Who knew you could make trail mix in a slow cooker?

That’s what Jonny Bowden and Jeannette Bessinger have done, along with illustrating how slow cooker recipes can not only be quick, but good for you. Bowden and Bessinger, the authors of “The 150 Healthiest Slow Cooker Recipes on Earth” (Fair Winds Press, $24.99), have picked the best ingredients for their recipes targeted to people who are in a hurry, but still want to eat well.

Their Real Deal Beef Stew with Orange and Clove is made with grass-fed beef. The No-Cream of Leek and Potato Soup is made with soy milk instead of cream. Their barbecue sauce is low-sugar, and their seafood chowder has a tomato base. Each recipe comes with a readable review of the nutritional value of the dish from Bowden.

The book includes recipes for desserts and drinks you can make in the slow cooker too, such as a lower-cal vanilla bean chai that isn’t loaded with sugar like the commercial varieties.

— Meredith Goad, staff writer