I expected to find low calorie recipes, things only lightly sweetened. But what Lee has done with many of these recipes is reduced only the refined sugar. And using juice or fruit puree is no different than using sugar in my book. Its a step in the right direction, though, I suppose.

Over Christmas we made some of the recipes in this book. We didn’t tell anyone, no one seemed to notice we only used half the sugar!
I do think if you don’t tell people they won’t even notice, which I have always found the best Walton introduce a certain type of food, or lack of a certain something.

Jennifer Tyler Lee and Anisha Patel’s Half the Sugar, All the Love is a good cookbook filled with low-sugar recipes of your favourite everyday foods. I like the variety of recipes and the pictures. But, I wish there were a lot more interesting pictures. Some of the swaps are helpful and doable. However, several of the recipes are very labour-intensive for minimal sugar reduction while a few others seem very time-consuming.

The book is divided into sections on breakfasts, snacks, lunches and salads, dinners, desserts, beverages, and basics and condiments. I enjoyed the informative and educational introduction. It is a little lengthy but I didn’t mind because it is simply written and easy to read. I learned about reading food labels, understanding different types of sugars, and learning how to reduce added sugar.

I love the variety of recipes! Some are everyday staples like apple-cinnamon instant oatmeal, blueberry scones, and sloppy joes. There are even recipes for ketchup, shrimp pad thai, and pumpkin spice hot chocolate! The majority of recipes are kid-friendly. I like the little sections with instructions on how kids can help with cooking. There are also tips on how to make these recipes ahead of time. The book also includes nutritional information and serving sizes.

The recipes are clear and easy-to-follow. Most of the ingredients are items that many people probably have in their pantry. I also like that the book advocates for using natural things like fruit purees and maple syrup instead of artificial sweeteners.

However, many of the swaps are a little uninventive because they rely heavily on dates as a sugar substitute. Additionally, some of the recipes involve too much work for very minimal sugar reduction. Meanwhile, a few others are too time-consuming.

I like that there are several colourful full-page pictures. However, they are a little generic. Furthermore, I really would have liked a lot more pictures because there are many pages of recipes with just a handful of pictures. I love seeing finished pictures of what the foods and drinks should look like.

Half the Sugar, All the Love is an educational and original cookbook that will be great if you’re looking to cut down on sugar. While I wish there were much more pictures and that the recipes were more inventive, I can definitely see myself making several of these recipes!


🍬 🍬 🍬 sweets out of 5!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Workman Publishing, and Jennifer Tyler Lee and Anisha Patel for the opportunity to read and review this cookbook.

I try and watch added sugar in things where you don't need it and save it for those special desserts when I want them! This book had lots of good info on being aware of sugar in foods, reading labels, and substitutes to make. The recipes look great - however, they may be lower in sugar but they still aren't necessarily healthy. I try to cook with less white flour, more whole grains, less butter and fat but these recipes didn't go along that line too much.

But still, helpful information and a good start to more healthy eating!

This book has some fantastic recipes that I’ve really enjoyed. I can’t say all the swap outs truly make them that much healthier but it’s a dessert book so I guess let’s keep it real the butter n things of that nature (others mention) are what helps keep the flavor. Overall I enjoyed this book. However, the editing is not very good.

I have entire sections that switch from lower to upper case lettering and change colors for no apparent reason. With further edits this book will flow much better and be more user friendly. I also do dislike many recipes are split on multiple page and run together. Not a deal breaker but it’s easier if the recipes either stay on one page or are at least planned that with the book open they are set up to be on opposing pages so you can see them at the same time (without flipping the pages). This may not bother some people but as a self proclaimed messy cook I prefer too glance at the recipes as I go and I don’t want to actually have to touch the book. I also do agree with a few other reviewers that more pictures would be great. It is always nicer to see a well done picture of the finished recipe. again not that big of a deal. I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review and I’ve enjoyed it.

I got a free copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was expecting to like this book way more since I'm trying to be healthier and live a life with less sugar in it. While I did love how this book gives a lot of explanations in its first pages I didn't like how some of the recipes used tons of butter and other no healthy ingredients. I'm sorry but using sugar or not a lot of it but using 300g of butter is not healthy at all.
Which lead me to my second dislike about the book, it's in American measurements and not in grams. Which makes it very difficult to do the recipes.
Another point is the lack of pictures for me. I love seeing what I am about to cook and while there gorgeous photographs in the book it must be one every 5 recipes.

