The Strong Curves Cookbook

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

I am trying to add more protein in less carbs in my diet so this cook book caught my eye immediately. I found it interesting that the book was separated by pre work out, after work out, and rest days. I am looking forward to trying many recipes- especially the smoothies!

This book had lots of recipes that I am looking forward to testing out, these recipes seem filling and delicious which is not always found in weight loss books.

Rating: 5 stars ⭐️

I would highly recommend this cookbook if you are interested in incorporating more protein in your daily diet.

The recipes are easy to understand and clearly described so that you can use them on a daily basis.

This would also be a really good Christmas gift! 🎁

Thank you to Netgalley, Shelley Darlington and the publisher for providing me with this copy. All opinions are my own.

I loved that this book embraces strength over "slim" and shares tons of protein-dense and vegetable-loving recipes. There are tons of ideas I can take from this, and some fave recipes include: Veggie Buddha Bowl, Sweet Potato and Turkey Quinoa Bowl, Teriyaki Salmon and Bok Choy, and Blueberry and Zucchini Muffins. I thought it was interesting that they were sorted by function of pre or post workout and rest day meals to think about how you eat differently for different types of fuel. I do think the names of some of the recipes (while descriptive) don't strike me as appetizing (e.g. Adrenal Support “Cocktail”). Overall, definitely will give some of these recipes a go!

I loved it! Not only are the recipes amazing, but the knowledge that comes with it is phenomenal. What I love the most is that she included fun recipes, so you won't feel like your just eating greens. I highly recommend for beginners trying to be healthier.

Quick Summary: A phenomenal resource with a realistic game plan for healthy living

My Review: The Strong Curves Cookbook: 100+ High-Protein, Low-Carb Recipes to Help You Lose Weight, Build Muscle, and Get Strong! by Shelley Darlington is a fantastic tool for those who want to get serious about cleaning up their mind and body. This helpful cookbook provides a wealth of information. It, truthfully, does all of the thinking for you. It takes out the hard part and leaves you with practical, level-based meals that are easy to follow.

About the Book: The book is organized in such a way as to present content on everything from the science of nutrition to structuring meals for the best results. It gives the reader numerous tables, tips, suggestions, and options. It's colorful and very pleasing to the eye. I loved seeing the recipes brought to life (by way of the pictures). The pictures were encouraging and made me appreciate how achievable the food and drinks are. Additionally, the recipe steps are clear and concise.

My Favorite Sections and/or Recipes:

Pre-Workout - >
- Teriyaki Salmon and Bok Choy
- Blueberry and Zucchini Muffins
- Chop-Chop Salad
- Red Cabbage Slaw

Post-Workout - >
- Banana Protein Pancakes
- Sweet Potato and Turkey Quinoa Bowl
- Sweet Potato Avocado Boats
- Herbed Latkes
- Green Goddess Smoothie
- Electrolyte Replenisher
- Coconut Energy Balls
- Frozen Yogurt Bites

Rest Days - >
- Grain-free Porridge
- Grain-free Granola
- Zucchini Fritters with Fried Eggs
- Veggie Buddha Bowl
- Cauliflower Falafel and Tahini Dip
- Baklava Bites
- Adrenal Support Cocktail

My Final Say: This cookbook gets a gold star rating. I need a hard copy in my hands and in my kitchen right away. I highly recommend it. I think it will be incredibly beneficial for many people who want to get serious about their health and nutrition.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: ⭐

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Quarto Publishing Group, Fair Winds Press), and to NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to review this title.

I loved this cookbook! Really simple and easy to follow with plenty of information on how to incorporate the recipes into your life.

There’s plenty in here from snacks to fuller meals and desserts. Really pleased overall and I recommend if you’re looking for healthy recipes to incorporate into your health journey!

Ooo I love healthy cookbooks and this one was amazing. I follow the author on YouTube so it was fun seeing her recipes and tips as well as tricks to keep it healthy but also fun in the kitchen I would definitely give this 5 stars I would give more if I could

This is full of great recipes but the thing that I liked best is how the recipes are organized into pre-workout, post-workout, and recovery days. It takes a lot of the guesswork out of what to eat when. I’m no stranger to counting macros but this is a really handy cookbook for beginners and more experienced people alike.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you NetGalley, Quarto Publishing, and Shelley Darlington for an advanced e-copy of The Strong Curves Cookbook!

I’ve watched Shelley on YouTube for years now and have always loved her humor, fun personality, and honest approach to health, wellness, and fitness. I’m so excited to try more recipes from her cookbook and to make my kitchen an even healthier and happier space!

finally, a cookbook that promotes healthy eating with recipes that are actually appealing! i have struggled with yoyo diets and weight gain for all of my 20’s… having just turned 30 I need a change that will stick with me. Darlington wrote in such a way even I can understand. I already have some recipes planned for this week. I didn’t realize how much I was missing out on just by lack of knowledge and now my eyes are opened

Thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Well, I'm not saying I'm going full in the fitness route, but it's always a good idea to have options. And this book is motivating, along with recipes that look very yummy ! If you need just that little boost, you should read this book.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. I am very excited to start incorporating these recipes into my lifestyle. I am interested in incorporating more protein into my daily diet and this book looks like it will help.

