 1/4 lb raw weight pan-broiled (i.e., with the fat cooked out), USDA database

190 calories: Orowheat Country Potato buns (the lowest-calorie "potato bun" at my local Safeway), 1 bun, calories from package (keep in mind that just two small slices of white wonderbread would have 120 calories.)

60 calories: Sargento® Deli Style Sliced Reduced Fat Swiss Cheese, 1 slice, calories from package

33 calories: mushrooms, 1/2 cup (raw volume), USDA database

15 calories: A1 steak sauce, 1 tablespoon, calories from pacage

11 calories: onion, medium-size, 1/4 onion, USDA database

20 calories: oil, canola, 1/2 teaspoon (estimated), USDA database

The goofy calorie counts in this book are shame, because (for example) 504 calories isn't bad for a burger at all. But it's almost *50% more* than the calorie count they gave in the book. The massive difference in the *actual* vs the *listed* calories could seriously throw off a carefully calculated diet. Caveat Emptor.

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These recipes are fabulous. I mean, who wouldn't want to eat coconut shrimp and chocolate cake while on a diet? However, the front cover of the book prominently says "350-calorie meals" and that isn't exactly true. I thought a meal consists usually of an entree and side dishes. Most of this book's entrees clock in at 300-350 calories by themselves. The side dish recipes average about 100 calories each (more or less), so that ups the meal's calorie count.

Let's say you make their oven-fried chicken at 310 calories per serving; add their rosemary potatoes for 150 calories; and their pickled cucumber salad for 60 calories. Now you have a 520-calorie meal. Or are you supposed to eat the chicken by itself? And where do you fit in, say, fresh fruit or dairy products, which are part of a well-balanced, healthy diet?

Again, I'm not criticizing the recipes at all; they are delicious and I highly recommend them. The authors did a brilliant job. Just saying that since the book advertises itself as a weight loss solution, I would have found it much more helpful if they included a week's worth of sample menus, listing exactly what to include for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. That way I could see clearly how to put together my meal plans for best results, as well as create my shopping list.

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I've owned this book for about a eight weeks now and have cooked at least a half dozen of the recipes. All turned out very good. I'm an experienced cook and don't need a lot of direction to know how to follow a recipe, and I'm not sure if that affected the outcome. Regardless, the recipes are nicely thought out, and presented in a way that gets them on the table fairly quickly.

Despite liking the book, I do have a couple of concerns. I don't want to repeat what other reviewers have said, so please read those reviews if this strikes a chord with you: The calorie counts and comparisons with restaurant meals are not accurate comparisons. The book generally compares one serving from the book's recipes, which are usually four servings, with the entire restaurant entree, which is often as large as the book's entire recipe, and certainly more than the single serving size the book recommends. I get it---the authors want us to watch not only what we eat, but how much we eat. Good advice, but they shouldn't rig the comparisons in such a disingenuous way. Still though, the recipes are good, and I believe that people need to take personal responsibility for portion control. If some fuzzy math in the book causes people to make better decisions and feel good about it, I can live with that.

Even though this book looks slick, it feels like a self-published book in serious need of a good editor. Now that I've cooked recipes, AND LIKE THEM, I can't find a darn thing in the index. For example, there are two salmon recipes that I like. Is salmon a category in the index? Not a chance. Okay, let's go to fish, which does exist, but there's no sub-section for salmon. In order to find the recipes I'm looking for I need to remember that one was Chili-Glazed Salmon (found under "C" below fish) and the other Moroccan Salmon (found under "M" below fish). Virtually all of the recipes are indexed like this, so unless you remember the cute name they use, you're left to hunt and peck for what you're looking for. If there was an editor, he/she should take a look at some other cookbooks before they take another stab at editing one they hope is a success. When a cookbook is successful, people want to be able to find something that they have a vague recollection of liking. Cross-indexing in many ways makes a cookbook a pleasure to use and reach for time and again.

