The Essential Cookbook for Men: 85 Healthy Recipes to Get Started in the Kitchen

by Manuel Villacorta

Eat smarter (and healthier) at home―a beginner’s guide for men.

Say goodbye to takeout―it’s time you put your kitchen to use. The Essential Cookbook for Men is the book for guys who want to eat healthier (and cheaper!) but aren’t sure how to get started.

Like all the best cookbooks for men, this one walks you through all the kitchen basics―stocking your pantry, creating shopping lists, reading recipes―and takes you from gourmet greenhorn to seasoned chef. From Latinx-Style Fried Eggs to Stir-Fry Beef Sandwiches, you’ll discover tons of perfect-for-beginner recipes that show you really can cook up some seriously delicious food that will also help keep you fit and trim.

Go beyond other cookbooks for men with:

Culinary crash course―It doesn’t matter if you’ve never set foot in a kitchen before―you’ll discover all the information you could want out of cookbooks for men.
Easy recipes―Get complete and comprehensive instructions that all great cookbooks for men should have.
Great tasting and good for you―Learn how to cook 80 dishes that are big on flavor and health benefits.

When it comes to cookbooks for men, The Essential Cookbook for Men is a must-have for your kitchen.

Genres: Cookbooks

148 pages, Paperback

Published December 17, 2019

About the author

Registered Dietitian. Educator. Author. Speaker. Spokesperson.

A nationally recognized, award-winning registered dietitian with more than 16 years of experience as a nutritionist, Manuel Villacorta, M.S., R.D., is a respected and trusted voice in the health and wellness industry. He is the founder of Eating Free, an international weight management and wellness program, and one of the leading weight loss and nutrition experts in the country. He is the author of Eating Free: The Carb-Friendly Way to Lose Inches, Embrace Your Hunger, and Keep the Weight off for Good (HCI, May 2012) and Peruvian Power Foods: 18 Superfoods, 101 Recipes, and Anti-aging Secrets from the Amazon to the Andes (HCI, October 2013).

Manuel served as a national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (2010-2013), and currently acts as a health blog contributor for The Huffington Post, an on-air contributor to the Univision television network, and a health and lifestyle contributor for Fox News Latino. Manuel is the owner of San Francisco-based private practice, MV Nutrition and the recipient of five ‘‘Best Bay Area Nutritionist’’ awards from the San Francisco Chronicle, ABC7 and Citysearch.

His warm, approachable style and his bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish have made him an in-demand health and nutrition expert on local and national television and radio channels, as well as in articles appearing in print publications and online. Manuel is a compelling, charismatic speaker.

Manuel has acted as a media representative for food companies such as Foster Farms, Egglands’ Best "California Latino 5-A-Day Program" and "Got Milk." He is now the chief of public relations and spokesperson for the Pichuberry company.

Born and raised in Peru, Manuel makes his home in San Francisco. He earned his bachelor of science in nutrition and physiology metabolism from the University of California, Berkeley, and his master of science in nutrition and food science from San Jose State University. He has been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards for his research and contributions to the field of dietetics.

Reviews

[Diane Estrella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cookbook definitely has the feel of being for men written by a man.

This book is great for a college student heading out on their own or any guy that wants to be more familiar with his way around the kitchen. I like that the author included sections in the beginning of the book for newbies on different pots and pans to use, pantry essentials, how to shop, how to measure, along with much other beginner type information.

There is a good variety of recipes including gluten free, low carb, and dairy free. A few minimal, or no, cooking recipes are also included. There is also an assortment of herb and spice levels depending on taste preferences. Two ingredients, new to me, were farro and queso fresco.

I like that the author included the "Per Serving" info, so you will know how many calories, etc. are in each serving. For anyone watching their sodium level, sugar, carbs, etc. this is very helpful.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Callisto Publishers/Rockridge Press and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this cookbook (free from the publisher) with my 16 year old son, Jack, in mind. He's a great baker and really likes to cook, and he's been wanting to learn to cook more meals. This is exactly the kind of cookbook that a young man (or woman) can learn from. It's quite basic at times, with a focus on healthy food that's also relatively easy to prepare.

What I liked -- Nutritional information is provided for each recipe. The recipes are whole-foods based, with a focus on nutritional foods. Lots of the recipes are naturally gluten free, and many are vegetarian. Lots of the recipes are VERY simple. Some people may take issue with that -- there are recipes for things like apple slices and a hard boiled egg, but that's a good meal for a guy who's looking for something easy but healthy (and cheap!) that provides fiber, vitamins, protein, etc. I also appreciate that the author teaches you how to do things like shop, read nutritional information, basic cooking techniques, etc.

