“Dieting” is often considered to be a dirty word - and one that implies restrictive eating.
Thanks to the toxic diet culture which was popularised throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the advent of programmes like Weight Watchers, and Kate Moss quotes that we won’t even dignify by sharing, the concept of dieting has been run into the mud – and we’re not exactly complaining. It’s a perversion of what should simply be referred to as “a healthy diet.”
We’re taught from a young age that the key to maintaining proper physical and mental health is balance, so how on earth did we allow such an unhealthy body standard, aided by glorified fasting, to become the zeitgeist? It’s a phenomenon that could be debated for millennia and one that continues to reign supreme in the shadowy depths of social media.
Thankfully, various healthy eating movements have gained popularity in recent years which have successfully trumped those faux health-boosting, disordered-eating narratives of ole. For instance, the dietician-approved Mediterranean diet prioritises grains such as bread, pasta, rice, couscous and bulgar, as well as fruits, vegetables, beans, cheese, yoghurt and olive oil – together with other indigenous Mediterranean foods including red meat, fish and poultry.
The non-restrictive diet is associated with reducing the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases, cancer, cognitive decline and depression, as well as improving life expectancy drastically when combined with regular exercise and a lack of smoking.
Similarly, the slow cooking movement which saw a particular boost in popularity during lockdown focuses on sustainable farm-to-table eating. World-famous culinary authors such as Nigel Slater as well as budding gastronomical stars like Julius Roberts write of the untold benefits for both mental and physical health when individuals actually learn where their food comes from, or better yet, grow it themselves.
Moderation, fresh, wholesome and locally grown ingredients have become the cornerstone of a modern healthy diet. So, if you’re looking for traditional diet cookbooks which promise to help you lose weight fast and then pile it back on, you won’t find that in this round-up.
Instead, we’ve curated a selection of the best cookbooks written in the last decade or so which have entirely shifted the way we think about food. From filling and low-fat recipes to veritable farm-to-table bibles, keep scrolling to change the way you eat for good.
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Ottolenghi Simple
The platinum standard of Mediterranean-style cookbooks, Ottolenghi’s Simple is home to a diverse selection of native Middle Eastern recipes which promise to nourish body and soul.
Beloved for staying true to its title, the London-based chef talks readers through whipping up seemingly complicated meals with ease – whether you’re in a pinch or you’ve got time to kill. Indeed, the brilliant cookbook follows an acronymic structure: S is for short on time: less than 30 minutes, I is 10 ingredients or less, M is make ahead, P is pantry, L is lazy and E is easier than you think.
Simple is crafted around 10 basic pantry ingredients which, once you own, open a world of recipes beyond the realm of Simple alone; you can buy the ‘flavour bombs’ including black garlic, rose harissa and tahini via Ottolenghi.
Buy now £22.43, Amazon
The Secret of Cooking by Bee Wilson
Crafted for the home cook who is constantly stretched for time, Bee Wilson shows us how to get delicious, simple and beautifully flavourful meals on the table no matter the occasion. Beloved by the likes of Nigel Slater and Nigella Lawson, The Secret of Cooking is a veritable kitchen bible which reveals the surprisingly simple truths behind maintaining an active, clean and delicious kitchen, as told by someone with a lifetime of experience.
Buy now £21.24, Amazon
A Year of Good Eating by Nigel Slater
One of Britain’s most preeminent food writers, a cookbook by Nigel Slater isn’t just a collection of recipes, but a veritable literary delight. A Year of Good Eating is the third in his beloved Kitchen Diaries series, it’s filled with the cook’s characteristically simple yet wholesome weeknight recipes, seasonal suggestions and insightful thoughts. Recipes include speedy baked eggs, salmon pie with herb butter sauce, asparagus and blue cheese tart and roasted summer vegetables with sausages.
Buy now £23.53, Amazon
The Farm Table by Julius Roberts
One of the most exciting new British chefs on the scene, Julius Roberts’ The Farm Table tells the tale of a man who traded in his city slicker lifestyle to become a first-generation farmer. Following a stint as a chef at Noble Rot, Roberts found himself yearning for self-sufficiency in the Suffolk countryside instead.
With immense emotional intelligence and a tangible adoration for seasonal foods, Roberts makes clear the steep learning curve associated with taking on a rural lifestyle while singing its praises. The book is divided into seasonal recipes, demonstrating how self-sufficient farmers adapt according to their changeable local environments.
Buy now £15.00, Amazon
Asian Green by Ching-He Huang
Just looking at the gorgeous, vibrant cover of Ching-He Huang’s new cookbook makes me feel glowing and satisfied. Good job the recipes do the same thing. In the book’s introduction, she says she lives by the Chinese maxim ‘food is medicine’ - a belief bolstered by the fact her husband’s life-long asthma and eczema apparently disappeared within three months of him taking up a plant-based diet in 2017.
This set of plant-based recipes that feel as nourishing as they are nice to eat. There’s also a great balance of purely veggie-based recipes alongside those that use tofu, tempeh, seitan or other plant-based proteins. Every recipe has a useful guide to prep time and cooking time, as well as info on the kcal, carb, protein and fat content of each dish.
The ‘fast and furious’ section offers recipes that you can get on the table quickly, while the ‘warm and comforting’ section contains gems like Thai-style roasted sweet chilli sprouts with creamy coconut noodle. At the back, you’ll find extra tips from Ching, including a guide to buying the perfect wok.
