Book review: Biggest Loser Family Cookbook

January 7, 7:27 PMWeight Loss ExaminerGail Gedan Spencer

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Saving money and saving calories -- two popular themes right now. And the new Biggest Loser Family Cookbook: Budget-Friendly Meals Your Whole Family Will Love (Rodale, $21.95) promises to help on both fronts.

Chef Devin Alexander, herself a weight-loss champ, has developed more than 125 recipes for family meals and snacks. The book features contestants from the first 6 seasons of the show and the Biggest Loser Online Club and offers tips from the writing contestants did while on the ranch.

The recipes primarily use real, whole foods and a minimum of processed products. Each recipe has basic nutritional info -- calories, protein, carbs, fat, sat fat, cholesterol, fiber and sodium -- so you can figure them into any eating plan.

I made the Enchilada Chicken from the book and it was deelish. It was also surprisingly low in sodium (230 milligrams per serving) and carbs (1 gram per serving).

Enchilada Chicken

(from the Biggest Loser Family Cookbook)

• 4 (4-ounce) trimmed boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 teaspoons salt-free Mexican or Southwestern seasoning (like Mrs. Dash)
• Olive oil spray
• 4 tablespoons enchilada sauce
• 2 ounces (1 cup) finely shredded Cabot 75 Percent Light Cheddar
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro

Season each chicken breast evenly on all sides with the seasoning. Place a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over high heat. When hot, lightly mist with the olive oil spray and add the chicken. Cook, turning once, for 1 to 2 minutes per side, or just until the chicken is golden brown on the outside.

Remove the pan from the heat and top each chicken breast with 1 tablespoon of the enchilada sauce, followed by one-fourth of the cheese and one-fourth of the cilantro. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 4 to 6 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink inside and the cheese is melted.

Makes 4 servings

Per serving: 162 calories, 31 g protein, 1 g carbohydrates, 3 g fat (1 g saturated), 71 mg cholesterol, trace fiber, 230 mg sodium.

And here she is on the Today show: