Vegetarian Times Vegetarian Beginner's Guide [Paperback]

the Editors of Vegetarians Times (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 1996

Is there one book that can answer all of my questions about becoming a vegetarian? Yes, Vegetarian Times Vegetarian Beginner's Guide is the only book written for beginner vegetarians or anyone just thinking about becoming one. It's packed with information written by the editors of Vegetarian Times, the leading authorities on the subject. Below are just a few of the hundreds of questions this handy book will answer. Will I get enough protein if I don't eat meat? Do I have to eat salad every day? How does a vegetarian diet help to prevent disease? If I'm pregnant, is it safe to be a vegetarian? Will my vegetarian children get the nutrients they need from a meatless diet?

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this introduction to the vegetarian lifestyle, the editors of Vegetarian Times (whose circulation has doubled in the last three years) describe the various types of vegetarianism. Stressing the health value of the vegetarian lifestyle, especially in the treatment of various diseases, they point out the possible dangers of dairy foods, discuss whether to use vitamin supplements, and encourage the use of low-fat ingredients. Tips on the basic vegetarian pantry, along with two-weeks' worth of easy recipes and menus, are given for the beginner. Extra good-reading resource material is found at the end of each chapter, and there is a small section on natural healing; food-borne illnesses; vegetarian babies, children, and teens; and, yes, even vegetarian pets. Recommended for most collections; libraries may also want the Vegetarian Times Cookbook (LJ 11/15/95) for more extended recipes. (Index not seen.) [See also Virginia Messina and others' The Vegetarian Way, LJ 2/1/96.?Ed.]?Loraine F. Sweetland, Information Problem Solvers, Laurel, Md.
-?Loraine F. Sweetland, Information Problem Solvers, Laurel, Md.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

What these compilers--magazine writers--excel at is explaining, once and for all, the facts about shunning meat. Included in their discussions are different types of vegans, rebuttals of the "improper nutrition" myth, health issues from cancer to osteoporosis, alternative medicine, and environmentally friendly lifestyles. Plain and simple language infused with appropriate humor is augmented by 14 menus with 35 recipes and shopping lists, by end-of-chapter reading lists, and by sidebars filled with information and suggestions about tofu, holiday dinners, etc. Barbara Jacobs

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (February 28, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028603869
• ISBN-13: 978-0028603865
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,056 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not really what I was looking for as an intro to vegetarianism, November 26, 2006

By 

EH - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vegetarian Times Vegetarian Beginner's Guide (Paperback)

The authors made quite a lot of effort to say that they aren't being preachy, but this book definitely has an agenda, which put me off a bit. I wanted a book that described how to switch to a healthy, plant-based diet, including organic milk products and free-range eggs. But the book is geared more toward promoting a way of life - past vegetarianism, and into veganism, animal activism, recycling, exercise strategies, etc.

The book never says you have to do any of those things, but they are constantly thrown in, even with whole chapters devoted to what I would consider off-topic subjects. (For example, out of only 6 chapters, 1 is devoted to being "Compassionate, Clean, and Green.") Although I agree with many of the authors' ideas, I did not want them forced down my throat when I was simply trying to learn how to replace meat in my diet.

If you are interested in a lifestyle book that promotes the common beliefs of many vegetarians in addition to describing basic nutrition and providing vegan-friendly dishes, this book is for you. If, like me, you want a crash course in how to use and eat a variety of new grains and vegetables along with dairy and eggs, you might want to keep looking.

Update: I found "The New Becoming Vegetarian" by Vesanto Melina and would strongly recommend that book as a better purchase. "Being Vegetarian for Dummies" is a close second.

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful and Easy to Read, July 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Vegetarian Times Vegetarian Beginner's Guide (Paperback)

Filled with tons of practical information, it covers all the bases that almost anyone beginning or interested in beginning a vegetarian/vegan diet wants to know. It does so in a simple, friendly, and informal manner. The "tips" and "callouts" are especially valuable. Easy & enjoyable reading, and highly recommended.

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Intro to Vegetarianism, December 30, 2001

By 

Liora Hess (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vegetarian Times Vegetarian Beginner's Guide (Paperback)

This is a great book to introduce you to vegetarianism. It starts off by giving you some reasons to go vegetarianism without being preachy or judgmental. It then debunks some of the myths and worries you may have about vegetarianism as well as educates you on what you'll need to know to eat healthy on a vegetarian diet. The comic drawings throughout are great, too. There's a section on stocking your pantry, followed by a section full of enticing recipes. The book ends with some other related issues that may or may not have factored into your decision to become a vegetarian (such as animal rights or animal welfare and environmental protection). Again, the authors don't preach or push. They leave it up to you to decide how far you want to go with things and what your underlying motivations are. There is also a section on vegetarianism if you're not the "average American" (i.e. you're pregnant, a teenager, a child, etc.). This is a wonderful book that manages to give a lot of information and help for beginning vegetarians without being overwhelming or confusing.