Buy now £12.16, Amazon
The Green Roasting Tin by Rukmini Iyer
Rukmini Iyer’s roasting tin cookbooks have started a revolution. Not only does the cooking mainly consist of bunging some bits in the oven, it also drastically reduces the washing up. The dream.
Her green edition is half vegetarian recipes and half vegan recipes, with each section divided into quick, medium and slow cooking times. There’s also a final section that recommends recipe pairings, which is super handy (as great as the recipes are, some of them don’t add up to a full meal.) If you’re after some simple, stress-free dinner ideas, Iyer’s book is a must. The flavour combinations are smart too - the leek orzotto with asparagus, hazelnuts and rocket is divine.
Buy now £13.60, Amazon
Deliciously Ella Quick & Easy: Plant-based Deliciousness
British food writer and viral sensation Deliciously Ella herself has finally released a cookbook featuring a host of recipes that are truly perfect for every and any meal.
If you’re after something simple in the evening after work, check out the 10 minute recipes chapter that proves plant-based eating isn’t complicated or time-consuming. With a little more time on your hands, tuck into delicious pastas, noodles or vegetable dishes from the 20 minute section.
After crowd-pleasing dishes for friends and family that suit every dietary requirement? The weekend chapter has you covered with recipes such as Spinach & Chickpea Curry and Mushroom & Walnut Ragu - guaranteed tobe devoured by hungry mouths.
The information pages on nutrition are a particular standout feature as it explains how to consume all the essential minerals and vitamins such as protein, calcium and B12 on a vegan diet.
Buy now £19.03, Amazon
Bored of Lunch: The Healthy Air Fryer Book
No matter how literate we believe ourselves to be, there’s nothing more disappointing than happening on a recipe and finding that there’s no demonstrative picture. Sure, the dish may sound delicious, but what are we supposed to think until we see the finished product? And how are we supposed to know that we’ve cooked the meal correctly?
Nathan Anthony’s Bored of Lunch: The Healthy Air Fryer Book contains 80 quick and easy recipes with a lovely photo next to each one. Each recipe also has a calorie-per-serving badge for the diet-conscious. One of our personal favourites has to be the ‘Nduja stuffed arancini balls.
Buy now £10.00, Amazon
Pinch of Nom: 100 Slimming, Home-style Recipes
Embarking on a weight loss journey doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to foods you once loved and replacing them with dull salad leaves. Instead, with Pinch of Nom, you can tuck into mouth-wateringly good recipes that are so delicious you won’t notice they’re slimming. Every meal we tried was satisfying, tasty and we never felt like we were missing out - there’s even a chapter on fakeaways for when we’re craving Chinese noodles.
For a healthy family meal try out the Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta and if you’re craving something sweet, then the Apple and Apricot Oaty Crumble is perfect. So, whether you’re trying to shed some pounds or just looking for easy meals that work for the whole family, this cookbook is a must have.
Every recipe comes with a substitute ingredients list that is great for helping you use what components you already have.
Buy now £9.44, Amazon
Mind Food: Plant-based recipes for positive mental health
Eating healthily isn’t just good for your body, but your mind too, which is why this revolutionary cookbook “helps you reimagine the way you think about mental health in parallel with food”. Sharing her mental health journey, author Lauren Lovatt presents a host of plant-based recipes that are creative, informative and most importantly: delicious.
We’re big fans of the seasonal ingredient pages that help us align our mind and body to what we eat. The recipes encourage you cook with freshly-grown produce and we were blown away by the Pumpkin Arancini - packed with healthy fats and vegetables. Her creative approach to holistic eating is nothing like we’ve seen before and we love the number of superfoods we’re getting thanks to these great meal ideas.
Buy now £9.89, Amazon
Eat Green by Melissa Hemsley
Cut down on food waste thanks to Melissa Hemsley’s progressive cookbook, starring more than 100 veggie-based recipes, such as a warming squash and lentil curry with Thai gremolata, fridge raid frittata and melt-in-the-mouth tahini choc chip cookies.
After the foreword from Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford’s seasonal organic recipe boxes, the book is split into sections including family favourites, 30 minutes or less and one pot or one tray meals, all focusing on using UK-grown, easy-to-buy ingredients. It also has chapters dedicated to ideas for using up off-cuts you may normally chuck, batch cooking advice and easy swaps to bring into your cooking to limit waste.
Buy now £19.25, Amazon
The Hairy Bikers Eat to Beat Type 2 Diabetes
Si King and the late Dave Myers collaborated on this brilliant Type 2 diabetes cookbook back in 2020 in an effort to prove that you can still eat delicious food while staying healthy and adjusting your diet to suit a new, improved lifestyle – and the bestseller certainly succeeded.
There’s a great section on snacking foods and the main body of the book is split up into recipes to enjoy at different times throughout the day.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
The Glucose Goddess Method
Another bestseller by Jessie Inchauspé, this time with over 100 new and improved recipes. In this book, the founder of the Glucose Goddess movement offers a four-week, step-by-step program for integrating simple and science-backed solutions to managing blood sugar.
It’s void of any nasty calorie-counting lingo and even includes a recipe for ‘ice-cream breakfast’ – proving yet again that diabetics can still enjoy delicious, varied foods.
Buy now £17.79, Amazon