What I didn't like as much -- There are not many photographs at all (though the ones in here are full color, full page, and great looking).

This would make a great first cookbook for a kid heading off to college or starting to cook family meals, or anyone who didn't grow up with an adult teaching them how to cook.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical cookbook. I am a fussy eater, meat and potato kind of guy. There are several recipes I find useful, at least as they are or with a little altering.

[jess ~has abandoned GR~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I'm not a man, but I am a human being who eats food, so...

A good, straightforward cookbook with clear instructions, nice photos, and lots of delicious recipes that I intend to make. (And feed to my husband and son, who are men, so...)

I'm glad I got to read it.

arc received from the publisher

[Edythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Get ready to experience a lifelong journey that will keep you

strong, healthy, rejuvenated, and empowered

to take control of your health right in your own kitchen.”

-Manuel Villacorta, MS, MD, Introduction-page xii

This cookbook aimed at men who want to cook healthy meals in their home kitchen is full of numerous tasty recipes that are healthy and may be prepared within a bare minimum of time. The photography provided by Thomas J. Story is simply beautiful that has me wanting to eat the sandwich off the front cover and take a fork to the avocado dish on the back cover.

The Essential Cookbook for Men has nine chapters with Recommended Food Brands, Measurement Conversions, and an Index in the end of the cookbook. There are sections such as Introduction to the Kitchen, Gear Guide, Pantry Essentials, Grocery Store Guide, and basics to include in the pantry. Villacorta has compiled easy recipes with easy ingredients that have prepping and cooking times reduced to a minimum.

Here are my two favorites I will be preparing and posting pictures at least one of the two (even though I am a woman, smile): Stir-Fry Beef Sandwich and California-Style Stuffed Bell Peppers. I do recommend this cookbook for men who want to prepare easy home-cooked meals with as less time as possible. Eventually, you will be able to graduate to more complex homemade meals.

I prepared the Stir-Fry Beef Sandwich and forgot to take a picture. This is a very flavorful sandwich and easy to prepare recipe. The leftover mixture was placed in the freezer for a later date. I guess the wonderful smell and taste made me forget about the photograph for my post! (smile)

I received this book from Callisto Publishers in exchange for an honest review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be an excellent cookbook and ferl although geared for nen most healthy eaters would appreciate this book. One note quinoa figures prominently in many of the recipes so you should be aware of your in case you dont like quinoa.

The intro gives a list of basic kitchen equipment to get started, including the Instant Pot which is used in some of the recipes. I really like this intro because it's a great resource for beginners.

These are simple recipes that aren't difficult to create and many are under 30 minutes.The idea is to teach men who may be unskilled in the kitchen some basic techniques so they can create nutritious and healthy food at home. Again I feel this applies to many who are simply new to cooking.

Overall, a nice book that can help anyone learn to improve their cooking skills. There are not many photos but otherwise it's a good beginning cookbook.

Really great tips for how to make a meal plan, shop for it, then prepare. I found the “shopping list organizer” to be very helpful and a time saver for going to the store.

I received this book for an honest review from Calisto Publishing.

[SOMDReigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for beginner cooks (male or female). Easy recipes that have clear directions. Nutrition tips and Chef’s Notes throughout the book. Book is filled with healthy, flavor able recipes as well beginner’s recipes such as Basic Classic Pasta (literally how to cook a box of pasta), Steaming Broccoli, and how to make meatballs. Good section on stocking your kitchen with basic equipment and pantry. Printed on quality paper, good size book, and pictures throughout. A nice addition to your cookbook library.

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book invites men to cook, though I think any sex/gender might enjoy this book. There are recipes for everything from breakfast to dessert and more. Some of the things to make include pumpkin spiced oatmeal, pineapple roast pork in a sandwich, oregano chicken with butternut squash, corn sauerkraut salad, sea salt caramel fudge brownies, and many more.

The book includes basic kitchen information, lots of photos and recipes that can easily be followed. So, get in there and start cooking.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Callisto publishing. All opinions are my own.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not realize that this book is mostly about teaching men how to cook, which is good but having already known how to cook I decided to look for the positive out of this book. I did learn about smoothies which I was not up on and I thought some of the different recipes were good to try for something different at times. Overall a good book.

[Cory Raines]

Love this and is great for beginners like me!

[Denice Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different kind of cookbook for those looking for a "how to" for men, young and old, that walks a beginner through steps on how to set up their pantry and kitchen. Then step by step instructions on how to prepare a basic rotation of recipes. I had by 20 something grandson look through and prepare a few of the recipes and he decide we will try all of them. A great book to help make anyone, man or woman, feel much more comfortable in the kitchen.