The New Atkins Made Easy

November 4, 2013
Heimowitz, vice president of nutrition and education at Atkins Nutritionals Inc. has been employed by Atkins for more than 20 years; in that time she’s “seen and heard it all” when it comes to eating habits and weight reduction. Her mission here is to bring a new generation into the fold, and help readers navigate the Atkins diet with ease—with meal plans, recipes, shopping tips, and “step-by-step visuals.” Without fanfare, Heimowitz (The New Atkins for a New You) gets down to business: part one summarizes how Atkins works (in a nutshell, by cutting back on carbs so that the fat-burning metabolism kicks in). Part two gives readers a concise set of guidelines and then walks them through phase one (Kick-Start), phase two (Balancing), phase three premaintenance (Fine-Tuning), and phase four (Lifetime Maintenance). At each chapter’s conclusion, the author includes photos and first-person accounts of Atkins followers who have lost impressive amounts of weight on the plan. In part three, Heimowitz covers family meals as well as dining out, with suggestions for Japanese, Middle Eastern, Mexican, and other fare including fast-food chains. Part four presents a sampling of recipes, with more offered on the Atkins Web site. This straightforward guide to the popular protocol is a worthy addition to the evolving Atkins library. Agent: Joy Tutela, David Black Agency.

January 1, 2014

Atkins nutritionist Heimowitz's (New Atkins for a New You Cookbook) work makes it easier for people to understand and follow the popular low-carb diet and eating plan. After explaining how Atkins works, the author discusses the four phases of the diet, beginning with the Kick-Start stage, which severely limits carbohydrate intake, then gradually moving on to increased carbohydrate intake by adding foods back into the diet as weight loss progresses. Each section covers one phase and contains lists of acceptable foods, sample menus (one set using foods from the Atkins product line, another without Atkins products), grocery shopping lists, frequently asked questions, and success stories. Three dozen recipes, including breakfasts, dinners, sauces, and snacks are featured, and most can be made in less than 20 minutes with supermarket ingredients. Readers will also find tips on adhering to the diet while traveling and dining out. VERDICT Without focusing on purchased products or supplements, Heimowitz presents this eating plan, which has been popular for decades, in an easy and appealing way.--Pauline Baughman, Multnomah Cty. Lib., Portland, OR

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