<p>To find the <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/g29268906/best-cookbooks/” target=”_blank”>best cookbooks</a> full of healthy and delicious meals and snacks, we tapped the food experts in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen and the <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/institute/about-the-institute/a19748212/good-housekeeping-institute-product-reviews/” target=”_blank”>Good Housekeeping Institute</a> Nutrition Lab for their tried and true health-conscious picks that all have an approachable take on healthy cooking to fit every lifestyle. We’ve also included newer titles for a fresh take on new food trends.</p><p>Throughout this list of the <strong>best healthy cookbooks</strong>, you’ll find a variety of options for all kinds of dietary preferences, as well as different cuisines to make it so that healthy eating is accessible to everyone. Most of the options on this list focus on simple, whole foods and don’t require too many complicated ingredients, so you can feel a little less overwhelmed when trying to eat a little healthier.</p>”/>
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1
Best Overall Healthy Cookbook
Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables
1
Best Overall Healthy Cookbook
Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables
Now 41% Off
Credit: Artisan
Pros
Vegetable forward
Organized by season
Cons
Can be a bit overwhelming
Vegetables are usually the first thing we think about when it comes to eating healthy, and veggies are the freshest and most delicious when they’re in season. Author Joshua McFadden takes you through the seasons focusing on one vegetable at a time to highlight when and how to cook the most delicious vegetable dishes. Soon, you’ll have a reason to reach for fava beans at the farmer’s market while also being able to build on the produce you have at home.
2
Best Mediterranean Diet Cookbook
Good Housekeeping Quick and Easy 28-Day Mediterranean Diet
2
Best Mediterranean Diet Cookbook
Good Housekeeping Quick and Easy 28-Day Mediterranean Diet
Pros
Meal plans included
Considered a healthy diet by researchers
Cons
Spiral bound so not as sturdy
The Mediterranean diet is often hailed as one of the best diets by nutritionists and registered dietitians, so it’s a good place to start if you want to eat healthier. Our 28-day guide can help kick off your journey to this way of eating. The book emphasizes the inclusion of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, seafood and heart-healthy fats. You’ll find four weeks’ worth of meal plans and grocery lists to take the guesswork out of the diet, and with more than 60 recipes, you’re bound to find a few favorites you’ll keep coming back to.
3
Best Easy Healthy Cookbook
Skinnytaste Simple: Easy, Healthy Recipes with 7 Ingredients or Fewer
3
Best Easy Healthy Cookbook
Skinnytaste Simple: Easy, Healthy Recipes with 7 Ingredients or Fewer
Now 37% Off
Credit: Clarkson Potter
Pros
Minimal ingredients
Nutritional information included
Cons
Some uncommon ingredients
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. Skinnytaste’s latest cookbook is packed with healthy recipes that all require just seven ingredients or fewer. Talk about simple! You’ll find easy takes on comforting favorites, like Sheet Pan Eggplant Lasagna, and dishes that require minimal cleanup, like One Pan Shrimp and Saffron Orzo. Each recipe includes nutritional information for no-fuss meal planning.
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4
Best Healthy Cookbook for Beginners
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
4
Best Healthy Cookbook for Beginners
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
Now 28% Off
Credit: Simon and Schuster
Pros
Science-backed approach
Can help you learn how to make your own meals
Cons
Will take time to get through
Cooking with confidence is easier if you know the components of a complete meal — and what makes food taste good. Chef and writer Samin Nosrat helps the home cook master the four basic elements of food: salt, fat, acid and heat. As you cook your way through the book’s 100-plus recipes, you’ll learn this simple philosophy and the science behind it.
5
Best Instant Pot Healthy Cookbook
The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook: Wholesome, Indulgent Plant-Based Recipes
5
Best Instant Pot Healthy Cookbook
The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook: Wholesome, Indulgent Plant-Based Recipes
Now 36% Off
Credit: Avery
Pros
Quick cook times
No fake meats included
Cons
Instant Pot only
Though vegan food isn’t always healthy, Nisha Vora of Rainbow Plantlife filled this cookbook with wholesome recipes that are super simple to make thanks to the pressure cooking setting on your Instant Pot. You’ll find everything from Miso Mushroom Risotto to desserts like a Double Fudge Chocolate Cake (which, yes, is dairy-free and can be made in an Instant Pot). If you already love your Instant Pot, you will love having this book on hand.
