"JUST TELL ME WHAT TO EAT!" by Timothy S. Harlan, M.D., Da Capo Press, $25, 309 pages
If you are looking for a diet that includes fettuccine alfredo with shrimp and broccoli, barbecue chicken pizza and chocolate cheesecake, look no further.
In seven chapters, Dr. Timothy S. Harlan, author of “Just Tell Me What to Eat!” covers the elements of a six-week weight-loss plan that includes these foods and more.
The introduction says that the book is a result of requests from his patients to just “tell me what to eat.” Using a conversational writing style, Harlan guides would-be dieters through his program one day at time.
Harlan says that “Just Tell Me What to Eat!” is based on three principles: “1) eat the highest-quality calories you can; 2) eat according to Mediterranean diet principles; and 3) whenever possible, you should make your own meals.”
Each chapter begins with some health goals for the week. Eating recommendations based on current scientific research are offered each day, followed by recipes, tips and other useful information.
Forty-two days of menu ideas and recipes are provided in the first six chapters. Each recipe includes a list of the ingredients needed, detailed preparation instructions and nutrition facts.
The final chapter provides menu ideas and desserts for two additional weeks, without the comments and tips provided in the first six chapters.
The book is illustrated with helpful charts and sprinkled with sidebars containing professional cooking comments from “Chef Tim” and health tips from “Dr. Tim.”
Harlan discourages the use of sodas, based on studies that show the high sugar content of these drinks contributes to obesity and the onset of type 2 diabetes. However, he encourages the use of coffee, tea and alcohol. He justifies this by referring to scientific studies showing the purported health benefits of these beverages.
This diet is not a short-term fad; it’s a lifestyle change. If you are looking for guidelines and tips to healthy eating based on current scientific knowledge and an emphasis on plant-based whole foods, this book is worth looking at.
Harlan, also known as “Dr. Gourmet,” started his love affair with food when he was 8, according to the book’s introduction. He offers diet and food information on his website at www.DrGourmet.com.
Rosemarie Howard lives in a 100-year-old house on Main Street in Springville, Utah. Her website is at www.dramaticdimensions.com.