BOOK REVIEW The Hungry Healthy Student Cookbook: More Than 200 Recipes that are Delicious and Good for You Too. Spruce. London: Spruce, 2016. 256 Pages. ‘The Hungry Healthy Student Cookbook’ is a cookbook with over 200 quick, affordable, and simple recipes. All of the recipes have a healthy focus, which means that readers will have more brainpower and energy to enjoy their time as a student to the fullest. The cookbook is a bit hefty, yet it opens up easily enough for readers to navigate through the pages. It is also bright, colourful, and appealing, with lots of photos (although sadly not for every recipe). The contents are laid out first with the Introduction; followed by Brekky and Lunchbox; Healthy and Hearty; Good Grains, Beans and Pulses; Super Salads; Snacks and Sides; Make it Light; Sweet Alternatives; Back to Basics and finally a useful index. There is also a plethora of information and tips on healthy habits, alcohol units, and ways to get in shape, as well as budgeting with recipes graded from 1 to 3 on affordability. As a result, these recipes are excellent for everyone looking to cook on a budget, not just for students, as they offer a variety of low-cost meals.
Of course, a cookbook is only as good as its recipes, and this one has a solid selection, complete with straightforward instructions, nutritional information, and details on how long each one takes to prepare and cook, as well as how many people it serves. Because students often do not have much time and how to use intricate kitchen equipments, there are plenty of easy meals like ‘Quick Curried Egg Salad,’ as well as great breakfasts like ‘Blueberry, Oat and Honey Crumble.’ Overall, ‘The Hungry Healthy Student Cookbook’ is an excellent cookbook not just for students who are headed off to university but also for everyone else, and it will ideally inspire everyone to avoid constant takeaways or instant noodles in favour of cooking for themselves. To find out more about this book and its contents, please visit the Sandakan Branch Library or the nearest Sabah State Library by visiting the website www.library.sabah.gov.my to find out the availability of the book. Reviewed by, Mohd Qhaiyum Shah Bin Raman Sabah State Library Sandakan Branch