Cook Book Review

The Biggest Loser Cookbook (2006) Alexander, D.

This comes with a website http://www.biggestloserclub.com/cookbook
Basically contestants from the show provided recipes they liked. There is a range of difficulty here, and also of calories. The book is divided into 6 sections: breakfast, sandwiches, sides,main dishes, snacks, desserts. All recipes come with caloric information. The following recipes are from this cookbook.

Greek God(dess) Salad

1 tbsp minced fresh parsley leaves
4 pitted kalamata olives, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
4-5 tbsp lemon juice to taste (preferably fresh squeezed)
1/2 medium cucumber, seeded and chopped
1/2 medium red or orange bell pepper, chopped
1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped
1/3 cup finely chopped red onion
1 oz heaping 1/4 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
1 small (4 oz) grilled chicken breast, sliced (meat is optional)

Combine the parsley, olives and garlic in a serving bowl. Whisk in 4 tbsp lemon juice.
Add the cucumber, pepper, tomato, onion and 3 tbsp of the cheese. Toss to coat with the dressing. Taste and add more lemon juice if desired. Scatter the chicken over the salad, if desired. Top with the remaing cheese. Makes 2 servings.

106 cals per serving. 5 g. protein, 15 g. carbohydrates, 4 g fat (1 g sat fat) 5 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 315 mg sodium

Peanut Butter-Oatmeal Cookies

12 pitted dates
1/3 cups old fashioned oats
1 tbsp reduced fat peanut butter

Process the dates in a food processor fitted with a chopping blade until they clump together. Transfer with a spatula to a mixing bowl. Add the oats and peanut butter. Mix well with hands or a mixer. Divide into 4 parts. Shape these into balls and place them between wax paper sheets and flatten to 3 inches diameter. Serve immediately or store in airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 5 days. Makes 2 2 cookie servings.

221 calories per serving (2 cookies) 5 g protein 45 g carbohydrates, 4 g fat (less than 1 g sat fat) no cholesterol, 5 g fiber, 63 mg sodium

Chocolate Kahlua Mousse Parfaits

1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp very cold fat-free milk
1/4 cup kahlua or other coffee-flavored liqueur
1 envelope (1.5 oz) low-fat chocolate mousse mix
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 chocolate graham crackers, crushed into fine crumbs
1 cup thawed fat-free frozen whipped topping

Combine milk, kahua, mousse mix and cocoa in a large mixing bowl. Whip on low with mixer until blended. Slowly increase speed to high, whipping for five minutes or until fluffy.
In four dessert bowls or wine glasses, layer 1/4 cup of mousse, 2 tsp of crumbs and 2 tbsp of whipped topping. Repeat these 3 layers a second time, except for enough graham cracker crumbs to top the glass/bowl lightly. Refrigerate 2 hours before serving. Serves four.

145 calories per serving, 3 g protein, 22 g carbohydrates, 3 g fat (2 g sat fat) less than 1 mg cholesterol, 1 g fiber, 43 mg sodium