I do think the book is ok but far from being a must to have and read. I will keep the digital copy I got and use it (and crying over the conversion system) because some recipes are good.

Very well thought out cookbook. It is more than just a group of recipes, it is educational in teaching the reader why and, more importantly, how to reduce sugars in our diets. Ingredients are commonly found in most grocery stores and the recipes included are those dishes one would normally see at most American tables, e.g. waffles, chicken, or muffins. The changes suggested are really not difficult to incorporate into daily life. My only suggestion is that this cookbook be promoted more as a family friendly one. Others would definitely benefit but may not be interested enough to purchase a copy.
I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for my volunteer review.

This is an amazing cookbook - the reasons for reducing sugar are given, and it is well-explained where sugar hides and why some of the "healthy" things parents give their children are not necessarily as healthy as they think. I also like that the ingredients are by and large very ordinary things you can find at your supermarket, not ridiculously expensive, oddball ingredients that necessitate a trip to a specialty store. All the recipes look very good and I can't wait to try them when the book is published.

I want to make most of the recipes, but some of them have a few too many steps during my current stage in life with small children. However, the ones I did try were excellent, and it was an overall reminder of how to assess/tweak recipes to reduce to overall sugar content that still feels like a treat. I'll refer back to this over the years as time/energy allows. (ARC provided via NetGalley; Opinions are mine).

Half the Sugar, All the Love has some great ideas for cutting sugar. I have been trying to reduce my sugar intake and eat more healthfully, and I have tested several of the recipes. The cherry-oatmeal breakfast cookies are particularly good, and a nice addition to my green smoothie in the morning!

Workman Publishing Company and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Half the Sugar, All the Love. I was under no obligation to review this cookbook and my opinion is freely given.

I like the reasoning behind this cookbook, that kids are consuming sugar at an alarming rate and it is imperative to set new dietary patterns when they are young. Added sugar is everywhere and the health consequences of this excess is on the rise. It is possible to cut the sugar without sacrificing flavor, which is exactly what the author of this cookbook successfully accomplishes. Author Jennifer Tyler Lee does a good job of explaining the dangers of sugar and the foods you can eat to help your body process sugar better. I particularly like the section titled "Sugar Myths, Busted," as it is very interesting and contains good information. There are also practical sections in the introduction on how to read a food label, simple tips for reducing added sugar, and key ingredients to use.

The recipes are logically divided, grouped into sections like Breakfast, Snacks, Lunches & Salads, Dinners, Desserts, Beverages, and Basics & Condiments. Generally, I like how the author uses a sugar cube graphic to show how much sugar is in each recipe. On the Kindle, the photographs do not always line up with the recipes, but there are plenty of pictures to inspire readers.

There are great ideas on getting fruits and vegetables into kid's meals, like Overnight French Toast Strata with Raspberry Sauce. Blending banana with the egg slurry is a great way of adding creaminess and nutritional benefits at the same time. Blueberry Oat Muffins have no added sugar and contain nutritional and flavorful ingredients like whole wheat flour, flax seed, and dates along with the oatmeal and blueberries.

There are great snacks, from the uncomplicated Fruit-On-The-Bottom Yogurt Parfaits to the slightly more challenging Maple Caramel Corn. Some of the lunch items may not be good for lunch boxes, but kids will enjoy helping with the preparation with recipes such as Nut-Free Newtella and Banana Roll Ups. Personally, I am excited to try the Turkey Panini with Cranberry Sauce with my leftovers from Thanksgiving.

The Dinner section has some standouts, like Oven-Baked Korean Chicken Wings, with two sauce variations for different palates. Another favorite is BBQ-Pulled Pork Sliders with Tangy Buttermilk Apple Slaw. The only negative that I have with the main dish portion of the cookbook is that there are not as many photographs of the finished dishes here.

There are great dessert recipes from cookies, to bars, to pies, and many more. The author has a great recipe for pastry dough, utilizing apple cider vinegar to achieve a flaky crust. There are delicious finished dishes like Caramelized Pumpkin Pie, Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting, and Chai-Spiced Rice Pudding.

