Jane Brody's Good Food Book: Living the High Carbohydrate Way

by Jane E. Brody, Ray Skibinski (Illustrator)

Offers a practical, everyday guide to cooking and eating sensibly that includes information on the major starches and weight control as well as hundreds of recipes and menu plans

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Reference, Nutrition, Health

700 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Jane Ellen Brody writes a weekly column on personal health for the New York Times.

Reviews

[Mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really like to read cookbooks and this is an old favorite. I had a paperback copy which fell apart after years of abuse, and I recently found a hardcover at my library used book sale. All the carbohydrate-phobics should note that the author's emphasis is on low sugar, whole grains, and vegetables. The soup recipes are excellent and easy to prepare, although cooking time is too long to make for dinner after a long day at work. Her lentil and rice soup, vegetable soup with pistou, and alpine vegetable soup are among my favorites--and I love to cook soup. A meatloaf with shredded cabbage is one of the least successful recipes in my household. I'm accustomed to low-salt cooking, and usually cut the salt in a recipe by at least a third; however, in this cookbook I follow the recipe measurements for salt. Be warned that the cookies, quickbreads and muffins use minimal sugar--look elsewhere for indulgent sweets.

[Sharon Eudy Neufeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although somewhat overtaken by newer research, this cookbook is helpful in providing low-fat complex carb recipes. I am currently on my 3rd copy! Not a foolproof cookbook. Some recipes, when followed to the letter, are simply unacceptable. But the good ones make it all worth while. I won a chili cookoff with the "Vegetable chili" just tweaking up the seasoning. The Beef Lo Mein is divine (though I double the sauce). The "french" salad dressing is yogurt based and makes a fabulous vegetable dip. The Moroccan Pockets are an amazingly tasty pita filling. I could go on and on. You won't be sorry if you buy this book.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really, really good recipes. I used to give this as my favorite wedding shower gift. When my copy started falling apart, I took it to Kinko's and had them spiral-bind it with a protective cover, because it's worth hanging on to.
I've found that my body is much happier on a high protein diet, but just because it doesn't work well for me doesn't mean that the high carb premise won't work well for others. Worth checking out.
My favorite recipes: sesame noodles, and split pea soup with dill.

[Genevieve Grady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched, thought, and presented text on food with many useful recipes. A strong focus on vegetarian fare with real taste and an ease in presentation. Refershingly realistic.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

My copy of this book is "tattered and torn", but not forlorn! I've used it for over 30 years and for a paperback of 700 pages it is in remarkably good shape. It is a very useful book, but so much more than that! It includes my go to Thanksgiving recipes: Cranberry Relish To Remember ( p 646), Broccoli Chinoise (p 296) and Turkey Carcass Soup (p 348-9); I often use the Menu Guide - see for example - A Week In Fall (pp 654-5) and Buffet Menus for, Summer, Winter and 4th of July (pp 657);
the focus on good carbs includes chapters on potatos, pasta, grains and beans dedicated to information, in addition to recipes.

I have used this cookbook for everyday meals as well as special occasions. Highly recommend!

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the abundant front matter on this more than the recipes, which - admittedly admirably - attempted to make more concessions to health simultaneously than I'd prefer.

Lots of single-author cookbooks have one or more tells - foods it becomes apparent are among the author's favorites. Ms. Brody's appear to be dill, cranberries, and ratatouille.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though the "high-carbohydrate way" no longer seems like such a good idea, there are a lot of recipes in this book that I think are great, and that I still use often. It also has good information about various ingredients in the front - nutritional value, etc. I have referred to those pages many times. My copy of this book is virtually destroyed from so much use.

[Lisa (Harmonybites) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The subtitle is "Living the High-Carbohydrate Way" which is out of fashion at the moment. But these are healthy carbs--with the emphasis on whole grains and vegetables. And it's one of my favorite cookbooks for how it introduces different grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, vegetables and fruits, complete with illustrations.

And there are many, many delicious recipes that are favorites within the book. Hummus, Cream of Cauliflower Soup, Hot and Sour Soup, Peanut Butter-Vegetable Chicken Soup, Mexican Zucchini Soup (a big favorite I've shared with friends), Chili without Carne, Chicken Enchilada, Hearty Oatmeal, Mexican Succotash, Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin Cookies. Just such a well-put-together book--other than the binding--it's falling apart. Which does make it a pain to use it at this point. If I could buy this book anew, I would. Fortunately, I've made the Mexican Zucchini Soup so many times its in my muscle memory and I need not consult the book.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always good to leaf through, full of good recipes based on sensible, healthy eating principles. Includes not only hundreds of good recipes you can easily adapt to your specific tastes, but easy-to-follow instructions on stocking your pantry and equipping your kitchen, as well as step-by-step guides to cutting up a bird, cleaning fish, etc. This is not a cookbook that insists you buy all kinds of expensive gadgets or invest in hair-raisingly expensive goat cheese from the Arctic Circle; it's meant for normal people who like cooking.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously this was written prior to the recent Atkins craze. Nonetheless, Brody provides sound nutritional advice and simple changes to living a healthier lifestyle. Brody does not advocate anything radical, she encourages readers to cut back on sugar, increase the fiber, add more fruits and veggies; all the stuff we all have heard countless times. Her recipes are stellar; yummy soups, pastas, muffins, etc.

[Rebecca Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally stole this from Mom a million years ago. Don't let the outdated nutritional info throw you off. There are some really good, relatively simple main courses in here, particularly chicken dishes. Honorable mentions should include: 40 Clove Garlic Chicken, Lemon Chicken with Bulgur, Greek Chicken with Cheese and Chicken Cacciatore with Noodles.

[Dixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this book for many years and I go back to it again and again - admittedly usually to the same recipes, but then I'm not the most adventurous eater (or shopper, or cook). Probably my favorite cookbook, full of "old reliables."

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this cookbook since it first came out in '87 and it's my most-used cookbook of all time. Lots of family favorites here, and Jane's nutritional common sense holds up well. (By "high-carbohydrate," btw, she means complex carbs, so you can make these recipes without guilt or shame...)

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I use this cookbook ALL the time - my son's all-time fav zucchini bread recipe is in this book - among others. It's great to see that all the nutrition talk out there as come back to sensible food choices, including good-for-you carbs!

[Mary Ker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never tried a recipe from this book that I did not absolutely love. Brody finds a way to trim fat and unnecessary calories from recipes and they still are luxuriously delicious. Her take on cholesterol is now dated, but the recipes are still healthy and totally yummy.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to make the basic pancakes and the zucchini bread. They're a staple for me...

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Healthy eating that still tastes good.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who better to recommend bread recipes than someone who advocates living the high-carbohydrate way?

Thanks for introducing me, Emily.

[Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I had world enough and time, I'd cook like Jane every day! Whole grains, legumes, beans. Crunchy whole foods yumminess.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEST COOKBOOK EVER

[Cathy Wunder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many good recipes That I use that are healthy. She has sections on how to cook different foods and nutrition info amount them. Love it!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this cookbook for years, and will never get rid of it. It weathers all the nutrition fads with timeless, common sense advice and recipes.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

My copy is falling apart. The spin has split, the cover's ripped and I can't part with it. Some of my most-used recipes come from this book -- especially the soups.

[Ellen Marchessault · Rating 5 out of 5]

My go-to cook book.