Macro Cooking Made Simple: 50+ Recipes for Clean Eating and Healthy Living

Stop counting calories and start eating smart! Master the macro diet with this accessible guide that includes more than 50 delicious recipes.

Instead of setting a limit on the number of calories you can eat, a macro diet defines the amount of macronutrients you can aim to eat, divided by proportion into the primary categories of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Besides helping burn fat and gain muscle, macros provide the body with energy and can help maintain good health for the long haul. Popular with athletes, this flexible diet can can also be a challenge to plan and track. But it doesn’t have to be! Macro Cooking Made Simple explains what macros are and how you can optimize them for better eating and better health, without suffering or depravation.
 
The first part of the book examines the question, “Why macros?” Nutrition expert and food writer Rachel Werner explains how fueling your body requires more than a few superfoods and why macro-focused eating provides holistic sustenance. She breaks down this complex topic into manageable bites, with a terminology “cheat sheet” that includes:
 

• Simple Carbs
• Complex Carbs
• Carb Tolerance
• Protein (animal protein vs. plant protein)
• Fat (trans fat vs. saturated fat vs. unsaturated fat)
• Flexible Dieting
• Micronutrients

 
Werner further provides a ratio guide to help you vary your macro ratios for specific health goals. She also presents what goes in a macro-forward pantry, including 15 staple ingredients plus the 7 essential kitchen tools to get you started.
 
The second part of the book has recipes that include gluten-free and dairy-free options, vegetarian and vegan alternatives, and quick or one-pot meals. Broken into breakfasts, mains, sides, snacks, and beverages—along with recipe-pairing suggestions to round out any meal—this book has you covered! Here’s just a small selection of the eclectic, nutritious, and delicious recipes you’ll find inside:
 

• Caribbean Jambalaya
• Brunch Burritos
• Cajun Hot Hash
• Crispy Fish Curry
• Smoked Salmon Sliders
• BBQ Chickpeas
• Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad
• Carrot Ginger Bisque
• Pecan Peach Porridge
• Pumpkin Oat Bars
• Matcha Gems
• Low-Cal Lassi

With these straight-forward explanations, easy-to-understand tips, and amazing recipes in hand, following a macro-forward diet has never been simpler!

Discover today’s top trending health and wellness topics with the Everyday Wellbeing series from Chartwell Books. From smart eating habits to personal growth advice, these engaging lifestyle guides give you the expert tips and life hacks you need to help you make good choices while practicing mindfulness and self-love. Whether you want to explore cooking with new ingredients like adaptogens and CBD, or make it a priority to incorporate self-care into your daily routine, these brightly colored take-along handbooks have the tools you need to succeed.

Other titles in the series include: Adaptogens, The CBD Handbook, The Complete Guide to Self-Care, Air Fryer Instant Pot Cookbook, and The Plant-Based Cookbook.

Rachel Werner, CHN, is the Nutrition and Fitness editor for TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), a certified yoga instructor, and mindfulness practitioner. She is also the author of Macro Cooking Made Simple and several kidlit books, including Ada Lovelace Creates an Algorithm and The Glam World Tour. As a Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Rachel has contributed print, photography, and video content to Edible Madison, The Spruce Eats, and TheKitchn.