The Clean & Simple Diabetes Cookbook

If you do not know how to cook and would like to learn how to simple, health meals, thank look no further.

The Clean & Simple Diabetes Cookbook may be intended to help people cook diabetic-friendly meals, but really the book is good for anyone with little cooking experience who wants a step-by-step guide for creating nutritious recipes.

Published by the American Diabetes Association, and written by Dietitian, Jackie Newgent, the book is chock-full, not only of easy-to-prepare, tasty recipes, but also everything you need to know to get you started in the kitchen if you do not already have the basic knowledge and skills.

The chapter on a diabetes-friendly lifestyle provides advice some specific advice for diabetes but also some that really applies to everyone: exercise, choose whole grains, eat healthy fats, reduce sodium, and avoid sugary beverages.

There is a step-by-step guide on diabetic-friendly cooking, which, again, can really be utilized by anyone looking for a starting point for cooking healthy meals. It provides detailed information on stocking your fridge, pantry and freezer and which kitchen tools to have available. There is even a section on the proper way to cut garlic, onions, bell peppers, etc. and how to prepare hard boiled and fried eggs.

The first recipe section is 25 3-ingredient recipes for very simple snacks and meals. It includes things like Apple Stacks (apple, peanut butter and granola), Avocado & Hummus Toast, and Cheesy Sweet Potato Fries.

Newgent includes a section with advice on meal prepping. Do not underestimate the importance of this! One of the number one reasons my clients say they do not cook is they get home from work and are too tired, and/or unprepared. If you fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

There is also 2 weeks of menus for a family of 4. I love this because most books do meal plans for one person since it is usually a 'diet'. It is so much more realistic to give people a plan that can include the whole family. Nevertheless, there is also 2 weeks of menus for a single person as well.

In terms of recipe chapters, this book has all your bases covered:

• Appetizers and Snacks
• One-dish Meals
• Breakfasts
• Plant-Based Mains
• Fish & Shellfish Mains
• Chicken & Turkey Mains
• Side Salads
• Savory Sides
• Soups & Stews
• Desserts & Drinks

Not all recipes have photos but there are several sections of photos in the book where certain ones are pictured.

Each recipe includes ingredients, required kitchen tools, directions, tips, swaps, and nutritional information.

The recipes are definitely my jam. Healthy, simple, and flavourful. Pretty much how I mostly cook. Some examples are Ginger, Tempeh & Snow Pea Stir Fry,  Spice-Rubbed Salmon, Pan-Seared Tilapia, Black Beans & Mango Salad, Baja Turkey Burgers, Seasonal Mediterranean Farro Salad, Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes, Tex-Mex Tortilla Soup, Peppermint Chocolate "Nice" Cream, Sweet Cherry Milkshake, and Blueberry Chia Smoothie.

Do I recommend this cookbook? Absolutely! This is a great resource for anyone with diabetes or a loved one with diabetes. It is also perfect for anyone wanting a detailed guide to getting started with healthy cooking.