Saturday, January 23, 2010

Books in Review: The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged & Giveaway!



What is Clean Eating? Do you really know what is involved in becoming a clean eater? Do you even know where to start? Maybe, you're already a clean eater? If you have questions like these, I know where you can find the answers! The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged is Tosca Reno's latest publication and once again she has met and exceeded my expectations! Tosca is the leading expert in all things Clean! I guess that's to be expected since she's the one who came up with the idea. I'm sure you all know by now that one of my biggest inspirations is Tosca Reno. I read her original Eat-Clean Diet book when it first came out and it changed the way I felt about eating. I now own all of her cookbooks and just received a copy of her latest book The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged. Thanks to Rechelle from Bordeaux PR for sending it my way!

Many of you know that about 9 months ago I became Raw/ Vegan so my eating has drastically changed. I was curious to see if I could still apply the principles of clean eating to my new lifestyle. I curled up on the couch and devoured all of the information inside, anxious to see what new information I could learn. Guess what? I can totally apply these principles to my life! Tosca has outdone herself in this new, updated book! I'll let you know what I found for me personally in a minute, but first let me give you a breakdown of the book:

Chapter one covers the ins and outs of clean eating. What to do, what to avoid and what changes you can expect from this way of eating. Tosca has a full list of how to Eat Clean along with a list of foods that should be avoided. This is really helpful because what you may think is "good" for you may not be after all. I love step-by-step so this chapter is really useful to me.

Breakfast is a VERY important meal! To prove this point, Tosca has a whole chapter on it. That's right, a WHOLE chapter! Breakfast is important because it gets your metabolism going and keeps your blood sugar level so you don't start your day of in an energy slump.

Here are a few topics covered throughout the book:

  • How to speed up your metabolism naturally
  • The importance of water and the dangers of getting dehydrated
  • How to shop at the grocery store
  • Eating Clean on a budget
  • Eating clean at home, at work or on the go
  • How to make exercise a priority
  • The realities of losing weight and it's effect on your body
  • Superfoods, how to add them into your diet
  • Solutions for people with hectic schedules
Tosca also has several meal plans in the book including:

  • Cooler Plans
  • Family Meal Plan
  • Gluten-Free Meal Plan
  • Vegan Meal Plan
All of the meal plans also come with a complete shopping list to make it fast and easy to Eat Clean in any situation. I was thrilled to see the vegan meal plan!

There are also 50 recipes in this book. I was excited to see that 50% of them were vegan and 75% of them were vegetarian. That was a big change from when I first started following the Clean Eating plan because there use to be a lot of animal protein. Animal protein is really hard for me personally to digest so I was excited with all of these new recipes that I could use for myself! Here are the recipe categories:

  • Breakfast (4 are vegetarian and 1 of those is vegan)
  • Appetizers (5 are vegetarian and 4 of those are vegan)
  • Salads (5 are vegetarian and 3 of those are vegan)
  • Soups & Stews (4 are vegetarian and 1 of those is vegan)
  • Proteins (3 are vegetarian and 2 of those are vegan)
  • Sides (5 are vegetarian and 2 of those are vegan)
  • Complete Meals
  • Desserts (6 are vegetarian and 3 of those are vegan)

There is also a FAQ section with answers to questions like:

  • How long will it take until I see results?
  • How many calories should I be eating each day?
  • Any advice on how to eat while traveling?
  • Do I have to cook to Eat Clean?
The biggest change I notice between the original book and "Recharged" book is the addition of lots of vegan/vegetarian options. This thrilled me because I know so many people who are eating less meat and I know this book will help them perfect their eating. The use of coconut oil and coconut butter was a wonderful addition too. I am a big fan of coconut oil and butter because of their many health benefits.

Overall, I was very impressed with how much information was crammed into this book. I know I learned more from reading it and I guarantee you that you will also.

I would LOVE for you to start the New Year off right and benefit from the information in this book so I am giving away one copy of this fabulous book!
Yep, I'm so excited to give this to one of you, my dedicated readers!

