Having recently lost 35 pounds I need to maintain it and a friend recommended this cookbook. She said it was the best cookbook she has ever owned. Based on that recommendation, I bought the book and it is everything she said it was. Lots of great, tempting recipes that "real" people eat. I wouldn't hesitate recommending it. As part of my new lifestyle I'm replacing all my cookbooks with healthy eating ones. One of the bonuses of this is that it's renewed my interest in cooking!

I absolutely LOVE this book. Why? The recipes are quick, simple, easy to make, and the same base ingredients crop up over and over again which may bug some but means I don't have to keep buying new ingredients in order to make some new recipe, which happens a lot with other cookbooks. I also appreciate the sidebars which tell you what the ingredients do for your body. This has become my go-to-book when stuck for how to use up the stuff in my fridge, as the recipes as a rule are not overly-burdened with gazillions of ingredients. There are also amazingly tasty microwaveable meals, including my new favorite sweet potato and black bean stew. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for quick, tasty, easy-to-make, cheap meals. Specifically, students, singles/couples and busy parents on a budget should check it out! As a final endorsement every single thing I've made from this book as turned out yummy...you can't ask for more than that.

Ok I just bought this book and find that is very well put together. Lots of great recipes. As far as meat goes there are chicken, turkey, fish & vegetable dishes covered. If you want red meat there are plenty of other cookbooks out there. This is worth every penny.

I'm sorry, but I just can't endorse a book that tells people to not eat meat and to rely so much on fish. Considering how toxic our world is today, there's no way of eating such a large amount of fish and not building up a heavy toxic load from not just heavy metals like mercury, but a host of other toxins that have built up in our oceans (not to mention the chemicals and unnatural feed given to farm raised fish). Also, our digestive systems were designed to eat meat, and every system in our body needs a multitude of nutrients (including amino acids, carnitine, etc.) that we simply cannot get enough of from any other source. Sure there are people who survive without it, but they eventually develop hormone imbalances, lethargy, thyroid problems, and a long list of other disorders. For real, informed, practical information on how to eat and why, read Real Food by Nina Planck. I'm sure Jean Carper's a really great person, but her advice is not well rounded or practical.