5:2 Diet Meal Plans & Recipes: Ten Weeks of Menus - 5:2 Quick Start Guide (5.2 Fast Diet)

I bought the 2 Day Diet book written by Dr Michelle Harvie and Tony Howell and thought the 5:2 Diet Meal Plans and Recipes book was a complementary meal plan book to their diet, realizing of course, they were different authors. However, this book is geared toward fasting type diets that restrict calories to roughly 400 to 500 calories per DAY. The 2-day diet plan by Harvie and Howell recommend 1000 and 1100 calories per day for the two diet days for women and men respectively. Quite a difference. So just be aware, I mean no criticism of the meal plans for which the 5:2 Diet Meal plans book is intended, I’m sure if fasting is your goal, this will certainly get you there, however, in my opinion, it’s just not compatible with the 2 day Diet book written by Harvie and Howells.

The book lacks any research to back up is selection of ingredients with each meal. This is just another recipe book without much basis for it being associated with a diet other than eat less calories. No nutritional values for the meals, not attempts at a balanced diet. The author just published her own favorites. This is not a serious book that reflects the title of Diet Meal Plans.

A lot of good meals

Good variety of meal plans.

This book has suggestions for 2 meals a day, lunches and dinners with a list of snacks and their calories at the end of the book. I would have liked some breakfast suggestions too. I have only tried a few recipes so far which didn't have a lot of flavour but the book did give me some ideas of alternative things to eat and I will continue to try more recipes. I have found this method of losing weight is the best way for me, I am only about 10 pounds overweight and have lost 7 pounds in about 4 weeks and struggled to lose as much weight going to a class. I have felt hungry but as it's only for 2 days a week it's bearable and worth it when you step on the scales!

There are no breakfast recipes in the book, but a suggestion that you might like to try the light meals for breakfast, this could be due to the author not eating breakfast herself. Also I tried one recipe and found I had a ingredient left over but no instructions of what to do with it. Not very well laid out and needs a dedicated breakfast recipe section. I would not recommend this book.

I have read a number of other books on the 5:2 diet. I have found this book very helpful giving set calorie counted meals which are easy to prep and without using too many ingredients. No photos but plenty of recipes. I feel I now have everything I need to start the diet.

Easy to follow and great recipes (for 5:2!)

Good recipes, decent variety and while you won’t like everything there is plenty that will cater to most needs. Particularly useful that it says what you can freeze if batch cooking is your thing.