The recipes seem easy to understand and clearly described and seem to really look appealing too! There seems to be plenty of information on how to incorporate the recipes into your life.

I highly recommend this book for people who want to get serious about their health and nutrition.

Thanks again.


#TheStrongCurvesCookbook #NetGalley

The Strong Curves cookbook was well-written, straightforward, and helpful! Shelley starts the book off with a bit of general info about herself and why she wrote this cookbook. Then she walks everyone through the basics of food including how food breaks down, how our bodies use food, macros, and the benefits of protein, carbs and fats. I found how it was presented to be really helpful. Colourful tables/ charts, good amount of white space and categorized well. I really really appreciated the breakdown of eating and exercising for where we are in our monthly cycle. While I’ve seen / read / heard some of this before I didn’t recall any of it and will continue to refer back to these chapters.

I generally consider myself to be healthy and decently informed around workout nutrition (I’ve ran 7 full marathons and know how to properly fuel my body), so I wasn’t expecting to take notes while reading but some of the information was brand new to me, and other info I’d seen before but I really liked how Shelley presented the information. I think the cookbook is good for beginners and advanced- something for everyone.

I earmarked some of the recipes that sounded the best, and can’t wait to try them out!! Some of the best sounding ones for me personally included:
- vanilla protein pudding (secret ingredient I NEVER would have used here!!)
- cheesy broccoli poppers (YUM!)
- banana protein pancakes
- savory oatmeal with a poached egg
- no bake protein bar

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Shelley, and Quarto publishing for the arc copy.

What a great book to find when you’re on journey for better health yourself.

THE STRONG CURVES COOKBOOK, is separated into 3 main chapters: Pre-workout, Post-workout, and Rest Days. Plus you get a nice chunk of the how and why’s—the science—before you dig into the recipes.

The recipes are laid out clearly, with the macros, ingredients and directions easy to find and follow. There’s even a notes sections for more information and options.

This could really be a go-to for someone needing ideas, and to keep the fire burning in their health journey. I will be using lots of these recipes moving forward.

THE STRONG CURVES COOKBOOK by Shelley Darlington is that rarest of delights: a cookbook that is the living results of a woman who refused to follow the well-trammeled road and figure out for herself what feels good and works for her in living her commitment to a strong, healthy, vibrant life. It is a beautiful book with dozens of recipes I am dying to try, accessible and doable for this ambitious home cook. This is a cookbook to keep, to refer to, and rely upon for delicious and nutritious support for a well-lived life. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

This beautifully designed, organized, and photographed cookbook by YouTube personal trainer and nutritionist Shelley Darlington is a winner! There are 100+ recipes that look delicious and easy to follow. The focus on building muscle for health and the science behind it makes perfect sense -- I've always had more energy and been healthier when weightlifting! Highly recommended for anyone who wants to eat well for enhanced strength and health.

This cookbook is so amazing! I have read many health related cookbooks over the years and often the recipes are minimal, stuff I would never make, ingredients are expensive and hard to access. This one however....OMG!

There are so many amazing recipes, most of which are extremely easy to make. Mostly all of the ingredients are excessable and inexpensive with the exceptions of sweetners, certain flours, and protein powders. However, they aren't included in most of the recipes, so you can easily bypass those that have those ingredients and have an amazing experience if you're on a budget. The recipes are also easily scaled up, so you want to make a bigger batch, you can do so. Otherwise the yield on all of the recipes is a really perfect amount for 1-2 people.

The layout of this cookbook is perfect. I love the pre and post workout recipe options and love the inclusion of rest days. I also found the information in the beginning of the book to be very valuable. I personally see a dietitian as part of my health journey and I found a lot of what she says echoed in this cookbook. There is no restriction, no weird conditions, and no weird health fad feel in this cookbook.

This cookbook is a definately a tool to add to your tool belt in your health journey. It's not going to disappoint or get boring.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this cookbook. I will be pre-ordering a physical copy, that's how much I loved this cookbook!

I enjoyed this cookbook. The introduction is comprehensive, recipes are easy to follow and delicious. The layout makes navigating the recipes and even includes the difficulty level. Each recipe's nutritional value is broken down on the side. Ingredients are not hard to find in the Midwest. You won't regret adding this book to your bookshelf.

4.8/5 Stars, rounding up! Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Fair Winds Press for eARC of The Strong Curves Cookbook by Shelley Darlington for a free review.

This cookbook was very easy to read and the directions were simple. This would've been a great Christmas gift for my fellow bodybuilder friends. The pre and post-workout meals are organized very well in this cookbook. I did not know that Shelley Darlington was a YouTuber so I totally checked her out when I found out about this. She's great! I am very impressed with the knowledge of nutrition (and getting to know your body) in this book, the introduction is fantastic and well done. There are many easy and delicious recipes that I've got to try out and they did NOT disappoint.

The only reason why I'm not rating it 5 out of 5 stars is that I'm a visual person and need pictures of all the recipes - it also helps me confirm if I made it "correctly" haha. Other than that, this book is fantastic and highly recommend!