![]() I rarely write book reviews on this blog, but this is the first of several I'll be doing over the next few months. As a dietitian, I'm frequently asked to plug a certain book, product, program, etc., but unless I feel right about it, I decline. The author of the book I'll be discussing today didn't even request that I review it, and rather than receiving a review copy, I purchased the book myself. I decided to write a review on my own because (1) I think it's a wonderful book with valuable information; (2) the author self-published, which takes a lot of time and effort and, compared to going with a publisher, considerable expense; and (3) the author does little self-promotion, so I want to make sure everyone knows about it. If you're not already familiar with DJ Foodie, he's a formerly obese, self-described foodie who lost 150 pounds by following a low-carb lifestyle. He's also very funny, bright, and an extremely talented chef who trained at The Culinary Institute of North America and worked in the food industry for many years. Why am I recommending that you buy a cookbook when there are so many low-carb recipes online, including those on DJ Foodie's website? I love recipe sites like his and the ones maintained by other low-carb culinary geniuses who never fail to amaze and delight me with their creations. But I really like having a collection of fantastic recipes in hard-copy form too. Plus I feel it's important to support the efforts of those whose online content and hard work we admire. Also, as fantastic as the recipes in this book are -- and they certainly are -- there is so much more included in Taking Out the Carbage. From the moment you take off the wrapping paper (hint: bacon lovers may want to save it) and open this beautiful 570-page, 6-pound hardback book filled with DJ's signature illustrations and engaging writing style, you're in for a real treat (low carb, of course!) Here's what I love about Taking Out the Carbage: Explanation of low-carb diets and the DJ Foodie "Low-Primal" approach DJ succinctly explains why energy/calorie deficit is essential for weight loss and that while people can lose on a variety of diet plans, the insulin-modulating, satiating effects of carbohydrate restriction (around 30 grams of net carb per day) make it the best strategy for sustained weight loss and future maintenance. Rather than being restrictive, his "Low-Primal" lifestyle allows for a wide variety of animal and plant foods, including some wheat products, sugar substitutes, and peanut products that many people have been led to believe should be avoided. DJ's viewpoint mirrors my own: These foods may not be the epitome of healthful fare, but many people find that including them makes it much easier to follow a low-carb way of eating, particularly in the initial stages. Recipes can work for those who wish to follow a Paleo or ketogenic diet as well, with only a small modification of ingredients. Aside from providing great information, DJ is an excellent writer, whose witty commentary made the book a pleasure to read. His honest, low-key, non-hype style really resonates with me. Detailed sections about sugar substitutes ( including recipes to make your own sugar-free blends) and net carbs: There's a very balanced discussion on various sugar substitutes and why "natural" sweeteners aren't always better than "artificial" ones, particularly if you're trying to keep carbs down in order to lose weight or control blood sugar levels. DJ provides a great strategy for calculating net (digestible) carbs: total minus all fiber minus 50% of carbs from sugar alcohols (except erythritol, where all carbs can be subtracted). "Bag of Tricks": Hidden carbs? Cravings? Weight-loss stalls? Getting organized to cook? DJ's got you covered on some of the most common diet challenges. Organizational and planning tools: Another helpful section of the book contains 2 weeks of sample meal plans with 30 or fewer grams of net carb per day. DJ also provides detailed recommendations for customizing your own food plan. There are ingredients lists and removable grocery lists with net carbohydrate counts for each food. Everything is color coded and organized for ease of use -- all the information you need is at your fingertips. Creative, easy, nourishing recipes with gorgeous color photographs and comprehensive nutritional analysis of each recipe: Of course, the highlight of the book is the recipes themselves. DJ made certain that each of the 226 recipes met the following criteria: 1. Delicious 2. Easy and cost effective 3. Efficient and time saving 4. Never strays from the diet, while still allowing for some "legal cheats" Each recipe is accompanied by an enticing large color image. The photography is absolutely stunning throughout! Each recipe lists both imperial and metric measurements. The low carb movement is growing internationally, which is very encouraging. Americans use imperial measurements (ounces, pounds, etc.), but most of the rest of the world is on the metric system (grams, milliliters, etc.), so it's great to see both here. Some of the recipes are available on the DJ Foodie website, but others are exclusive to the book. And despite its subtitle, "The Big Book of Bacon," there are many tantalizing recipes in "Taking Out the Carbage" that don't include bacon, such as: Paella Mixta Asian Sweet 'n' Spicy Chicken Torta di Rotello Sausage, Tomato, and Fresh Mozzarella Tower Raspberry–Cream Cheese Swirl Frozen Custard Naturally, there are a number of recipes that do feature bacon, including the sensational grilled shrimp-and-bacon entree I prepared this weekend. Wow, was it delicious and satisfying! Even the pieces that got charred (my fault -- heat was up too high) were really tasty, and my husband asked if I would please make it again very soon. ![]() BBQ'd Bacon-Wrapped Basil Shrimp (6 servings) Ingredients: 1 lb. (454 g) shrimp (16/20), peeled and deveined (I used slightly smaller shrimp, 26/30) 1/4 cup (60 mL) Sweet ‘n’ Tangy BBQ Sauce 6 slices (150 g) raw bacon 18 fresh basil leaves 18 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 30 minutes (I only used 5 skewers) salt, pepper, and chili flakes to taste 2 Tbsp (30 mL) coconut oil for grilling Preparation: 1. Marinate the shrimp in the BBQ sauce for about 20 minutes. 2. Preheat the grill. 3. While the shrimp is marinating, cut each slice of bacon into thirds. This will result in 18 approximately two to three-inch (6 cm) slices of bacon. Squish each slice of bacon with the side of a knife or the bottom of a pan. Don’t tear it up. You want 18 nice thin “sheets” of bacon. 4. Set each sheet of bacon on a cutting board, and place a basil leaf on top of each sheet. 5. Place a marinated shrimp above each basil leaf. Season with a small amount of salt and pepper (add chili flakes for extra heat!) 6. Wrap each slice of bacon around the shrimp, and use a thin, premoistened skewer to hold the bacon in place. You can also put up to 3 per skewer, for a different look. (I put 3-4 on each skewer, since I was using smaller shrimp) 7. Brush the oil on the grill to help prevent sticking. Grill the shrimp over medium-high heat until the bacon is crisp and the shrimp are cooked through. 8. Serve! Nutrition information per serving: Calories: 245 Total Carbohydrates: 3 grams Fiber: 0.5 grams Net Carbohydrates: 2.5 grams Protein: 18.5 grams Fat: 17 grams To sum up, Taking Out the Carbage is outstanding on every level and would be a wonderful resource for anyone interested in easy-to-preapre recipes that support a low-carb lifestyle. In all honesty, I can't imagine that you'll be anything but delighted with this book. Starting today, DJ has arranged a second pre-sale where he's offering the book at the discounted price of $29.99 (regular price will be $49.99 on Amazon): Taking Out the Carbage pre-sale. I think it's an incredible bargain considering the quality of this book. If you already have your own copy, feel free to include your thoughts about it below in comments.
