Pinch of Nom: 100 Home-Style Recipes for Health and Weight Loss

In this hit-and-miss outing, restaurateurs-turned-food-bloggers Allinson and Featherstone (Pinch of Nom Everyday Light) translate their approach to lighter eating to American audiences, though with a decidedly British feel. For example, they offer recipes for Full English Wraps (a burrito-esque take on the traditional English breakfast of sausage, eggs, baked beans, bacon, and tomatoes) as well as Yorkshire Pudding Wraps (the roast beef, mushrooms, and arugula are sautéed and placed on the “pudding,” a baked pita-like bread of flour, eggs, and skim milk). Basing their light approach solely on calorie count (neither author is a certified nutritionist or dietician), and using substitutions (margarine for butter, reduced-fat cheese, etc.) the duo offers pages of lighter riffs on favorites like oven-baked chicken fingers with DIY breadcrumbs; doner kebabs (made with low-fat beef, and served with low-fat yogurt); and chicken breasts and leeks in a sauce of blue cheese and low-fat cream cheese. Not all swaps are appetizing—crème brulee calls for skim milk and subs artificial sweetener for sugar to achieve its signature caramelized crust, and eclairs employ margarine, artificial sweetener, and self-rising flour for the classic choux dough and reduced-fat whipped cream in lieu of custard. Diners interested in incorporating lighter dishes into rotation may find a few winners here, but those serious about sensible, healthy weight loss will find better guidance elsewhere. (Apr.)