Series intro

Cookbook Reviews will be an regular series here on type2foodie, where I take a look at different cookbooks I use and give my honest opinion on their pros and cons.

First up, I’m reviewing The Complete Diabetes Cookbook from America’s Test Kitchen!

Cookbook Background

America’s Test Kitchen is generally a well regarded general cooking resource, with a focus on testing various recipes to narrow down desired ingredients and techniques. The Complete Diabetes Cookbook takes the ATK format and applies it to diabetes-friendly recipes from snacks to desserts.

Types of Recipes

As I mentioned above, this cookbook is wide ranging! The contents include breakfast, appetizers and snacks, soups and stews, salads, sides, poultry, other meat, seafood, vegetarian recipes, slow cookers, and “special treats” (desserts).

Overall impression

As a physical object, this is an attractive cookbook with lots of full color photos of the books. The organization is easy to follow, although I personally would prefer the slow cooker section closer to the other main dishes.

There’s a hefty educational section at the beginning of the cookbook, with helpful suggestions for pantry ingredients, meal plans, and more. Many recipes also include suggested variations that use the same basic recipe and technique but add other flavors or ingredients.

Along with detailed instructions, the cookbook also includes informative notes on things like different types of lentils, cooking pasta, and comparing poultry parts.

What I like

It’s really nice to have a general cookbook filled with many, many options for diabetes-friendly recipes that comes from a trusted source. Part of the frustration of living with diabetes for me is the endless weighing of options and choices and recipe creators. Having a go-to cookbook that cuts out some of that emotional roller coaster helps a lot!

In addition, I appreciate that each recipe includes the nutrition information, making it easier to determine what the carb content of each serving and meal would be.

What I’m less wild about

I’m personally not a fan of the framing for most of the “sweet treats” section, which is a good example of the condescending tone some diabetes education resources can take. (Dear cookbook writers: I promise that you don’t need to tell everyone that desserts can only be enjoyed in small portions.)

This next point is less objective, but because ATK as an entity is so focused on testing recipes and providing the “best” possible version, their cookbooks often lack a personal touch. While I think there’s a lot of value in explaining why their choices produce a specific result, I also find that there’s not as much emphasis on individual creativity and empowering ingredient swaps or choices.

Recommended recipes

• Chia pudding with fresh fruit & coconut
• Mediterranean tuna salad
• Chicken salad with fennel, lemon & parmesan
• Spice rubbed pork tenderloin with fennel & tomatoes
• Vegan black bean burgers
• Marinated eggplant with capers & mint
• Dark chocolate avocado pudding

Final verdict

This cookbook is a helpful resource with plenty of basic recipes and suggestions. While I find that some of the language is irritating and it lacks a personal touch, I do recommend it as a good general cookbook to turn to for everyday meal planning needs.