Rating: 
Summary: Yum and good for you too!
Review: "The Southbeach Diet Cookbook" was written to provide a number of recipes to complement the original "The Southbeach Diet" book. The cookbook opens with an overview of the diet program. It describes the diet though not in the detail of the original book. It explains what you need to do to get your fridge and pantry 'southbeach' friendly. It explains what is allowed in terms of diary, meat, oils, pasta, snacks, beverages and more. Next the book has a question/answer session with Dr. Agatston. In this section he updates some of the information from the original book (milk and yogurt are now allowed in phase 1 for example) and he gets into more detailed regarding different types of food. Then comes the core of the book. The recipe categories include breakfasts, appetiziers and snacks, soups, salads, side dishes and accompaniments, fish shellfish and poultry, meats, vegetarian entrees and desserts. Each recipe indicates what phase it is appropriate for and many of the recipes are pictured in mouthwatering photographs!
Sample recipes include Vegetable Salad with Feta, Homestyle Green Bean Casserole, Pan Seared Pecan Grouper, Whole Wheat Vegetable Lasagna, and Apple and Almond Souffle. Over 200 recipes. One very nice feature is the inclusion of recipes so you can make many of your own condiments. Unfortunately ketchup, barbeque sauce and many other "toppers" are laden with high fructose corn syrup. So Dr. Agatston includes the details on how you can make your own. Overall the quality of recipes is very good. The one negative I have is the total avoidance of sugar and reliance on sugar substitutes. I would rather use real sugar in moderation than sugar substitutes like aspartame. He has a recipe for strawberries with velvety chocolate dip and suggests you use sugar free chocolate syrup. Instead why not use a high quality cocoa bar and melt it down. This is healthier than the faux sugars like malitol,which are in sugar free products and so much more satisfying. Dr. Agatston has some wonderful recipes in this book from top chefs and restaurants and they are worth buying the book for. But many of the desserts with the fake sugars and fat free sour cream fall flat. Moderation is key. Use the real deal in a tiny quantity like the French do.
Rating: 
Summary: I nearly bought this book until...
Review: ... I checked it out more closely in a bookshop. I must admit I was tempted by the delicious sounding recipes and tempting photos. But then I checked the nutritional analysis of some of the dishes. There are dinners in here with 30 and even 40(!) grams of fat! I read that the South Beach Diet has been criticized for being too high in fat (albeit "good" fat) and now I know why. If you can lose weight on this diet, more power to you. But I'm going back to my Weight Watchers cookbooks.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Follow Up
Review: A Great Follow Up..to the South Beach Diet....although it is a cook book ..It is much more..It continues with medical ideas and suggestions from both the writers and dieters following The South Beach Diet...Both books give reasons WHY a diet is needed for other than "Good Looks" . The meals require thought and preparation before the cooking which adds to the satisfaction and as calories are not the only "message" one can eat a good size meal without feeling guilty.A vsiting friend was very surprised when we told her that that the South Beach mashed potatoes were realy cauliflower !!!!!!A Good Read and Very Informative !!!
Rating:
Summary: Worked for Me
Review: Easy to do. You don't hungry. And it worked for my husband and I. I recommended it to all my friends.
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding compliment to the South Beach Diet
Review: Having lost more than 18 pounds since starting the South Beach Diet in mid-January, I'm clearly committed to the changes in eating habits Dr. Agatston promotes. This is the easiest weight-loss I've ever achieved and I only plan to lose about 5-8 pounds more. My primary motivation, however, was to improve blood chemistry. I love cooking and love eating. While it's easy to convert most recipes to accomodate South Beach guidelines, it's great to be able to pick up a book full of well-written and nicely illustrated selections that tantalize the taste-buds but fit within the plan without modification. I bought the book yesterday and was impressed with the variety of spices and colorful ingredients melded together in recipes ranging from simple to sophisticated, with many an ethnic touch. Many fine restaurants have also contributed recipes. This evening I made two of the selections for dinner: Zesty Crab Cakes with Creamy (Red) Pepper Sauce with a side of Overnight Slaw. My husband isn't on South Beach - so I added hot rolls for him. The meal was delicious - and it's a sign of a good cookbook when the recipe looks and tastes the way one thinks it will! Tomorrow I'm going to try Oven-Fried Chicken with Almonds. The book clearly identifies which Phase of the diet each recipe is appropriate for. The major categories are: Breakfasts, Appetizers and Snacks, Soups, Salads, Side Dishes and Accompaniments, Fish, Shellfish and Poultry, Meats, Vegetarian Entrees and Desserts (which sound too good to be true!). My only caution is that some of the more complex recipes require spices and items that one might not readily have in one's pantry. But I know I'm going to be making many of these meals over and over so the ingredients will be put to good use!
