The South Beach Diet Cookbook by Arthur S. Agatston M.D. (2004, Hardcover)

I bought this book along with the New Mayo Clinic Cookbook when I decided to change my eating habits to eat more fruits and veggies each day. Actually, of the two cookbooks, I found more recipes I wanted to try in the Mayo Clinic book. Still, the South Beach cookbook shows that the diet is anything but dull and boring. There are a variety of choices in this cookbook, so no matter what you like to eat, you will find recipes that appeal to you. Even those who aren't dieting should find this cookbook helpful for making better choices when cooking.

When I'm considering buying a cookbook, I look for a variety of recipes that look appealing, that are simple to make, and that don't have "odd" ingredients that might be difficult to find. This cookbook met all my criteria.

I consider myself a good cook, with simple tastes. So I must warn that some recipes seemed a bit outlandish, or listed ingredients that are obscure or difficult to find. But I am not disappointed, and I don't think you'll be disappointed in this book: it contains many recipes, dozens of them, that only include items you almost certainly have on hand.

To reduce the stress in my life, I try not to cook more than 2 or 3 new recipes a week. So I haven't tried many recipes from this cookbook yet, but the ones I have tried have been easy to follow, quick to make, tasty and satisfying.