The 400-Calorie Mediterranean Diet Cookbook

by Peter Minaki

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The 400-Calorie Mediterranean Diet Cookbook is a guide to weight-loss with included recipes written and presented by Peter Minaki. Due out 29th Sept 2021 from Simon & Schuster on their Adams Media imprint, it's 176 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

The Mediterranean diet has gotten a lot of attention because of its association with a wide variety of health benefits including a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and early death. This book provides a good introduction to the diet and lifestyle for readers wanting to make changes to their eating habits for health benefits and a healthier lifestyle.

The layout is logical and easy to follow. The introduction covers the basics of the Mediterranean Diet, tools, supplies, and the how-to and why of choosing ingredients and how to use them to fuel weight loss, suggestions for lifestyle changes and activities, as well as maintenance tips and keeping the weight off. The following chapters include the recipes arranged roughly by category: breakfast, soups & salads, appetizers & snacks, side dishes, chicken & poultry, beef & lamb, pork, seafood & fish, vegetarian, and desserts.

Ingredient measurements are listed bullet style in a header followed by step by step directions. Ingredient measures are supplied in American standard measurements only. (There's a metric conversion table in an appendix in the back of the book). The nutritional information: calories, fat, sodium, carbs, fibre, sugar, and protein content are listed for the recipes as well as serving sizes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made with easily sourced ingredients. Many are very simple, none of them are overly complex.

The photography is not abundant; roughly 25-30% of the recipes are illustrated, but the photographs which are included are clear and well done. I wish there had been more photographs and serving suggestions, but I do understand that extra photography increases the price of book projects very quickly.

This is a nice collection of recipes and will keep cooks going for ages. Many of these can also easily be adapted to other styles of cooking and meal planning.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.