Rating: 
Summary: good, but...
Review: I feel this book has some value, although it is much theory.
For a practical way to lose weight and one that my friends and i have used and have gotten results from I would use www.lowfatmealplans.com. it is much better. It really did work for us and its easy, fast and healthy. Check it out.
Rating:
Summary: Great recipes but...not so great on recipe organization
Review: I have been on the South Beach Diet for a few months now (and have lost 20+ pounds!) so I was eager for the day that this book would be released. I am happy with all of the recipes but was disappointed in the way they were organized. They are organized into different categories such as breakfasts, appetizers, side dishes, etc. which is wonderful but under each of these categories, they should have grouped recipes for each phase together. Bottom line: Great book but a little clumsy to use.
Rating:
Summary: Good recipes but you have to find them
Review: I have to say that this book has some good recipes although they are hidden among a lot of difficult and not so flavorfull foods. Most of the time I find myself modifying the recipes so that they will turn out better. However I really think the desserts are beyond help. I have tried 4 of them and they have all been duds. The book is a decent investment if you have the time to sort through the recipes and you have a family that is willing to experiment with sometimes not so good dishes.
Rating:
Summary: diet is more difficult than expected, so cookbook helps alot
Review: I just completed day 2 of Phase 1 - it has been more difficult in some ways than expected and easier in others. The difficulties are somewhat related to my not being able to clear out my house of foods that might tempt me. My 2 year old daughter who is a picky eater will only eat things such as Macaroni and Cheese, Pizza, Grilled Cheese, PBJ, Hotdogs... So every meal I make for her is done with envy that I am not the one about to consume that meal. I was thin before I had my daughter, all of the eating off of her plate has gotten me into the position I find myself now: 15 to 20 pounds overweight, so despite my yearnings for her food I am committed to making changes that will help me look and feel better. Anyway, about the cookbook, I like it (don't love it because of organization problems mentioned by other reviewers). The recipes I have tried so far have all been delicious. Our favorite so far is the Steak Kabobs with Peanut Dipping Sauce. It does not taste like diet food AT ALL. The cauliflower mashed potatoes were just okay -- I personally do not like the flavor of trans free margarine and could taste that with every bite. Rosemary Chicken was excellent. I do feel fortunate to be a stay at home mother, otherwise I am not sure I would have the time to effectively follow this diet. I have had to run the dishwasher three times per day with all the pots, pans, cutting boards, and bowls I have had to wash. Also my initial grocery bill for stocking up for the first several days (and purchasing other pantry items that will last a while) was close to $250. I think the premise of the diet is a good and healthy one so I will stick with it -- for that reason I am glad I purchased the cookbook as it gives more direction and recipes that will help to stave off boredom. Good luck to anyone interested in trying the diet or the cookbook -- I hope I didn't turn you off. Hopefully the days to come will be easier - I expect they will given the feedback I have heard from others further ahead in the diet than I.
Rating:
Summary: I WILL HAVE A GREAT BODY BY SUMMER
Review: I LOVE THESE RECIPES, I JUST GOT IT TODAY AND I ALREADY TOLD MY HUBBY TO GO SHOPPING FOR THE INGREDIENTS. WE ARE COOKING SOME SOUTH BEACH FOOD TODAY. WHAT A GREAT BOOK!
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