6
Best Healthy Salad Cookbook
The Complete Salad Cookbook: A Fresh Guide to 200+ Vibrant Dishes Using Greens, Vegetables, Grains, Proteins, and More
6
Best Healthy Salad Cookbook
The Complete Salad Cookbook: A Fresh Guide to 200+ Vibrant Dishes Using Greens, Vegetables, Grains, Proteins, and More
Now 36% Off
Credit: America’s Test Kitchen
Pros
Tons of salads to pick from
Dressing guidance
Cons
Only salad recipes
Salads are one of the best ways to add greens into your diet — and they don’t have to be boring. You’ll find more than 200 salad recipes from Sweet Peach and Burrata Salad to a hearty Southwest Beef Salad with Cornbread Croutons. There are also fun takes on the classics like the good old Caesar, and you’ll feel empowered to make a salad from scratch with guidance on what to include to keep you satisfied and how to create a perfect vinaigrette every time. Just flip to any page, and you’ll have a new salad to try.
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7
Best Vegetable-Forward Healthy Cookbook
Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London’s Ottolenghi
7
Best Vegetable-Forward Healthy Cookbook
Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London’s Ottolenghi
Credit: Chronicle Books LLC
Pros
Innovative recipes
Vegetable-focused
Cons
Some recipes are complex
If you’re interested in vegetarian cooking, Yotam Ottolenghi is a name you need to know. Drawing from Middle Eastern influences, he develops restaurant-quality recipes that may completely change the way you picture what an eggplant can become. Some of the recipes in this book are a bit complex, so it’s best if you have some cooking experience under your belt. You’ll find excellent sides that can be served with meat dishes, or you can try your hand at exploring some new meals for Meatless Mondays. For more straightforward recipes, check out one of Ottolenghi’s other book, Simple, which focuses on recipes that can be made in 30 minutes or less.
8
Best Meal Prepping Healthy Cookbook
Love and Lemons Simple Feel Good Food: 125 Plant-Focused Meals to Enjoy Now or Make Ahead
8
Best Meal Prepping Healthy Cookbook
Love and Lemons Simple Feel Good Food: 125 Plant-Focused Meals to Enjoy Now or Make Ahead
Now 48% Off
Credit: Avery
Pros
Wholesome
Quick meals and meal prep options
Cons
Large meal portions
Two of the hardest parts of cooking and eating healthy are prepping in advance and knowing what to do with leftovers. This plant-forward cookbook by Jeanine Donofrio of the Love and Lemons blog takes care of both, with 125 recipes that cover meal prepping and sprucing up leftovers into a new meal. You’ll find quick and easy recipes that can be whipped up fast and meals that can easily be made ahead of time that you can toss together at the end of a busy day. You’ll find a cooking style for every kind of chef.
9
Best Dietary Restriction Healthy Cookbook
Everyone’s Table: A James Beard Award Winner
9
Best Dietary Restriction Healthy Cookbook
Everyone’s Table: A James Beard Award Winner
Now 41% Off
Credit: Harper Wave
Pros
James Beard-award winning
Good for those with dietary restrictions
Cons
Not great for vegetarians
This James-Beard-award-winning cookbook is written by Gregory Gourdet, a chef of Haitian descent who appeared on two seasons of Top Chef. The book goes hand in hand with Gourdet’s own journey of getting sober and eating foods that make him feel better. It’s filled with inspiration from global cuisines and recipes that are free of gluten, dairy, soy, legumes and refined sugar. Each recipe is filled with nutrient-dense foods to inspire healthy eating and feeling good.
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10
Best Pre-Diabetes Healthy Cookbook
The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook: 200 Healthy Recipes to Help Reverse and Manage Pre-Diabetes
10
Best Pre-Diabetes Healthy Cookbook
The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook: 200 Healthy Recipes to Help Reverse and Manage Pre-Diabetes
Credit: Adams Media
Pros
Low-blood-sugar focused
Recipes are quick to make
Cons
Not for everyone
Reversing or managing your pre-diabetes can be overwhelming, but simple dietary changes can help. This cookbook is focused on keeping blood sugar levels low with 200 easy-to-follow recipes that prove you don’t have to deprive yourself to get your health on track. There are variations of doughnuts, pasta and tacos for satisfying meals and snacks. Recipes only take 30 minutes to prepare for an easier way to feel more in control.
