10 Best Healthy Cookbooks for Beginners in 2022 (Registered Dietitian-Reviewed)
We found that the best cookbooks include recipes that fit your schedule, dietary restrictions, and health goals. Additionally, they also provide key beginner information about techniques, ingredients, tools, and even health. Keeping these things in mind, here are our handpicked favorite healthy cookbooks for beginners - including The Skinnytaste Cookbook, our top pick.
Quick List - Top Healthy Cookbooks for Beginners
Gina Homolka & Heather K. Jones
A Cookbook for Classic Dishes Made Healthy
Rachel Binkley is a registered dietitian who helps individuals develop healthy habits that fit into their lifestyle. She recommends adequate intakes of all micronutrients to help prevent deficiency as well as chronic conditions that may arise. You can keep up with her recipes, lifestyle, and more on Instagram or her blog, S'more Satisfaction.
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How to Choose a Healthy Cookbook for Beginners – Buying Guide
Here are five big things to look out for when buying the best healthy cookbook to fit your lifestyle.
Know How Often You're in the Kitchen Cooking
If you have a little more time on your hands and you’re looking to learn the A to Zs of healthy cooking, look for a book that covers all sorts of recipes from breakfast to dessert. Some of these recipes may take a bit more time and require more effort on your part, but they’ll give you great results and quickly help you improve your cooking skills.
Consider Dietary Restrictions and Specialized Diets
Even if you don’t follow a certain diet, you may want to consider buying a cookbook containing vegan, vegetarian, or pescatarian recipes, as plant- and fish-based foods are thought to be healthier for people than recipes with lots of meat - it can be challenging to incorporate new plant-based proteins and sources of healthy (unsaturated) fats. Plus, it’s fun to experiment with cooking different kinds of foods!
Pick a Book Based on Your Main Goal for Going Healthy
On the other hand, if you just generally want to start eating more healthily, it makes sense to look for a book with a wide range of healthy recipes.
Develop Skills to Cook Beyond the Book With Detailed Instructions
Even if you’re already familiar with cooking, if healthy cooking is something new to you, it may be a good idea to look for a cookbook that provides you with information on unfamiliar ingredients, substitutions, or alternative cooking methods (baking vs. frying, for example).
A book that teaches you these things will allow you to cook healthy food more confidently—even when you’re using a different cookbook or even cooking without a recipe.
Look for Nutritional Facts and Healthy Eating Advice
Especially if you’re new to healthy eating, knowing the nutrition information for your food can be an important step to learning what exactly makes a food healthy or not.
In addition to the numbers, if you’re new the process, you may want to find a book that also includes advice on how to transition into healthy eating. Look for books that tell you why a certain ingredient is good for you or how a plant-based or ketogenic diet can improve your health.
10 Best Healthy Cookbooks for Beginners
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gina Homolka & Heather K. Jones The Skinnytaste Cookbook｜Hardcover | | A Cookbook for Classic Dishes Made Healthy | |
2 | Isa Chandra Moskowitz Isa Does It｜Hardcover | | Plant-Based for Both Herbivores and Omnivores | |
3 | Mark Bittman How to Cook Everything The Basics｜Hardcover | | Great for the Absolute Beginner | |
4 | Fit Men Cook｜Hardcover | | Learn the Meal Prep Basics | |
5 | Heather Nicholds The College Vegan Cookbook｜Paperback | | Best for Those Short on Time, Space, and Money | |
6 | Suzanne Ryan Simply Keto｜Paperback | | An All-in-One Resource for Keto Beginners | |
7 | Leanne Brown Good and Cheap｜Paperback | | Budget-Conscious Healthy Cooking | |
8 | Megan Gilmore The Fresh and Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook｜Paperback | | Simple Recipes Using Your Instant Pot | |
9 | Kitty Martone Gut Health Diet for Beginners｜Paperback | | Learn About and Fix Gut Issues | |
10 | America's Test Kitchen Kids The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs｜Hardcover | | Healthy Eating for Kids |
Gina Homolka & Heather K. JonesThe Skinnytaste Cookbook ｜ Hardcover
A Cookbook for Classic Dishes Made Healthy
Reviewers love that each recipe is neatly laid out, easy to understand, and most importantly, delicious! This book is great for those new to healthy cooking who have a basic understanding of the kitchen.
Plant-Based for Both Herbivores and Omnivores
Reviewers rave about how easy and tasty these recipes are–even avid meat-eaters can get behind the bold flavors. It’s a great cookbook for both the beginner cook and the novice healthy eater.
Mark BittmanHow to Cook Everything The Basics ｜ Hardcover
Great for the Absolute Beginner
Reviewers praised this book as integral to going from complete novice to confident in the kitchen. And despite the fact that the recipes are aimed at beginners, they’re still packed with flavor.
Learn the Meal Prep Basics
Reviewers write that it’s great for meal prep beginners as well as those new to cooking in general. They love that this book also contains informational anecdotes and words of motivation.
Best for Those Short on Time, Space, and Money
Reviewers write that this cookbook is perfect for those still unfamiliar with the kitchen and explains how to properly stock a new kitchen.
An All-in-One Resource for Keto Beginners
Reviewers write that it’s a fantastic all-in-one resource for keto beginners. Do note, however, that due to the nature of keto, you’ll probably need to buy some ingredients that can be difficult to find depending on where you live.
Budget-Conscious Healthy Cooking
Reviewers write that this book is great for those new to healthy cooking but also offers flexibility for those a bit more comfortable in the kitchen, making it great for those who consider themselves lower intermediate cooks.
Megan GilmoreThe Fresh and Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook ｜ Paperback
Simple Recipes Using Your Instant Pot
Reviewers write that this book really helps you to learn how to use your Instant Pot to its full potential and that each recipe is delicious on top of being healthful.
Learn About and Fix Gut Issues
Reviewers write that the provided plan is easy-to-follow and gives you a good foundation for fixing your gut issues. The recipes are simple and include five ingredients or less for quick, easy meals.
America's Test Kitchen KidsThe Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs ｜ Hardcover
Healthy Eating for Kids
Reviewers write that this book is great for new cooks (even adults!) and that it really helps to build confidence in the kitchen. Many of the recipes are also vegetarian, which may encourage kids to want to eat more veggies.
Try Your Hand at Many Different Types of Cuisines
The world of cooking is a vast one - and there are plenty of types of cuisines to explore. Try diversifying your palette with these other amazing cookbooks!
Top 5 Healthy Cookbooks for Beginners
No. 1: Gina Homolka & Heather K. Jones｜The Skinnytaste Cookbook｜Hardcover
No. 2: Isa Chandra Moskowitz｜Isa Does It｜Hardcover
No. 3: Mark Bittman｜How to Cook Everything The Basics｜Hardcover
No. 4: ｜Fit Men Cook｜Hardcover
No. 5: Heather Nicholds｜The College Vegan Cookbook｜Paperback
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.