24 Comments
Sharon Day
8/17/2015 03:48:29 am
I second everything said above. I enthusiastically recommend you get "Taking Out The Garbage." If I could only have one cookbook, this is the one I would have to have. This is one terrific cookbook.
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Argia McKercher
8/17/2015 08:57:01 am
I just received my copy of Taking Out the Carbage in the mail. Wow! That is one solid book! My son took it from my hands and unwrapped the book from it's whimsical paper.
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Gerri
8/17/2015 02:43:41 pm
Eager to read Taking Out the Carbage. Thanks for the review. Applaud your integrity only recommending what you approve. I trust your judgement.
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8/17/2015 10:21:02 pm
Thanks very much for your comments, Gerri. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I do!
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Debbie
10/25/2015 11:58:12 pm
I haven't received my book yet. I am so excited, wish it would arrive.
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10/26/2015 06:39:55 am
Hi Debbie,
Andrea
8/18/2015 02:46:49 am
Thank you for taking the time to recommend this book. I just ordered it based upon your review. I do not buy many cookbooks anymore because I hate to cook, but this sounds like a good one for the low carb library shelf. I might even try some of the recipes:-)
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8/18/2015 03:46:51 am
Wonderful, Andrea! I'm sure that even if you don't like to cook, you'll be inspired to try several of DJ's recipes :)
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8/21/2015 08:29:22 am
Thanks so much, Jan! This book really is a gem, and the shrimp was so good that I can't wait to make it again -- and try out lots of the other recipes too! :)
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Rebecca
8/26/2015 04:29:54 am
I absolutely love this book!! I have already tried several recipe's they were delish.
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8/26/2015 07:10:10 am
Great to hear that, Rebecca! Thanks for your feedback!
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Ken Russell
9/13/2015 06:10:19 pm
It was a news story about the "5% (give or take) that can take weight off and keep it off" that finally helped me figure out how what I needed to do to get the weight off. Before that, I could diet for a while - but could never stick to it long enough to get all the weight off. In that story, they said that people who do lose the weight and keep it off may lose the weight in different ways - but they stared a few things in common. 1) They make a perminant change to the way they eat and 2) they don't cheat. They stick to their new WOE every day. I decided I wanted to be one of the 5% - so I applied those two concepts to my LCHF diet and that has made all the difference. I've been at this for 19 months and I've lost 191 pounds of 250 that I need to lose. I don't cheat. I will reach my goal. And this time, I won't gain it back. I know this because I've adoped LCHF as my perminant way of eating. I have no intention to return to eating the carb loaded food that broke me and made me fat. I will be one of the 5%. Just wait and see.
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9/14/2015 05:08:59 am
Thanks so much for sharing your story, Ken! Kudos on changing your mindset and losing nearly 200 lbs in less than 3 years! Keep up the fantastic work, and I look forward to hearing back from you once you've achieved your weight loss goal :)
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ann pfaff
9/14/2015 04:23:24 pm
does your cook book have pictures with each recipe?
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9/14/2015 05:22:53 pm
I assume you're asking about DJ Foodie's cookbook, not my book, correct? Yes, his book has a beautiful color photograph for each recipe.
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Margherite Okerman
9/15/2015 03:22:29 pm
I cannot find any store that has the book
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9/15/2015 04:57:37 pm
Hi Margherite. It's not available in bookstores at this time, and I'm not sure if/when it will be. You can order from his site at the pre-sale rate right now (the link is at the end of my blog post, and here it is again: http://www.djfoodie.com/book-taking-out-the-carbage?RecipePage=Yes) or wait until Amazon carries it next month.
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Phyllis Walker
10/16/2015 07:43:05 pm
I do not want the book , can I send it back and get my money back?
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10/16/2015 08:30:12 pm
Phyllis, the book was sold by DJ Foodie on his website. Please use his contact page to get a hold of him:
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Cynthia Hutchinson
9/12/2016 08:27:39 am
Just ordered the book! Thanks for the review!
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9/12/2016 08:58:14 am
That's great, Cynthia! I know you'll enjoy it :)
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Franziska Spritzler, RD, CDE Categories
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