I love take out as much as the next person… probably more than the next person! But never in my history of dieting did I think that my love of take out would help to begin, rather than end, a diet.
Weight Watchers created Take Out Tonight in an effort to show readers ways to create healthy version of their favorite take out dishes at home. In true Weight Watchers fashion, each recipe comes complete with information regarding calories, fat, and Weight Watchers points.
What is Take Out Tonight About?
The concept behind this book is that what people love most about ordering take out is the food itself – take out staples like General Tso’s Chicken, Pad Thai, or even Nachos (and other types of ethnic food) are covered here. By recreating or emulating these staple dishes, the book allows readers to create healthier versions of the dishes they crave.
But I couldn’t help but wonder if the convenience of ordering take out may also be a major part of its appeal. Being an aspiring cook myself, the idea of recreating my favorite take out items appeals to me.
What Others Are Saying – Does Take Out Tonight Really Deliver?
Reviewers have mixed comments about the results of Take Out Tonight. While most rated the book highly, several complaints were frequent, and they are highlighted below. Overall, whether or not Take Out Tonight will deliver weight loss results will depend on your current dining habits.
"I'm impressing the heck out of my family with these exotic dinners", said Robin who finds this book outstanding. All recipes she has tried turned out very good, and they are low in Weight Watchers points.
Will it Help Me Lose Weight?
Take Out Tonight will likely help those who love takeout but are looking to cook more frequently at home to lose weight. In particular, those who are already part of the Weight Watchers program should derive significant benefits from the book.
If you are not interested in cooking at home more frequently, or not hooked on take out (though I find this hard to imagine), the book will not help you to lose weight. But for the target audience of this book, which I find myself a part of, there are great benefits to be gained.
"This may be the best book published under the Weight Watchers' umbrella", says reviewer Daniel F. Moore who found that the variety of recipes in this book helped him prepare the right meal for any given day.
Pros and Cons
Pros
-
The recipes closely emulate favorite American take out meals.
-
Recipes are easy to find and structured by ethnicity of food (Mexican, Indian, etc).
-
For those following Weight Watchers diets, the book provides points calculations for each meal.
-
Aside from dieters, the book will also appeal to cooks who are hooked on take out.
- Great photography and attractive layout.
Cons
- Not all recipes are “every day” meals.
- Some recipes require special or exotic ingredients not easily found at the grocery store.
- Some may find recipe portion sizes to be unsatisfying.
Problems and Complaints
While Take Out Tonight offers over 150 recipes, reviewers like Shelly felt there may not be enough “every day” recipes to satisfy all readers.
And speaking of satisfaction, as I mentioned above, some dieters may be unhappy with small portion sizes. However, portion size is subjective, and moreover most dieters understand that reducing portion sizes from the typically massive meal sizes at take out restaurants is an important part of their diet strategy.
Overall, the complaints seem minimal, especially if you are part of the target demographic for this book, which I discussed earlier.
Is Take Out Tonight Better Than Other Diet Books?
Weight Watchers may have released an ideal book for their own audience, but what about those outside the Weight Watchers world of dieting? Well, for would-be home cooks, the book offers an edge over other cookbooks in that it provides real world recipes based on common take out dishes. However, for those less interested in cooking at home, diet cookbooks which provide suggestions on healthy take out options or have an emphasis on fast and easy home cooking may be a better purchase.
How Does Take Out Tonight by Weight Watchers Rate Overall?
Amazon.com reviewers gave Take Out Tonight a 4.5 star rating out of 5, which is excellent. Reviewers were quick to note the well-organized and large catalog of recipes, the excellent choices of popular take out dishes, and the easy, uncomplicated writing style.
Additionally, the book should appeal to aspiring home cooks. It is an excellent choice for anyone who is looking to switch from an unhealthy take out addiction to healthier, home cooked meals with smaller portion sizes.
Where Can I Buy and Where Can I Read More Reviews for Take Out Tonight?
Take Out Tonight is in stock and able to be purchased at a discount on Amazon.com. Amazon is currently offering free “Super Saver” shipping on this item with any purchase over $25. Read more reviews, here.