Sopranos, Martha Stewart, Ted Nugent All Panned; Only Marilu Henner Gets High Marks

WASHINGTON—Celebrity cookbooks—including the best-selling Sopranos collection—are unhealthy gift ideas this holiday season, according to a new review by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).

Despite a few bright spots, the overall results were grim. Martha Stewart’s latest book is as unhealthy as her credit rating. Musician Ted Nugent’s Kill It & Grill It has shock value but little else. Even Emeril needs a nutrition makeover. The only book to win PCRM’s seal of approval was Healthy Holidays by actress Marilu Henner.

“Our prescription is to not look to celebrity cookbooks for healthy foods,” says PCRM dietitian Jen Keller, RD. "The Sopranos Family Cookbook is packed with so much fat and cholesterol, it’s a crime. And Al Roker’s signature dish, Steaks as Big as Your Head, is a recipe for heart disease. Other than Marilu Henner’s latest, shoppers are better off with the non-celebrity cookbooks. The Enlightened Kitchen by Marie Oser and The Voluptuous Vegan by Myra Kornfeld are two healthful, vegetarian books that will help keep your loved ones around until next holiday season.”

The doctors analyzed ten top books for their percentages of healthful recipes, amount of nutrition information, and overall presentation. (A healthful recipe is low-fat, cholesterol-free and fiber-rich.) Here’s how each book rated:

Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit health organization that promotes preventive medicine, conducts clinical research,and encourages higher standards for ethics and effectiveness in research.