So, would I still buy this book? Sure, because it's not expensive and the recipes are good. But, I'll do my own math and dog-ear my favorite pages.

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Partial Seizure Disorders: Help for Patients and Families

Anyone whose life is significantly impacted by partial seizures, whether directly or indirectly, should own this book. This is the only book that I have come across that specifically addresses partial seizures (simple and complex), and as such it is tremendously valuable to parents, friends, family members, and people who have Epilpesy themselves. It seems that books on Epilepsy are either very cheap (and broad and shallow in scope) or extremely expensive (and bordering on encyclopedic), but this book falls nicely in the middle. It weighs in at a reasonable price and provides a wealth of information that an interested person might otherwise only find by sifting through a large volume.

I have read this book twice and I was still learning as I read it the second time. It includes lots of personal accounts, both by people who have seizures and caregivers (mostly parents of children with seizures). I think that these varied accounts provide a great deal of insight, particularly for those who don't themselves have seizures but must face its issues. The book includes lots of resources in terms of books, addresses, websites, and organizations, and also includes a good section on insurance issues. If your life is affected by partial seizures, you should have this book.

This is THE BEST book to come out for epilepsy in a long time. It is great for both adults or parents of children with epilepsy, covering everything from medications, complimentary medicine, the various types of seizures and possible causes. I found Ms. Waltz's information is very up-to-date (writing this in June 2001). The reference guide at the back of the book is a helpful resource for finding various support resources, including oversea pharmacies. I highly recommend this book to anyone whose life has been touched by seizures.

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This book is informative on all aspects of partial seizure disorders, from discovery to diagnosis and treatment. I loved how easy it was to read. I read this book in less than 2 days! My only disappointment is that the book didn't touch a little more on the psychological impact of the disorders (and subsequent consequences).

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Partial Seizure Disorders: Help for Patients and Families by Mitzi Waltz is now the second book I've read about seizures since having another seizure last month. This book is an excellent complement to the first book I read on living well with epilepsy.

While this book does not have some of the details that the previous book I read has, this book has more information overall which is why I found them to be complementary.

The author begins by distinguishing between the different types of seizures, explaining the parts of the brain, and explaining how seizures work. She ends the first chapter by talking about what to do when you have a seizure or when you see someone having a seizure. This information was very enlightening to me because I didn't know that seizures are rarely harmful. If a person is kept away from anything harmful, and people around them, make sure that they do not suffocate on food or anything else in the mouth, unless a seizure goes on for a prolonged period of time, the best thing to do is be with the person and try to help them relax (15-16).

In the second chapter, she explains how to diagnose the type of seizure if it is a seizure that one has experienced. She incorporates first-hand accounts to flesh out the doctors and procedures that are used. She also discusses things which may look like seizures which are not.

The third chapter deals with how to live with having a seizure disorder, and she discusses ADA, discrimination, rates, and limitations that one will have to accept. She discusses how important it is to have support from professionals and family and/or friends.

The fourth chapter deals with seizures in children and has a wealth of information about how to deal with the school system and help that is available to children in schools. She not only talks about schools in the United States, but what help is available in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

The fifth chapter deals with medical intervention. She discusses antiepileptic drugs and has a detailed description of the most used ones, their side effects, and tips about them which is immensely helpful when you're first trying out drugs. Whether it be this book or the PDR or some other drug handbook, it is important for the patient to do his or her own research and be able to discuss with the doctor what different drugs do and do not do. Some doctors will not like to be questioned, but it is the patient's right to understand what's going on and what might happen. The chapter continues looking at blood tests, EKGs, as well as other tests, surgery, and ongoing research.

In the six chapter she looks at dietary treatment, environmental triggers, vitamins and supplements, herbs, and general care of the whole person.

In the final chapter. She deals with issues of health insurance and again she looks primarily at the United States but also looks at benefits and Canada, the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. She also looks at alternatives to insurance. These issues become very important, especially when treating chronic condition and because most health insurance policies have very limited mental health options.

