The Real Food Dietitians

December 20, 2021
Dietitians Beacom and Hassing (Simply Nourished) put a healthy twist on comfort food in this excellent collection. Aiming to offer dishes that are both nourishing and simple to make, the authors emphasize that “when it comes to diet and nutrition, our approach is anything but dogmatic.” To that end, the recipes on offer utilize fresh and frozen produce—and other bits and bobs generally found in one’s fridge—and are tagged with icons that indicate the dietary needs each dish meets (gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, Whole30). Many of the meals, which draw on cuisines from around the world, take less than 35 minutes to prepare, and all feature nutritional analyses and substitutions such as gluten-free all-purpose flour (“our go-to for baking”). Sweet and sour pork calls on coconut aminos instead of soy sauce (to reduce sodium) and less sugar, while a more nutrient-dense, reduced-fat rendition of Buffalo chicken—dairy-free ranch dressing included—is used to fill halves of twice-baked spaghetti squash. Elsewhere, a section of cocktails deploys fresh juices and natural sweeteners to flavorful effect in such mouthwatering options as strawberry white sangria and mango daiquiris. The daunting task of dieting gets an appetizing makeover in these innovative offerings. Agent: Lisa Grubka, Fletcher & Co.