The Moms' Guide to Meal Makeovers: Improving the Way Your Family Eats, One Meal at a Time!

by Janice Newell Bissex, Laura Coyle, Liz Weiss

For the legions of harried moms who have tossed in the dishtowel on cooking healthy meals (or any meals!), the easiest-ever guide for bringing super nutrition back to the kitchen.

Getting dinner on the table night after night can be a challenge. So it’s no surprise that busy moms often rely on fast food, takeout, and convenience meals like macaroni & cheese, chicken nuggets, and fries. The kids love it but the drawback is that little twinge of guilt moms feel every time they feed their family another not-so-healthy meal. At the end of the day, many children end up with a poor diet high in sugar, saturated fat, and calories … a major factor in the rising rates of obesity.

Finally, here are realistic guidelines designed to give families a healthy meal makeover.
The Moms lay out a 5-Step Meal Makeover Plan, explaining how to market good nutrition to kids, establish food rules, and make life easier in the kitchen.
In The Best of the Bunch chapter they reveal which brands of kid convenience foods–hot dogs, frozen pizza, and more–are the best tasting and most nutritious ones out there.
The Moms show how to stock a healthy pantry and whip up delicious anytime meals using pantry staples.
They even serve up 120 reworked recipes for family favorites such as Fast-as-Boxed Macaroni & Cheese, Squishy Squash Lasagna, Cheesy Broccoli Soup, Sweet Potato Fries, and Chocolate Pudding with Toppers.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction

368 pages, Paperback

First published December 23, 2003

Reviews

[DEANNA L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite cookbook with awesome easy recipes that are healthier! I cannot recommend it enough! Love, love, love! My family, and I have all loved every recipe we’ve tried!

[Stefanie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a fan of cookbook that help me get creative w/ fussy eaters... this one has some good suggestions and some extremely simple recipes. The intro has some great ideas for busy/tired/frustrated parents. This is not a hide things in things cookbook, but still has some healthy additions to traditional recipes (i.e Crispy Cereal Treats). Not the cookbook to wow your friends w/ your dinner, but might be helpful for your every night dinner ideas.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for suggestions for my daughter who is on the white food diet - bread, pasta, pizza, any and all dairy, plus fish sticks. I heard one of the authors of this book speak at Willow Books in Acton liked the some of the suggestions. Both authors are dietitians, and their philosophy is to incrementally increase the nutritional value of dinners while still making it kid-friendly. I bought the book and plan to try a number of the recipes.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is good so far--lots of helpful advice and tips, and actual brand recommendations of certain foods. There's a bunch of recipes in it as well.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book with tons of GOOD nutrition information and yummy-sounding easy recipes.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, simple recipe ideas that are more healthy. It has helped me implement more healthy eating into everyday foods.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this cookbook. Everything I've made has been wonderful, healthful and easy to prepare. I can't say enough about what a success it is in my kitchen.

[Jenn Cherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have tried a few of the recipes from this cookbook and they were pretty tasty...and a great way to add some nutrition to some slightly re-worked family favorites!