Customer Reviews

The New Becoming Vegetarian: The Essential Guide To A Healthy Vegetarian Diet

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is book is absolutely necessary for anyone transitioning into a vegetarian or vegan diet and a great reference for those of us already there. It goes through all of the nutrients that vegetarians and vegans might have trouble getting enough of and explain why it's important and the best ways to incorporate that nutrient into your diet. It also gives dietary advice for prenanct women, children, and the elderly. There is so much information, I find myself constantly referring to this book as a reference guide.

Many other reviwers have noted that this book is objective and not "preachy." I agree. It points out honestly what's wrong with and what's good about omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan diets and then shows how to improve in each case. It does address reasons for veganism, but this book is in no way dogmatic. There's also an entire section on "diplomacy," that is how to resolve issues between ominvores and vegetarians.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the latter half, in which advice is given on transitioning to vegetarianism or veganism. To often the changes that need to be made in lifestyle aren't addressed, in favor of reasons for going vegan or recipes. Here, however, they provide advice on mundane but necesary topics like meal planning and grocery shopping.

This is definitly not a recipe book by nature, by several recipes are provided in the back. These are not gourmet or experimental recipes. Rather they are recipes that the authors themselves eat on a regular basis and which new vegetarians can realisticly incorporate into their menus. The recipes were also all chosen with nutrition as well as taste in mind, so they contribute to learning how to plan well-rounded vegan meals. My favorite, for instance, is a traditional marinara pasta with lentils dissolved in the sauce to make it creamier and add protein. In addition, instead of meatballs, a variety of vegetables are added to make it chunky. I've tried several of the other recipes as well, and have been pleased with them all.

I really can't stress how amazing and necessary this book is. I find myself returning to it over and over again, so it was definitly worth buying.

I can't praise this book enough in terms of its accuracy, density of valuable information and practicality. It says everything that needs to be said concisely and addresses the "gotchas" of going vegan.

I was educated as a biochemist and taught Physiology in a university at one time. This book is accurate and addresses potential problems such as not getting certain essential amino acids and fatty acids. This material is presented in just enough detail for layman and without extraneous content.

I also found the book an enjoyable read and the authors kept me engaged all the way through. The organization was well thought out and they make a very compelling argument for a vegetarian diet based on sound information. The tone is also balanced and I didn't find the book dogmatic although they do argue their point well.

An added bonus is that this book contains some recipes a good nutritional recommendations including for children. They do not take a fanatical approach and their section on shopping.

You really can't go wrong adding this book to your library. If you are only going to buy one that covers everything that is important, this is a great choice.

I have purchased a few books on vegetarianism, and this is the most informative. As a new vegetarian who is still learning, I feel that the authors are not snobs about the subject. They clearly feel that the lifestyle is the healthiest, but I think they make an effort to be objective and accepting of those who do not adopt a strictly vegan menu. Additionally, their book so far is the most informative. I am learning so much about nutrients and how they affect each other. Even if you do not ultimately choose a vegetarian lifestyle, the book is an excellent choice if you just want to learn how to eat better.

If you're just starting out with your new vegetarianism, this book is your guide. If you aren't vegetarian yet, this book will tell you how and why to do it. But it won't shove a veggie agenda down your throat; it presents the positive and negative aspects of carnivorous, vegetarian and vegan diets fairly. If you're a vegetarian gone astray -- you don't eat meat, you just eat chips and junk instead -- this book will get you back on track.

It doesn't just tell you how to avoid meat. It tells you how to be as healthy as possible within the vegetarian and vegan diets. It's not just a vegetarian guide, it's a diet plan as well. The authors tell you exactly what you need to get the nutrients you need, and how to get it.

There are some recipes at the back, but this goes beyond the average cookbook. It helps you learn the vegetarian philosophy, the vegetarian lifestyle. Which products to buy. Where to look for them. Why you need them. Interestingly, it also includes a social guide to being vegetarian, advising you on how to deal with people opposed to your diet, how to deal with eating as a guest, and so on.

A great book at a great price. When vegetarianism was just starting to gain popularity so rapidly, this was one of the first and best books out there. In its new edition it includes all the scientific research since completed, making it the obvious choice for any longstanding or soon-to-be vegetarian.

