Top 5 Low-Cholesterol Cookbook Picks

Eating out is convenient, but not always easy to do on a low-cholesterol diet. Many menu offerings are simply not cholesterol-friendly and temptation can sway the most stalwart diner. Preparing your own meals at home using a low-cholesterol cookbook, on the other hand, can be a safer way to go, and making meals yourself is easier than you might think.

Just imagine opening a page of the cookbook and knowing that whatever catches your eye is low-cholesterol and can fit into your diet. Another plus? Your grocery list of ingredients is already written out for you. I've seen a low-cholesterol cookbook or two (or a dozen) in my day. Here are five cookbooks that I think are most helpful and will add variety to your healthy dining routine.

Editors of Cooking Light magazine (Oxmoor House Inc., 2006)

This book includes 1,200 recipes and an organized binder with dividers to assist with meal planning. Sample recipes include healthier versions of pumpkin dip and blueberry crisp. This cookbook is wonderful because all of the recipes are double-tested, and it conveniently lists the nutrition information for each dish.

American Heart Association (Harmony, 4th edition, 2010)

Features 200 recipes such as Peppery Beef with Blue Cheese Sauce and Sweet Potatoes in Creamy Cinnamon Sauce. It includes beautiful color images and tips for heart-healthy restaurant dining.

Roger S. Blumenthal and Betty Crocker (Betty Crocker, 2004)

This title includes 140 recipes, such as Gorgonzola Linguine with Toasted Walnuts and Crème Caramel dessert. This cookbook is wonderful because it shows that yes, comfort foods and baked goods can be made in a more low-cholesterol manner. Additionally, the 7-day menu plan is an excellent resource for answering the question "What should we eat today?"

Philip Ades and the Editors of EatingWell (Countryman Press, 2008)

From Roast Pork with Sweet Onion-Rhubarb Sauce to Fudgy Brownies, these recipes will help you add variety to your low-cholesterol diet. The recipes represent a welcome variety of cuisines, everything from Italian to Lebanese. This text is a great value because it is not only a cookbook but an educational resource, featuring five chapters of information on lowering your risk or managing heart disease.

Linda Larsen, Adams Media (2008)

This collection includes over 300 recipes, such as Cinnamon Hazelnut Scones and Texas BBQ Chicken Thighs. It features delicious, quick-to-prepare, easy-to-follow recipes, with full nutrition information. Larsen provides a thorough explanation of low-cholesterol nutrition guidelines, with helpful charts and tables that aid in making understanding low-cholesterol eating easy.

Remember that you don't have to cook all of your meals at home to make certain you are following low-cholesterol guidelines, but preparing your own meals on most nights of the week is best when following a low-cholesterol eating plan. These fantastic cookbooks can help you stay motivated!