The book ends with an appendix of resources where one can find information about epilepsy, seizures, the ADA, support and advocacy, medical references, drug company assist programs, and on and on. This appendix alone would be worth the price of the book.

Second appendix includes an example of a seizure diary which can be helpful in keeping records as one diagnoses and treats seizure disorders.

Finally, there is an extensive glossary of terms, which will be very helpful for reading this book, talking to one's doctor, and reading other books on this topic.

This is an excellent resource, and I have found it helpful as I am learning about what is going on in my brain and how to cope with it.

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.......with basic factual info. A must have if you were recently diagnosed with partial seizures.

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Start Your Own Senior Services Business (StartUp Series)

Sponsored by Entrepreneur Magazine, Start Your Own Senior Services Business: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Success is a no-nonsense source of ideas and practical strategies for getting a potentially lucrative business up and running, especially in the modern era of aging baby boomers. In addition to general advice for serving seniors, running a senior care service and developing one's plan, chapters look in-depth at operating an adult day-care service, relocation service, home care and home health-care service, concierge service, transportation service, and travel service. The final portion of Start Your Own Senior Services Business is packed heavily with tips, tricks, techniques, and vital tidbits for everything from how to set up a dependable team to financial matters to when things go wrong. Perhaps the most valuable piece of advice is the warning not to take every job offered, especially not ones that are beyond one's technical skills or expertise better to refer those to another, who may well return the favor in the future. Highly recommended for anyone considering setting up in the field.

I felt that this book contained valuable basic information that would get you on the road to starting a senior services business. This book gave a number of ideas; such as daycare, concierge, and relocation services, and explained them in detail.

I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to gain a basic understanding of the types of senior-oriented businesses and what is entailed when trying to start one up.

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If you read this and gave it a good rating, then you probably are related to the author. The title of the book is "Start your own senior services business, your step-by-step guide to success". After reading the book, I found the title to be VERY misleading. It is NOT a step-by-step guide. It is very generalized that can be put to use in any business practice. It was very vague. It touched on subjects of how to run a business but it was not even close to be a step-bystep guide. Luckily I checked it out at my local library and didn't waste one red cent on buying this so called book.

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This small book opened my eyes to the complexity of selling services to the senior market. Its contents prevented me from wasting time on researching services that I was considering offering. It helped me when I spoke with my insurance agent. Worth the money!!

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I bought this book because I hoped it would offer some insight into important issues of offering caregiving services to seniors. One of the most important items, I think, is being able to bill the insurance companies for this work when it is covered. After all, what person would want to pay themselves for services that could be paid for by their insurance company? Unfortunately, nothing about this was discussed. I feel this book was written on a macro, not a micro, level. It is good for a broad discussion of what types of businesses cater to seniors and what those business basically do. But, it doesn't offer much beyond this. Just my opinion -your mileage may vary. :)

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Reversing Gum Disease Naturally: A Holistic Home Care Program

I read The Oral Health Bible before reading this book, so already knew quite a bit about gum disease, its causes, and its potential negative impacts to the entire body.

The author of this book starts off by discussing, at length, how gum disease begins and progresses, why most oral health care products on the market can make the problem worse, and how taking a holistic and natural approach to oral hygiene can help save your teeth and gums. She even suggests finding a dentist or hygienist who will take the time to use natural products during your teeth cleanings.

Not unlike The Oral Health Bible, the author recommends natural products and supplements to help us care for our teeth and body. I take many of the recommended supplements now, and started using all-natural toothpaste and mouthwash and have noticed a dramatic improvement in every aspect of my own oral health.

The take-aways for me after reading this book: how to improve my flossing technique (I had no idea there was a "wrong" way before reading this book), and how to really enjoy the oral care process.