This book covered everything. Written by a nutritionalist, it describes in detail everything that may be lacking in a typical vegetarian diet (B-12, Iron), and what foods to eat to avoid any deficiencies. It devotes an entire chapter on protein and which amino acids can be found in which non-meat sources. It also includes many tables of the nutritional content of various foods. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a vegetarian or is cutting back on their meat intake. I refer to it frequently. This book explains how to make sure your vegetarian diet is healthy. However, the book does go into quite a bit of detail, making it almost like a nutrition book. If you are looking for a simplistic, nontechnical book, than this may not be for you. But, it you want a more comprehensive book that actually explains the "why" and "how" of vegetarian diets, than this is definitely for you. I really don't feel the need to buy another book about vegetarian diets because this one was so inclusive. Go for it... you really will learn a lot by buying this book!

There is a lot of good nutrional information. The author spent a little too much time going into exactly how changing your diet to vegetarianism is going save you from disease. I was very disappointed in the recipes, especially the sandwich recipes. With the exception of one, all of the other 9 choices were a soy-meat substitute. I've been a vegetarian for two months and I'm more creative with veggie pitas, wraps and sandwiches than the author is with her soy-meat substitute lunches.

I stopped eating meat about 5 years ago after reading a horrific story about a cow that was left to die on the side of the road because it's legs were broken. It was too heavy for the slaughter house truck drivers to move, so they tied a rope around it, tied the other end to a tree, and drove off, throwing the cow from the back of the truck. When I first became a vegetarian, I was eating pretty healthy. Then I got into a mindset where I just assumed I was healthy because I was a "vegetarian." Then I found out that I had high cholesterol, and I realized I was actually a "processed-crap-etarian." I bought this book, and it has been very helpful in getting me back on the right track. The vegetarian food pyramid was very helpful. With this book, I was able to redesign my diet quickly and easily.

if your interested in a healthy diet, of any type, this book is a MUST. for those already or considering vegetarianism, i have not yet found anything that compares.

this book focuses on the "How to be healthy" and leaves preaching (in things one may or may not agree with) aside, so it is an awesome source for everyone. omnivores and veggie/vegans (health, AR, environmentalist or any mix) will feel comfortable reading and reaping the benefits from this book.

in depth but easy to understand explanations of basic dietary needs, info from many studies, and how to make the most of this info in one's everyday eating habits.

it takes time to explain the macronutrients (to include protein requirements and essential amino acid intake), individual minerals and vitamins, essential fatty acids and more.

a book that i'm extremely pleased to have come across and to have in my library.

I bought this book when I first decided to become vegetarian when my chemistry professor recommended it to me, and I could not be more relieved that I had this book for the first months of vegetarianism. This book tackles common myths associated with being vegetarian (like you won't get enough protein or iron), hits on every essential nutrient and how to incorporate it into your diet and why each nutrient/vitamin is so important, tells you how to handle those awkward social moments of first announcing, "I'm a vegararian!", has a nutritional needs analysis for every stage of life (from pregnancy, infancy, teens, and senior years), and even includes a few great and simple recipes designed by the same nutritionists that write the book (the banana-walnut pancakes are my absolute favorite!). This book is a must-have for any vegetarian who wants to be well-nformed about the vegetarian decission, and for those who want to develope or fine-tune a healthy diet.

When I decided to become vegetarian I knew I wanted to do it in a healthy way and this book helped me do it. It provides all the information you need on how to create a balanced diet for yourself, and it breaks it down very simply so that you can understand what your body needs and what foods you need to be eating to meet those needs. It is not a cookbook, it's a nutrition book, but I have found it invaluable in planning this new way of eating. I eat much better now than I did before and that is largely due to the fact that I now understand what I need to be eating. The chapter I found most helpful was the one on the vegetarian food guide pyramid. It shows you all the categories and how many of each you should eat, and gives you a scoresheet so you can check to make sure you are eating enough of everything. The authors also give helpful advice on how to deal with some of the social aspects of being vegetarian, which to my surprise came in handy as a couple of weeks ago a co-worker said to me, "Well, that goes against my Christianity--God told us to rule the animals"--even this sort of thing is addressed in this book!