Rating: 
Summary: Yum... oh, and healthy too!
Review: Laying it straight out is "Low-Carb Meals in Minutes." Though being pushed by their marketing guys as a "hot diet," it is a legitimate and tasty cookbook and planner.A lot of the difficulty in diets is getting the infrastructure together. You've got to buy the stuff, budget things, and then schedule your meal plans. In "Low-Carb Meals in Minutes," you still need to do your homework, but Gassenheimer lays in out in a sensible, easy-to-follow way. She teaches you how. In fact, one of the first things you'll see is a two-week menu plan to get you going. I fully recommend this "Low-Carb Meals in Minutes," but I'd better stop writing. Her whisky pork chops would taste great about now. Anthony Trendl
Rating:
Summary: A sensible diet outline with DELICIOUS food menus...
Review: Linda Gassenheimer was a guest on the TV food network's show "Cooking Live," and seemed like such a nice person who started low-carb cooking for her husband who'd been diagnosed with heart problems. She does a terrific job in the book of outlining what low-carb means, the foods to include in one's diet and the foods to avoid, and grocery lists for low-carb staples. The recipes are outstanding and simple. After trying out the menus out for a week, I've already lost three pounds. I've been on low-carb diets before, but it has never tasted this wonderful. Linda Gassenheimer's background as a gourmet cook has made a low-carb diet not only effective, but eye-popping!
Rating: 
Summary: Not REALLY low carb
Review: Lots of good recipies. Many main course dishes are low carb but most don't follow TRUE low carb like Adkins etc. If you want that buy another cookbook. If you want a low carb way of life this is probably the book.
Rating:
Summary: Not REALLY low carb
Review: Lots of good recipies. Many main course dishes are low carb but most don't follow TRUE low carb like Adkins etc. If you want that buy another cookbook. If you want a low carb way of life this is probably the book.
Rating:
Summary: It Can Work!!
Review: My mother in law has tried every low carb diet out there, including the Zone and Atkins Diet. Yeah, she's lost a few pounds on each of them but wasnt able to keep them off. I'm proud to say she's down 20 pounds, has kept them off for 3 months with this book, and has made many a dinner for her entire family that we all actually enjoy! Of course, she doesnt eat any other carbs during the day but for her one splurge day a week, but I think she's doing great, considering she has little willpower!
Rating: 
Summary: Good for Southbeach diet or just healthy eating
Review: My partner is on the South Beach diet. He got this COOKBOOK (this is not diet book) so we could eat food that would be both good for him and still satisfying to me (with me adding some less than healthy side dishes) without too much trouble, since I am NOT on the South Beach diet. The recipes aren't that complicated (unless you're not use to cooking anything that doesn't come in a can or precooked bag) and they're interesting. However, they're not for everyone. I've found that the recipes (after 2 weeks) aren't too time consuming (define quick as 15 - 30 min prep time & 15 - 30 min cook time) and the ingredients are readily found at major grocery stores (Stop & Shop). I've liked the recipes so much that I've even stopped adding my unhealthy side dishes... well, for the most part. Last night we started with a salad of Palm Hearts and mustard dressing on Romaine Lettuce leaves. The main dish was "Steak au Poivre" and the side was garlic and oil sauteed greenbeens. With the two of us, it took about 15 minutes of prep time and we had a full and high quality meal.
Rating:
Summary: Good for Southbeach diet or just healthy eating
Review: My partner is on the South Beach diet. He got this COOKBOOK (this is not diet book) so we could eat food that would be both good for him and still satisfying to me (with me adding some less than healthy side dishes) without too much trouble, since I am NOT on the South Beach diet. The recipes aren't that complicated (unless you're not use to cooking anything that doesn't come in a can or precooked bag) and they're interesting. However, they're not for everyone. I've found that the recipes (after 2 weeks) aren't too time consuming (define quick as 15 - 30 min prep time & 15 - 30 min cook time) and the ingredients are readily found at major grocery stores (Stop & Shop). I've liked the recipes so much that I've even stopped adding my unhealthy side dishes... well, for the most part. Last night we started with a salad of Palm Hearts and mustard dressing on Romaine Lettuce leaves. The main dish was "Steak au Poivre" and the side was garlic and oil sauteed greenbeens. With the two of us, it took about 15 minutes of prep time and we had a full and high quality meal.
Rating:
Summary: Too many carbs for me
Review: Since I am extremely insulin resistant, I was disappointed in this book because I cannot have more than 10g of carbs per day and most of these recipes are close to or over that. Some of the recipes look pretty good if I adapt them to my eating regime, but I was hoping it would be "really low carb" A good choice for those not as strict... or on maintenance.
Rating:
Summary: Review helps reviewer!
Review: The online reviews helped me determine if this is the right cookbook for me. There are many variations of a low-carb diet and you have to determine which one is right for you. This book is helpful for those who are not on a totally restricted carb diet while it is of no help to a person who wants to keep their carb intake to a low 10 or 20 grams. For the reviewer that suggested substituting low fat ingredients for some of the recipes "he has missed the boat completely". This book adds variety - but only for the person who is moderately reducing their carb intake. For the person who is on a "very low" carb restricted diet such as Atkins or Protein Power, this is not a cookbook for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Very limited application
Review: The recipes in this book are not suitable for those on Atkins diet (with which I was able to lose over 30% of my weight in a year, maintaining the loss for five years since), nor for those who have substantial amounts of weight to lose. Gassenheimer, for example, makes it appear that one should be at a high carbohydrate intake (presumably, at goal weight) within six weeks, and the 75 grams of carbs allowed in the middle section are far beyond the level at which most could expect any significant weight loss.
One must use this book with discrimination, and not accept the author's statements as gospel, because they are heavily flavoured by varied sources. For example, regarding main dishes, the protein portions are far too small for many, and would prevent the appetite reduction that is critical for low carb dieting to be successful (unless one is seeking to lose very little.) The ingredients include many grains, and grain products are not suited for low carb dieters unless they are at 'maintenance' level. Gassenheimer recommends all low-fat ingredients, and lists, for example, that one may have 'as many as four eggs a week,' when truly low carb programmes have no such restrictions. In fact, for Atkins dieters, the low fat items can hinder weight loss.
The recipes are no worse than those in many low carb cookbooks, though they are hardly gourmet treats. But what is key is that dieters must consult the guidelines of the specific programme they follow, and by no means increase carb counts in such a short period if they wish to succeed.
This book is suited to those who want to drop perhaps five to ten pounds, with an approach that is 'low carb' only by contrast with the ADA food pyramid, not in actuality.
| 
