These Healthy Cookbooks Will Have You Craving Healthy Meals All Year

We’ve all been there. It’s 5 p.m. and dinnertime is around the corner, but you have no idea where to even start. This gets especially tricky when you’re looking to make healthier choices, while also keeping everyone in the family pleased. Say goodbye to feeling clueless in the kitchen by cracking open a healthy cookbook to inspire fresher meals at your table every single night.

Having some healthy cookbooks on hand is a great way to inspire creativity in the kitchen, explains Marisa Moore, M.B.A., R.D.N., L.D., culinary and integrative dietitian.

“Cookbook authors can be quite creative in helping to inspire home cooks to try new combinations and cooking techniques,” she says. Plus, because most publishers require recipes to be tested before print, you’re more than likely to get a tasty recipe that’s been tried and tested, unlike many websites, so you don’t get stuck calling for takeout when your meal turns into a disaster.

Jessica Levinson, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N., a culinary nutrition expert in Westchester, New York agrees, adding that healthy cookbooks are great for people who may be new to cooking or just trying to eat healthier to teach the basics with step-by-step instructions. And cooking more at home instead of dining out or ordering takeout is going to be inherently healthier, she adds.

When choosing a healthy cookbook, it’s crucial to understand that there are many different definitions for healthy. Skip books that have rigid or restrictive meal plans and instead, determine what you’re looking for and what needs you need the recipes to cater to. For example, if you’re looking for a cookbook to support heart health, look for cookbooks that have plant-based recipes, prioritize healthy fats, and include high-fiber foods, Moore suggests.

Levinson adds that you shouldn’t pick up a book that cuts out any major food group, demonizes ingredients, or makes health claims without any scientific evidence to back them up. Choose books that are written by real nutrition experts, not just a celebrity or internet influencer.

She likes to pick up healthy cookbooks that include a variety of types of dishes, feature ingredients that are healthful (like low-fat dairy, lean meats, and healthy fats), and include dishes that get you excited and you can see yourself enjoying. Need a place to start? Here are our favorite healthy cookbooks to add to your shelves.