The final two sections are Beverages and Basics & Condiments. Beverages include variations of frappes and smoothies, great for a refreshing treat or a quick breakfast. The Condiments include BBQ Sauce and Spice Mix, Chinese Hoisin Sauce, and Ketchup, as well as spreads, jams, and dressings. These condiments are easy to make and can make the difference in the overall total sugar in your diet.

Half the Sugar, All the Love tackles just one of the problem areas in American diets, but I admire the restraint. Too many cookbooks lately are overly restrictive, correcting for every single dietary issue instead of focusing on one. Readers with other restrictions should look for a different cookbook or should substitute certain ingredients. Every person could benefit from a lower sugar diet, so I recommend Half the Sugar, All the Love as a good start to a healthier outlook on life.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I'm looking forward to adding this book to my collection. Some great recipes with ingredients that I know where to purchase in the store. Nothing too difficult.

The fact that we inhale so much sugar daily, is an insane amount; This cookbook is fabulous because it allows us to bake using natural sugars like peaches, strawberries etc. I like this because my kids can still enjoy desserts and breakfast items, with having the sweet flavor. I like the fact that she is able to explain how to look for hidden sugars in the ingredients list on products. I did not realize how much sugar was in something so simple as ketchup. I will use this book OFTEN! We are a family of 5 that love to eat.

I was given an ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I love to bake from scratch and using less sugar is great. I like that we don’t just replace the sugar with a sugar substitute but use natural ingredients to change it. I have always found American cooking to be on a heavier dose of sugar that other countries.

I like using naturally sweetened fruits to enhance a recipe. You get more fiber and less processed sugar. Also helps your glycemic index. I learned from this book and it enhanced my knowledge. I could combine the information in this book with my knowledge from diabetic cookbooks. It’s nice to prepare foods for the ones you love and help them stay on track of their health goals.

I plan to reuse many of these recipes.

I was given an e-copy of hth book by Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.

I was hoping this would be a bit more innovative than "add dates to all the things". I'm sure if I liked dates, I would enjoy this book. The recipes without dates are ones I did try.

Always looking for ways to reduce the sugar intake for my family, this book is great, it's informative and debunks many of the myths around sugar and sugar replacement products. I am yet to try any recipes but have bookmarked a bucket load. The book has recipes for main meals, sauces and condiments as well as desserts which is good and helps reduce those hidden sugars we don't sometimes think about. Nutritional information is also provided which is always helpful for people following other diets or just counting calories.

I do wish the book had more pictures however I still think it is great and will be putting it to very good use over the coming weeks.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this title in exchange for an unbiased review.

I have a huge sweet tooth and had to manage my sugar intake. This is a great cookbook to add your collection, filled with not so sinful yummy treats. I love that debunked a lot of myths and have recipes for not just desserts but all meals.

A delicious way to cut your family's sugar intake to ensure better health. Half the Sugar, All the Love is the only programmatic family cookbook for reducing sugar in all parts of a meal, from sauces and dressings right through desserts, with medically backed guidelines and recipes.

This was a nice cookbook with some really inventive recipes!

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I was hoping for some great ways to feed my sweet tooth. I felt there are many good recipes that normally don’t have sugar in them anyway cluttering up the book and a few recipes such as cranberry sauce takes only a few minutes normally but to save you two teaspoons of sugar you add 20min, 2 extra pots to clean and makes you wonder if it can still be called cranberry sauce.

Half the Sugar, All the Love is an eye opening cookbook. The first part of the book gives you an education on sugar and all its forms. It also stresses the fact that no matter what form it comes in sugar is sugar. The book debunks some myths like using honey and/or maple syrup. It is truly transformative in easy to understand terms. The next part of the book is all the recipes from breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner, desserts and beverages. The recipes sound scrumptious and if you are looking to curb you or your family's sugar intake, this is a book that is definitely worth your while investigating. Each recipe is rated by sugar cubes. Each recipe also compares the reduced sugar recipe with the standard recipe and lets the reader know how they compare. I am an avid cook and am going to try many of these recipes. After all what do you have to lose (except maybe some sugar!)
The photos are beautiful. Well done.

I would like to thank the authors, the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.