11
Best Low-Calorie Healthy Cookbook
Good Housekeeping Low-Calorie Big-Flavor Cookbook: Delicious Meals with 500 Calories or Less
11
Best Low-Calorie Healthy Cookbook
Good Housekeeping Low-Calorie Big-Flavor Cookbook: Delicious Meals with 500 Calories or Less
Credit: Good Housekeeping
Pros
Recipes under 500 calories
Dietary preferences included
Cons
Not for those who don’t like calorie counting
If you’re trying to be more mindful about your calorie consumption, you’ll be happy to hear that every recipe in this book is under 500 calories — and they don’t skimp on flavor. The experts at Good Housekeeping also share simple ingredient swaps to make meals a little less heavy plus how to stock your kitchen with healthy staples to reach for when cooking. There are recipes for many dietary needs, including gluten-free, dairy-free, high-fiber and more.
12
Best Whole-Foods Healthy Cookbook
Eat Complete: The 21 Nutrients That Fuel Brainpower, Boost Weight Loss, and Transform Your Health
12
Best Whole-Foods Healthy Cookbook
Eat Complete: The 21 Nutrients That Fuel Brainpower, Boost Weight Loss, and Transform Your Health
Now 22% Off
Credit: Harper Wave
Pros
Focus on brain health
Educates on essential nutrients
Cons
Not vegetarian friendly
Filled with 100 nutrient-dense, tasty meals, this cookbook, written by Dr. Drew Ramsey, M.D., who has a focus on Nutritional Psychiatry, aims to improve both physical and brain health through food. It focuses on making healthy cooking achievable using common ingredients you may already have sitting in your pantry. Each recipe is gluten-free, and Dr. Ramsey also aims to educate by discussing the 21 nutrients that are most important for brain health and well-being alongside the delicious recipes.
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13
Best Healthy Cookbook for Athletes
Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow.: Quick-Fix Recipes for Hangry Athletes
13
Best Healthy Cookbook for Athletes
Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow.: Quick-Fix Recipes for Hangry Athletes
Now 36% Off
Credit: Rodale Books
Pros
Quick meals
Nutritionally dense with recovery in mind
Cons
Focused mostly on runners
After logging double-digit miles, you might find it hard to get motivated to cook yourself a meal to fuel yourself properly. Instead of settling on power bars, Run Fast. Cook Fast. Eat Slow. is filled with pre-run snacks, post-run recovery breakfasts, packable lunches and dinner recipes that all take 30 minutes or less to make. Written by Olympian Shalane Flanagan and chef Elyse Kopecky, these quick recipes will help you and your fitness goals go the distance.
14
Best Healthy Comfort Food Cookbook
Thug Kitchen: The Official Cookbook
14
Best Healthy Comfort Food Cookbook
Thug Kitchen: The Official Cookbook
Now 28% Off
Credit: Rodale Books
Pros
Funny instructions
Healthier comfort foods
Cons
Profanity isn’t for everyone
This hilarious (and a little vulgar) cookbook is a no-nonsense approach to eating healthier. All its recipes are completely vegan, using only whole-food ingredients, but you’ll healthier versions of fan favorites like Roasted Beer and Lime Cauliflower Tacos and Silky Roasted Bell Pepper Lasagna. Some of the recipes are a bit time-intensive, but if you’re looking for a comfort cookbook that will give you a chuckle or two, this book is for you.
How we choose the best healthy cookbooks
To help sift through the hundreds of healthy cookbooks on the market, we consulted the culinary experts in our Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, who recommended the cookbooks they themselves to cook healthy at home (a few of which they’ve even written themselves!).
From their favorites, we focused on top-sellers and tried-and-true favorites. We also looked at newer cookbooks with healthy eating at the forefront to add some newcomers to the list. We focused on a variety of cuisines and dietary restrictions to ensure these healthy cookbooks are accessible to everyone.
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Why trust Good Housekeeping?
This roundup was written by contributing writer Courtney Campbell, a longtime product reviewer, who selected products based on hours of research and looking through her own personal vegetable-heavy cookbook collection. Her work has appeared in Apartment Therapy, Domino and SELF.
Courtney (she/hers) has spent the past 5 years testing everything from reusable straws to standing desks to homemade kombucha kits. A longtime reviewer, deals hunter, and lifestyle writer, she currently heads up the American Kennel Club’s product review site Retrievest and previously worked as the Shopping Editor for USA Today’s Reviewed. Additionally, she has covered design and lifestyle trends for Apartment Therapy, Domino, SELF, and more. A graduate of Elon University, she loves telling everyone about what race she’s planning on running next while raving about her favorite running headphones (they’re bone conducting!).
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