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment here on the blog about why you would love this book. Also, if you have a question you would like to ask Tosca please leave it in the comment as well. I will be doing an interview with her later this month and would love your input! So, if you have a burning question that you've always wanted to ask Tosca, put it in your comment! I will randomly pick the lucky winner on February 1st.

Good luck all!!!!

Thanks again to Rechelle from Bordeaux PR!!

Nicole

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

i would love to win this book! i loveee eating clean, but i'm not good at creating clean recipes. i get bored.

Averie @ Averie Cooks said...

I would love to win this one, Nicole! Never met a cookbook that I didnt enjoy...one can always learn something!

I like the addition of lots of vegan/vegetarian options. Cool.

Glad you saw my retreat info...and one way or the other, whether it's that or just green juices and kale chips, we'll be having coffee clutches, soon...I sure hope!

xoox

Pickles for Breakfast ! said...

Again, with this universe speaking to me.. I just saw the first book at the grocery store last night.. I thought I should buy this book.. but then decided to wait til next time! Not sure what I would ask, because I'm new to 'clean' eating.. ( have been familar to raw eating and food combining for a while... clean eating seems to be a different concept, maybe more my style)
Thanks!!

Gretchen

fitncrafty said...

I would LOVE this new eat clean book as much as I love Tosca's other books. I have the original eat clean and it doesn't have as many vegetarian options as this new one.
As a student of holistic nutrition, I love whole foods, and cooking up healthy meals for my family. This book would be a great and perfect addition to my collection!

Shannon said...

Awesome post. I'm writing a whole series on Clean Eating. Great Blog. :)

scrapwordsmom said...

I, too am a BIG fan of Tosca's. I have 2 of her books and her Journals (the workout one and eating one). I read Oxygen magazine each month and love that!! Currently I'm on my way to changing my life both mentally and physically. My emotional health is better than it's ever been now it's time to clean up my eating and add more exercise in my life...and I am getting there!! I would LOVE this book to help energize my program and I would love to try more veggie and vegan meals. Thank you for this chance and I can't wait for the interview!!!

Leslie

Betsy said...

I would love this book because I am trying to create a more cleaner lifestyle! This will help!

Thanks!

RunToTheFinish said...

OHhh how exciting! I have been making small consistent steps for a long time to better eating. My goal next month, when finally not traveling! Is to get really serious about eating nothing from a box...even my beloved cereal

Nancy said...

I love clean eating - makes me feel marvelous!!! Yay for fellow clean eaters :)

Anonymous said...

Ooohh I would love to have this book to go with all my other ones of Tosca! That woman is a Canadian health and wellness hero- and one fantastic reasons we all come together in the health blogosphere for support!

Kaysie said...

Nicole I have been really limiting my meat/dairy intake (1-2x week) so I would love a cookbook that showed some delish vegan/vegetarian recipes to help me on the road to clean eating! Thanks :)

Carolyn said...

I love reading about new ways to live a healthier life...this book looks awesome!

Kelly Michelle said...

Just found your site from AVerie's and the timing couldn't be better bc I am dying for that book except I am a broke grad student! I have all of the other Eat Clean books but since I am vegetarian and just recently eliminated dairy I would love to see these new recipes you are so excited about!

Anonymous said...

I am gluten free dairy free looking for ways to incorporate more protein in my diet and eat a clean healthy and affordable diet. Your hemp protein post brought me here and I love your blog. Consider yourself bookmarked. The book looks like it's right up my street and I'm really interested in the GF recipes.

TheFitnessFreak said...

Thanks Anna! I love hearing positive feedback : ) You will find quite a few GF recipes in Tosca's latest Eat-Clean Diet Recharged as well as her latest Eat Clean Cookbook. Enjoy and good luck!

Nicole

Kristen's Raw said...

I'd love to read the book. Her work was recently brought to my attention... so it's awesome that you have a giveaway for her book! :)

XOXO,
Kristen

Naomi(Onefitfoodie) said...

heard SUCH good things about this book! tosca has some awesome reci[pes! I read all about her in oxygen magazine! what a fabulous giveaway :)

Lizzie M. said...

