The Good Carbs Cookbook: Vibrant, Smart Energy Recipes for Every Day

Not all carbs are created equal. We all know we should eat whole grains and avoid too much sugar, but beyond that, there’s a world of “good carbs.” Dr. Alan Barclay, Kate McGhie, and Philippa Sandall have recently released a treasure of a cookbook focused on these good carbs, appropriately called The Good Carbs Cookbook: Vibrant, Smart Energy Recipes for Every Day.

* Complimentary Book Received for Review.

The authors define “good carbs” as “the plant foods the natural world has provided for us: fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, lentils, seeds, nuts and grains.” The Good Carbs Cookbook includes more than 100 recipes for using those ingredients in everything from soups and salads through main dishes and desserts.

The book begins with a discussion of good carbs—what they are, how to shop for and choose them, and the benefits they bring. The four recipe chapters cover different categories, including Vegetables, Legumes, Grains, and Fruit. Each of these chapters starts with information about the foods in that group, including a glossary-like listing of good-carb items, each with the subheadings “What to look for” (choosing the best product), “How to store them” (keeping them fresh in your home), “What’s in them?” (nutritional values, including Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load), “What Else?” (interesting and fun facts about the item or tips to make the best of it), and “Hero Recipes” (recipes in the book using it). So helpful!

The final chapter of The Good Carbs Cookbook, called “Understanding Carbs,” is packed with information about carbohydrates, everything from what they are and where they come from, through their effects on our bodies and why we need good carbs to function at our best. Last of all is a section listing a complete nutritional analysis for every recipe in the book.

Curious about those recipes? Here’s a small sampling of the varied recipes you’ll find in The Good Carbs Cookbook:
• Potato Salad with Green Beans, Peas, and Buttermilk Herb Dressing
• Fresh Tomato Sauce for Pasta
• Chicken and Corn Soup with Toasted Tortilla and Avocado
• Baked Fish with Lentils, Tomatoes and Olives
• Golden Rice with Peas and Cashews
• Banana and Peanut Ice Cream
• Strawberry, Rhubarb and Apple Oat Crumble

Incorporating good carbs into our diets is easy and delicious with choices like that! And it’s great to know that they fuel our brains and muscles with long-lasting energy while providing essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber, too.

The authors of The Good Carbs Cookbook are Australian, which is reflected in some of the terminology in the book; for example, what we call peppers, they call capsicum. Personally, I find that charming rather than a problem. Amounts are given in both metric and imperial measurements where appropriate, so we Americans should have no issues in following the recipes.

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Disclaimer: A. Bailey received complimentary products for review purposes & feature on The Classy Chics blog. No monetary compensation was received. A. Bailey’s thoughts, opinions and words are 100% her own. Your thoughts may differ. This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, we will receive a small commission which helps to support this site. Thanks!