Who and what is Hungry Girl?
That’s me! I’m Lisa Lillien, a.k.a. Hungry Girl. I’m not a nutritionist … I’m just hungry. I like to call myself a “foodologist,” because I’ve devoted my life to finding ways to enjoy the world’s most craveable foods without popping a pants button. And since nothing makes me happier than sharing my knowledge of guilt-free food with other people, I created the Hungry Girl brand.
It all started back in 2004, when I launched Hungry Girl as a free daily email. Today, millions of Hungry Girl fans access HG content—as subscribers to the emails (sign up at hungry-girl.com), on social media, in magazines, on television, and more. Hungry Girl serves up calorie-slashed recipes, food finds, and tips & tricks. The goal is to help people eat better, lose weight, and maintain their weight in a fun, real-world way. And it’s working!
What’s Clean & Hungry?
A few years ago, people became very interested in clean eating, which focuses on pure and natural foods like fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, and minimally processed protein. Unfortunately, most approaches to clean eating at the time were rigid and intimidating. Many also failed to address the importance that calorie consumption plays in maintaining a healthy body weight. So I decided to create my own version of clean eating; one that’s relatable, realistic, and helpful with weight management.
In April of 2016, I released my eleventh book, Hungry Girl Clean & Hungry: Easy All-Natural Recipes for Healthy Eating in the Real World … and it instantly became a New York Times Best Seller! The Clean & Hungry concept combines the best of Hungry Girl with the best of clean eating. The recipes are low in calories and starchy carbs; the portions are huge; and the ingredients are easy to find and 100 percent natural. Clean & Hungry recipes are also free of heavily processed foods, they contain little to no added sugar, and they’re often high in protein and fiber. It’s a delicious, satisfying, real-world approach to eating clean and staying lean!
Why Clean & Hungry Obsessed?
The first Clean & Hungry book introduced people to my style of clean eating with simple, fresh, and fantastic meals and snacks. But one thing immediately became clear: People were hungry for more! So I decided to dive in a little deeper. It was time to re-create the beloved comfort foods that Americans are OBSESSED with.
It’s a known fact that Americans struggle with obesity and other diseases linked to poor food choices. And while many of us know how to fix the problem—consume fewer calories and eat less junk—it’s easier said than done! Temptation is everywhere, and we want to indulge in the foods we crave.
There are certain foods that Americans can’t live without, and I decided to identify them and give them Clean & Hungry makeovers! French toast, lasagna, fried chicken, quesadillas, fudge … No food is off-limits. And all of them contain less than 375 calories.
Where can I find the Weight Watchers SmartPoints® values for the recipes in this book?
Here at HG, we’re fans of Weight Watchers, and we know many of you are too! So we’re providing the Weight Watchers SmartPoints® value* for each recipe in this book online. Visit hungry-girl.com/books for all the values!
Don’t miss the Ingredient FAQs in Chapter 17!
*The SmartPoints® values for these recipes were calculated by Hungry Girl and are not an endorsement or approval of the recipe or developer by Weight Watchers International, Inc., the owner of the SmartPoints registered trademark.