The author touts a home care spa concept which, when put to practice, is really quite a lovely experience. As suggested by the author, morning and night I lay out all of the tools I will use to care for my mouth, and then I turn my bathroom radio on NPR, the classical station or plug my iPod into the stereo. Although my oral care regimen takes longer now than it did before I started reading books on oral care, the process is enjoyable because I see it as a time to do something good for myself at the start and end of every day, and I can listen to the day's events or some good tunes while I do so. ;)

The book is a soft touch to a scary subject. The author's tone is warm an reassuring which is quite nice when you're reading a book on how to save your teeth. For that reason, and for the information on monitoring changes in your mouth in an oral health diary, on creating a home care spa, and the recommendations on natural products and supplements, the book is well worth it.

This is an excellent book written by a very dedicated dental hygienist who does her best to impart her years of acquired wisdom, so that we can take responsibility for our dental health and protect our teeth. The author teaches us that most people lose teeth as they get older, not because of tooth decay, but rather because of gum disease.

She explains what happens and why, and goes on to teach us how to look after our gums, whether they are currently good, or in bad shape. She show us how to set up an at-home hygiene center for looking after our gums.

This book contains lots of very useful information, not just from an understanding viewpoint, but from a practical self treatment viewpoint as well.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to prevent or treat gum disease.

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The book has good tips and info that I found helpful reminders I already knew but needed to be refeshed about them I realized. A few things mentioned in the book I found worthy of pen highlighting. However, from the reviews I thought it to have something very outstanding I or most people wouldn't normally or have never known/heard about. Maybe perhaps too on a deeper level this is what I and many others are looking for...a miracle. Perhaps I have to be a bit realistic as well. I think for others who are totally new might find this book enlightening and helpful guide. Having been familar with Perio process first hand, natural heatlth remedies, and veganism...I didn't find the book all that unique or earth shattering. It is a nice, straightforward, primer/overview of some basic things. It is good too for those new to Perio issues that it offers chapter on what happens with a Perio exam what to expect...and so forth. The book explains also what, how, and why gum disease starts. It has a tooth chart but not very helpfull for me in that I would have appreciated an actual mouth drawing like the lay person is familiar with...even having Perio experience first hand doesn't make me an instant dentist. On earlier pages there is a whole run down as to what tooth relates to what parts of the body. However, there is no reference to the fact that a tooth chart exists later on. In fact, the earlier run down has the number and technical name of each tooth..yet not very helpful to the lay person if there is not a useful visual to refer to that corresponds to the numbers and technical names easily. In other words "Tooth Chart for Dummies". The book offers consistant mention of foods that are good for the health of the gums and so forth. It also makes reference to illness and life changes that may involve gum disease...and again it takes the time to mention foods, supplements that can help. The standard mention of the maintainance of good diet, excercise, and such is in the book.

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When a new dentist told me I had gum disease, I was distressed. The dentist wanted to schedule advanced cleaning which seemed unpleasant, expensive, and perhaps unhealthy. For me, it was a last resort.

So I bought this book and implemented many of the suggestions. Now, four months later, after another dentist visit, my gum issues are quite reduced and advanced cleaning is not recommended. The positive, can-do attitude of this book really helped.

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I bought this book because I was seeking alternatives to scaling and root planing. The title called "Reversing Gum Disease Naturally" suggests to me that invasive procedures by a dentist would not be necessary. That is the information I was seeking. However on Page 18 she says if you have been diagnosed with pockets of 4mm or deeper, a prerequisite for gum disease, you must get scaling and root planing but that manual cleaning (versus laser) and the use of oil of oregano (a natural antibiotic) is better. She does not really say why laser is not good. Based on the theme of the book, I would guess it is because the gum may not reattach as well? So, I guess it depends what you are looking for and how you read the title. I think the title should be "At Home Care Following Holistic Periodontal Root Planing and Scaling." That would match what this book is. I have no way to judge whether the methods in this book work or not yet. I am pursuing a three month method based on further investigation through google and amazon. I am opting the periogen cleanse with the waterpik first. I will couple that with an oil of oregano rub with a rubber massage instrument. Update following in a few months or sooner.

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