Eat Lifestyle

Cooking Inspiration for The New Year

Stock up on healthy cookbooks to inspire your meal rotation.

It’s a new year, and one way to get a fresh start is to stock up on healthy cookbooks to inspire your meal rotation — especially while we’re in hibernation season as I like to call it! Below is a curated selection of fabulous and healthy cookbooks, with new releases as well as a few classics. Nutritious, delicious recipes — here’s to something for everyone.


“Dinner in One” by Melissa Clark

New York Times food columnist Melissa Clark’s latest cookbook covers meals that can be made in a single pot, sheet pan, skillet, Dutch oven, casserole dish, or slow cooker. This one is for those that love efficiency!


“Go-To Dinners” by Ina Garten

Queen Ina makes dinnertime easier. Her latest cookbook was inspired by her time in lockdown and having to cook constantly. Expect simple, weeknight recipes you can make and even freeze ahead of time — and she even highlights dishes you can turn into something different the next day. 


“Smitten Kitchen Keepers” by Deb Perelman

I love food blogger Deb Perelman from Smitten Kitchen. She has created this book of 100 “keepers,” which are fail-safe, satisfying recipes you can rely on again and again.


“I Dream of Dinner” by Ali Slagle

Check this out for what Ali calls “low effort, high reward” recipes that feature simple, well-balanced dishes. She suggests staple ingredients that you likely have and keeps things minimal but flavorful. I like how the recipes have bullet lists of creative tweaks, and are easy and to the point.


“Snacks for Dinner” by Lukas Volger 

I love to have a few snacks on a plate and make it a meal! These aren’t just snacks for dinner but good ideas for picnics and parties, too. The recipes are easy and a bit whimsical and can work for one, two, or a crowd. 


‘Skinnytaste Air Fryer Dinners’ by Gina Homolka

If your air fryer is your favorite kitchen appliance, then this is for you — a great healthy cookbook that puts the air fryer front and center. I like that it indicates which dishes are keto, gluten-free or vegetarian and also shows nutritional information.


“The Complete Salad Cookbook” by America’s Test Kitchen

I never get tired of salads, but I know many do. With a mind-blowing 230 recipes for healthy and filling salads this may be a good way to keep the variety going! There are great tips on mixing and matching ingredients, flavors, and textures and a chapter on dressings, toppings and more to help further elevate your salad game.


What’s For Dessert by Claire Saffitz

A love letter to dessert 💚. These 100 recipes range from flambés and soufflés to simple loaf cakes, all crafted to be as streamlined as possible. Claire takes into account home bakers’ time, space, and budget limitations — for example, no stand mixers are necessary. Warning: this photography will make you hungry!


Bon Appétit!
xx—BB

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