Monday, November 7, 2016

The Dude Diet

If you are a long time reader of this blog, you may remember the infamous post in which I detailed a lot of the foods I won't eat. I really struggle with meal planning and most of the time I end up cooking for my family and then I forage like a squirrel because I am fully aware that I have the diet of a toddler. It's not often that a cookbook comes across my email for review so when I saw this one I immediately jumped on it because it sounded like it would up my alley. And it was.

The Dude Diet - Serena Wolf

From chef and creator of the popular food blog Domesticate-Me.com, 125 outrageously delicious yet deceptively healthy recipes for dudes (and the people who love them), accompanied by beautiful full-color photography.

Dudes. So well intentioned when it comes to healthy eating, even as they fail epically in execution—inhaling a "salad" topped with fried chicken fingers or ordering their Italian hero on a whole wheat wrap (that makes it healthy, right?).

There are several issues with men going on diets. First, they seem to be misinformed about basic nutrition. They are also, generally, not excited about eating "health food." You can lead a dude to the salad bar, but you can’t make him choose lettuce.

Enter Serena Wolf—chef, food blogger, and caretaker of a dude with some less than ideal eating habits. As a labor of love, Serena began creating healthier versions of her boyfriend’s favorite foods and posting them on her blog, where she received an overwhelming response from men and women alike. Now, in The Dude Diet, Serena shares more than 125 droolworthy recipes that prove that meals made with nutrient-dense whole foods can elicit the same excitement and satisfaction associated with pizza or Chinese take-out.

The Dude Diet also demystifies the basics of nutrition, empowering men to make better decisions whether they’re eating out or cooking at home. Better still, each recipe is 100% idiot-proof and requires only easily accessible ingredients and tools. With categories like Game Day Eats, On the Grill, Serious Salads, and Take Out Favorites, The Dude Diet will arm dudes and those who love them with the knowledge they need to lead healthier, happier lives—with flattened beer bellies and fewer meat sweats.


I should be up front with you that I signed up for this book review based on the cover because you know I am a total cover judger. I should also tell you that Penelope grew in-utero solely on my stead diet of nachos and chocolate ice cream with fudge brownies in it. Sure, she was a nine pound monster baby, but she was healthy!

I spent a solid day going through each recipe, diligently tabbing off the ones I knew my family would be willing to try, made myself a grocery list full of things I'm not sure how to pronounce (quinoa?!) or where to even find it in the store, and I started my journey to healthier eating.

We've made about six of the recipes but I have to tell you about two of the favorites that I have made several times- "Taco Bell" Beef Tacos (page 214). Now, I can't remember what a Taco Bell taco tastes like because it's not local to me but we love tacos. Every time I make tacos it's a sick competition between my husband and my oldest daughter who can eat the most (dad lets her win). So if there is anyone qualified to judge these, it would be them. Olivia absolutely loved them and Matt said it tastes exactly like the taco seasoning I normally use. They were really good and we've made them so many times. It's basically going to be my go to taco recipe from here on out.

The other recipe that has been made countless times is the Chipotle Chicken Taquitos. I was a taquito virgin but I had a lot of the ingredients already on hand so it was one of the first ones I tried. We had it as a supper (it's mentioned as an appetizer) so I had to literally triple the recipe and thank goodness because we ate them all. They also re-heat amazingly well for a lunch the next day too, if you happen to have leftovers. I was surprised my son liked these so much since he's not one for spicy foods but he ate them happily. (We may or may not have dipped them in cheese as well because CHEESE IS AMAZING.)

As far as cookbooks go, this is pretty fool proof. In the back there are basic directions on how to cook chicken, so if you're a person who has little to no cooking experience, this is a great cookbook to start with. And it's full of healthy food that doesn't feel healthy. Except the quinoa. I don't like quinoa. It's such a weird thing in my mouth and I stay clear of weird things in my mouth as a life rule. This is going to make a great holiday gift for the foodies in your life this year!

You'll be able to find this book on the HarperCollins website as well as Amazon.


1 comment:

Heather J @ TLC Book Tours said...

Wow, I'm impressed that you have tried so many of these already ... and yay for your family loving them! I hope you continue to find more you enjoy in there.

Thanks for being a part of the tour!