Mom’s Book Club: Trim Healthy Table Cookbook Review

0

It’s no secret I’ve been a raving fan of Trim Healthy Mama for a while now. For one thing, following this way of eating helped me to kick my sugar addiction and lose over 50 pounds. There are many mamas (and papas and people in other season of life!) who are already “trim” but are simply looking for a healthier way to fuel their bodies. The first Trim Healthy Mama cookbook has been a weekly staple in my home.

So when the authors announced a new cookbook, you can imagine my excitement!

Thanks to my husband for pre-ordering THT!

That first cookbook still holds a dear place in my heart (and kitchen!), but this new one, called Trim Healthy Table, really surprised me. First of all, the authors did a great job concisely explaining the plan in the first chapter, an awesome feat considering their very first original book was over 600 pages! The basic premise of the Trim Healthy Mama plan is to eat in a way that balances our blood sugar levels. Every meal or snack is anchored with a good amount of protein, and then, for those wanting to shed some pounds, you choose either healthy FATS (think coconut oil, avocados, cheese, nuts, whole eggs, etc.) OR gentle CARBS (oatmeal, sprouted bread, fruit, sweet potatoes, etc.). Adding non-starchy vegetables or berries to either type of meal is always encouraged! And the desserts…well, I think that is the key to me staying the course!

However, you don’t need to be strictly following this plan to love this cookbook.

Trim Healthy Table was written for mamas by mamas. The delicious meals in this book are simple, easy to make, and yet amazingly delicious. There are notes on each recipe whether they are DF (dairy-free) or NSI (no special ingredients). To explain that last one, there are a few beloved “special” ingredients the Trim Healthy Mamas just love. When I first started on this plan, I decided I didn’t want to purchase or use any of those, so I either substituted or left things out. However, little by little, I started adding them to my kitchen and now I couldn’t live without things like glucomannan powder or cross-flow microfiltered whey protein.

Don’t freak out if you see one of these ingredients in a recipe: the authors have written notes on each and every recipe about how to substitute using only ingredients you can find in the grocery store.

I’ve had my book for about a month now, and every recipe I’ve made has been a winner! Like most of us, I hate making separate meals for my kids. That’s what Trim Healthy Table is about: healthy meals you can bring to the table and enjoy with the rest of your family. Since children have high metabolisms, they don’t need to be separating carbs and fats, so there are notes on each recipe on what to include for them. My children love to look at the beautiful photos in the cookbook and help me pick out dinner ideas.

Here’s been some of our favorites so far:

Burger Bombs – these were a hit with the kids and adults alike! I made these in my ceramic muffin pan and they slid right out. Super easy and delicious!

Ten Minute Chinese Chicken Salad – This was one of my personal favorites, and also super simple to throw together. I was surprised that my kids even liked it!

Wonderful White Blender Bread – Love at first bite! Finally a low-carb high-protein bread that tastes amazing! This will be a staple in my kitchen from now on.

And of course, we can’t forget dessert!

One of the CRUCIAL parts of this plan for me has been that I can have my cake (and eat it too)! I still a huge sweet-lover, but now I indulge with natural, low-glycemic sweeteners such as stevia, erythritol and monk fruit extract. (You can read more about the sweeteners on page 38 of the Trim Healthy Table cookbook.)

Some of my favorite desserts so far have been:

Incredible Peanut Butter Cookie Muffins – These muffins are so good and easy to grab on the go! Or at home, whip up the easy chocolate syrup to make them even better!

Cinnamon Bundt Cake  – Unfortunately I didn’t get a picture but this recipe is AMAZING! I’ve made it at least 4 times now and it’s been a winner every time. (We also eat it before I can snap a pic!)

Altogether, this cookbook has brought such fun and enjoyment back into my kitchen and dining table. Be sure to check it out on Amazon or wherever you like to buy your books!