I love clean eating...love the mag....and would LOVE this book!!

StylinMom said...

Just wanted to say....I am sooooo glad I found you blog...I too lost 70 pounds about 5 years ago...it was a slow process and a total lifestyle change...and I haven't gone back to any bad habits....I just love learning about new ways to stay clean and motivated...I work our everyday and wouldn't miss it ever....
I was reading your Chalene Extreme reviews...I have done the program as well and just love her..actually did some turbojam this morning....
Well just want to say Hello!!!

m

TheFitnessFreak said...

How awesome Michelle! 70 pounds, wow! And here I was so proud of my 35 : )

Love, love, love CLX & Turbo Jam! I want to do CLX again now that I lost all of my weight. I wonder if it will be different this time around, hmmmm?

Thanks for saying HI!

Nicole

shannonmarie said...

I love that you provide so many good reviews on your site. That book sounds right up my alley. Although I am already raw, my diet could still use a few tweaks. Unfortunately, everything was okay with Hayden and I before we started making changes. I guess we are just in the adjustment phase.

Yanina said...

It sounds like a great book. It will be a great help for a beginner like me. Thanks for the chance to win.

Unknown said...

I would love to win this cookbook. I LOVE cookbooks and am always looking for new vegetarian/vegan recipes!

I have also done Turbo Jam and Chalene Extreme! LOVE THEM!!!

Jennifer(Savor) said...

Hi hon-this would be a great addition to this family as we try to decrease our white sugar intake even further.

Brandie said...

I facilitate a Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and cook with 18-20 women weekly. I am always introducing them to new recipes for cleaner eating. This would be a great resource to use /lend out (after I have absorbed it myself :)

VEGAN TICKLES said...

Ooh...I'm vegan and would love to have this book in my collection. I love to workout (esp. kettlebels) and have only recently heard of the Eat Clean Books.

Nicole said...

I have all of Tosca's other books, but I've hesitated to buy this new one because I wasn't sure how much was different from the original.

Diane said...

Hi....I too would love her book. I bought her Eat Clean Book about 2 years ago and love it. I was wondering however, how does the Eat Clean eating differ from the Raw eating...other than the obvious. I see that you talk about eating raw and clean. How do you incorporate the two? I bought the Raw Detox diet book and have enjoyed it...and have been trying to follow the advice. Although I don't see myself becoming a "raw" only diet.
I would love your advice, approach...AND what is your opinion between the Vita Mix and Breville juicer???

adrienne said...

I check your blog frequently, Nicole, for clean recipes to try. They have all been keepers. I have a subscription to Clean Eating Magazine, but I do not have any of Tosca's books. I would love to win a copy. That is very kind.

Mari said...

I would love a copy of this book. I am especially looking forward to checking out the recipes.

runningmatey at hotmail dot com

Coach Krystal said...

I would love this book because I'm a voracious reader, and lover of all things health/fitness related!

TheFitnessFreak said...

Hey Diane!

Clean Eating easily translates to Raw/ Vegan. I eat every clean food aside from the cooked ones. I eat lots of veggies and fruits along with nuts, seeds, coconut, etc. These are all clean foods as they are in there original form and not processed. I eat lots of the salads and dressings as well as the vegetable dishes with some modifications.

I LOVE the Raw Food Detox Diet book! It makes High Raw very practical and doable.

I love my Vitamix and couldn't live without it but if you're just using it for smoothies and dressings, you could do with a regular blender. As for a juicer, I just got a Hurom juicer for Christmas and I absolutely adore it! It juices greens just as well as carrots. It's hard to find a juicer that can do both. It's rather pricey but so worth it! If you go to the Raw Food World link on my blog then use the code word: figs when you check out, you get free shipping and 10% off.

If you have any more questions e-mail me at thefitnessfreak@cox.net

Nicole

Unknown said...

I would love this book because I could totally use some new recipes!

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