If you ask me what my favorite foods are, all the healthy living aside, I will tell you without hesitation that they are fried chicken and baked macaroni and cheese. For dessert, I would likely choose a fat brownie. Now a meal like that would set me back well beyond a day’s worth of 2,000 calories, and double the 65g of recommended total fat per day. That’s why I never eat these foods.

So when I opened “Now Eat This,” the newest cookbook from Chef Rocco Dispirito, and found that I could have have fried chicken, mac ‘n cheese and a brownie for less than 500 calories and less than 20g of fat, I was very interested. And I think you will be, too!

A few years ago, Rocco realized he’d put on about 30 pounds. That’s what happens when you work around food for more than 25 years; in Rocco’s case, really good food. So he set-out to change that, calling himself “a latecomer to the diet/exercise weight loss experience.” He says his body protested, carrying 20 percent body fat, but he pushed through with the help of a trainer and a dedicated fitness plan. He followed a modified Atkins diet, gave up alcohol and carbs and stuck to high-protein eats. That, plus double-cardio sessions six days a week, helped him get back in shape, and take on a triathlon and an iron man.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words… apparently it’s true. People sometimes look at me today, dashing around from TV show to TV show with tons of energy talking about healthy food and think that I don’t “get it.” But with one glance at these photos, I’m sure you’ll understand that I do. By the time I was 15 years old, I weighed close to 200 pounds. And if I hadn’t found cooking, I swear I’d be sitting on my sofa at this very minute tipping the scales at over 400 pounds, feeling as stuck as I did for so many years. Instead, for over 15 years now, I’ve been a healthy, happy, obsession-free, size 6 with a passion to help anyone and everyone who has ever struggled with food or their weight.

In case I only look vaguely familiar, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Devin Alexander, the author of The Biggest Loser Cookbook, The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook, The Most Decadent Diet Ever!, Fast Food Fix, and the soon-to-be-released, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Fattening.

As a dietitian, I am well aware of where people get their health information. By and large, people search the Internet, read blogs (like this one), watch the news, and read books and magazines. There is no shortage of information available and books especially seem to carry a layer of credibility. That’s why I think it is crucial that when I find a book I love, I need to shout it from the rooftops! The Biggest Loser Simple Swaps, by the show’s dietitian and chef Cheryl Forberg, is one such book. In this post, I’ll share why you should run (not walk) to pick up your copy today.

** UPDATE: Contest Over! Congrats to Hil’lesha & Stacey on winning the babycakes cookbooks. Hil’lesha won a special edition signed by Erin Mckenna**

To celebrate the 2 year anniversary of the Natural Health Newsletter we are giving away a signed copy of the just released Babycakes cookbook.

Babycakes is a famous New York City bakery that makes baked goods using alternative and healthy ingredients while keeping all the yummy taste you would expect from a cupcake, chocolate chip cookie or even banana chip loaf.