Book: The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook

You know that common saying “You are what you eat?” Well, unfortunately this adage holds true, as anyone who has experienced glutton’s remorse after tucking into a greasy, fattening burger and fries will attest. In other words, when you eat a meal laden with salt, saturated fats, and calories, you risk feeling like a fat slob afterwards. All right, perhaps not every time, but we’re probably all familiar with that sensation. Alternatively, don’t you feel fantastic after consuming a healthy meal?

Tosca Reno thinks you will. This fabulous fifty-something fitness model and writer, responsible for the bestselling guide to losing weight, “The Eat-Clean Diet,” has now brought out a companion cookbook full of fabulous recipes.

In Reno’s attractive “The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook” (www.eatcleandiet.com) there are over 150 easy and great-tasting recipes that are guaranteed to keep you lean. Couple Reno’s meal plan with a sensible exercise regimen and soon you’ll be trim, taut, and terrific.

And Tosca Reno should know. During her twenties, Reno weighed over 200 pounds. Over the next decade or so she gave birth to three children; then, after adopting a healthier lifestyle in her forties, ended up as a swimsuit model. Now 50, Reno recalls how she lost over 75 pounds and got in shape at age 41 (www.Toscareno.com). She went on to become a top fitness model (appearing on over ten magazine covers), a columnist for “Oxygen” magazine, and the best-selling author of books on health, fitness and nutrition, including the aforementioned books as well as “The Eat-Clean Diet for Men” and “The Eat-Clean Diet for Family and Kids.”

Tosca Reno shows off her impressive "Eat-Clean" 50-year-old figure.

So if you are going to listen to anyone’s advice on how to shed unwanted pounds, Reno has walked the walk. If anyone knows what it takes to lose weight, get in shape, and stay that way, it’s Reno.

You, too, can get inspired by Reno’s journey towards optimal health by following her advice, starting by using her cookbook to bring some delicious and healthy meals to your table. The first page I opened was a recipe for her “Eat-Clean Hummus.” If you eat hummus, then you probably just buy it pre-made from the supermarket. But all too often this tasty dip is laden with salt and mysterious chemicals. Reno’s super-simple recipe calls for a rinsed and drained can of chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), some tahini, and a few basic ingredients such as lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and sea salt. Toss the lot into your food processor and you have an almost instant and healthy snack.

Another delectable recipe that caught my eye is the “Roast Stuffed Pork Tenderloin.” This fantastic dish, which can also be made with turkey breast, is basically meat stuffed with a concoction of cooked broccoli, breadcrumbs, parsley, oat bran, walnuts, and dried apricots. Wow!

Many of her recipes take the mystery out of whole grains, such as the high-protein quinoa, which she suggests you prepare in several ways, including as a pilaf. Pair this yummy and versatile cooked grain with low-sodium, low-fat chicken or vegetable stock, lemon zest, scallion, zucchini, citrus juices, and freshly chopped herbs, and you’ll have a fantastic side dish or lunch entree. One interesting recipe I can’t wait to try is her “Guacamole – A New Way” that combines ripe avocado with lightly cooked frozen peas and a few other simple ingredients. Wild! By eliminating the unnecessary and calorie-crammed mayo or sour cream, suddenly this decadent and nutritious dip drops off your “food to avoid” list.

From fattie to fabulous supermodel, Tosca Reno offers recipes to show you how to get and stay slim.

“The Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook” is beautifully presented. It’s laid-out in various chapters that include the main meals of the day, plus chapters specifically on grains, vegetables, pasta, proteins, baking, “One-Dish & Easy Meals,” and “Festive Occasions.” Also dotted throughout the cookbook are charts and useful information, such as “Stir-Fry 101,” “What Does 25 Grams of Protein Look Like?” and “Wine Recommendations” that pair the most suitable libation with her recipes. She even lists a chart with the various smoking points of a vast variety of specialty cooking oils to help you understand the alternatives to cooking with butter, margarine, or lard.

Reno’s fantastic cookbook is packed with simple and tasty recipes and is an essential resource for anyone wanting to clean up their dietary habits or maintain a lean lifestyle.

[Pauline Adamek is a Hollywood-based film, theatre and food critic who files for “FilmInk Australia,” the “LA Daily News,” “Sun Community Newspapers” as well as various websites under the nom du net Max Million.]