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4th out of 142 books
—
214 voters
Becoming Vegan: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Plant-Based Diet
by
Brenda Davis (Goodreads Author),
Vesanto Melina
Every day, more people are shifting towards a plant-based diet without meat, eggs, and dairy products due to concerns about their health, the environment, or animal ethics. Two of North America's foremost vegetarian dietitians present up-to-date findings on how to meet all of your nutritional needs eating a nutritious, vegan diet. From infants and toddlers to seniors - as...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
January 1st 2000
by Book Publishing Company (TN)
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Great information for people transitioning to compassionate eating habits. Will answer all or almost all of your questions.
This book was decent, but never something I'd recommend to someone trying to go vegan. Instead I'd recommend it to their mothers who, still buying in to the massively corrupt nutritional guidelines we have in place in the U.S., would be much reassured by the authors' stalwart support of said guidelines.
I was disturbed by the fact that there is a chapter on 'obesity' (Latin, 'because of eating') right before the section on eating disorders. It seems to me that if you truly want to help people fro...more
I was disturbed by the fact that there is a chapter on 'obesity' (Latin, 'because of eating') right before the section on eating disorders. It seems to me that if you truly want to help people fro...more
Like most vegetarians, I have a failed attempt at veganism under my belt. Almost all of these failures stem from a simple lack of planning. Being a vegetarian really isn't that difficult, and I think that makes us overconfident in our ability to transition smoothly to a vegan diet.
I really liked this book's organization. After some introductory materials, the first section details the importance of various macro- and micro-nutrients in a vegan diet. The middle describes how to accommodate the ve...more
I really liked this book's organization. After some introductory materials, the first section details the importance of various macro- and micro-nutrients in a vegan diet. The middle describes how to accommodate the ve...more
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The process of changing my ideas and habits about what I put into my body for nourishment and recreation began in earnest this year, my 59th. Sometimes facing one's mortality can bring about positive lifestyle changes. Two powerful events this year have determined me to get serious about getting healthy.
I read Andrew Breslin's book "mother's milk" which is an intelligent fiction that points to the real negative effects of dairy on the human body. Recently I heard former President Bill Clinton s...more
I read Andrew Breslin's book "mother's milk" which is an intelligent fiction that points to the real negative effects of dairy on the human body. Recently I heard former President Bill Clinton s...more
2 likes · like · see review
This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to learn more about the nutritional aspects of vegan and/or vegetarian diets! The writing tends to be pretty technical, but doesn't really require a background in science to understand it. It also tends to get a bit repetitive halfway through (the chapters on nutrition for pregnancy, weight loss, etc. pretty much re-state information mentioned in the earlier chapters on carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals), but I suppose that helps rei...more
This read like some of my favorite college textbooks in that it held a great deal of valuable information in understandable chunks. This might be a bit dry for some people, but I found it a great resource after reading some other vegan/vegetarian books that seemed big on generalizations and less focused on the numbers of nutrition. There was some amount of focus and tweaking of the food pyramid, so that could be an issue for some people as well.
The brief nod to the history of mainstream plant-b...more
The brief nod to the history of mainstream plant-b...more
1 like · like · see review
A thorough, dry, and perfunctory book on the health dynamics of veganism, particularly ensuring a balanced diet and staving off any mineral or vitamin depletion. That said, this is an incredibly boring book. It should be treated like the dictionary -- not ideal for reading cover to cover, but good to pick up as a reference item.
This book is exactly what I wanted to read. It answered all my health and nutrition questions and (as far as I know) was very thorough. The language in the book wasn't dumbed down but accessible enough for the average reader (or slightly below average reader, like me)
I did skip/skim the chapters about pregnancy, raising kids and athletes because they didn't apply to me, The chapter about weight loss is irritating but could be worse and could easily be skipped if you want to avoid it. The chapter...more
I did skip/skim the chapters about pregnancy, raising kids and athletes because they didn't apply to me, The chapter about weight loss is irritating but could be worse and could easily be skipped if you want to avoid it. The chapter...more
Well, I would recommend this if you want the nitty-gritty of it all when it comes to veganism. A parochial reading full of facts and figures for the most discerning of food-techie people is to be found here.
not a page turner, but the definitive Bible of veganism. where, why, what, and how to get all those yummy things that your body needs. never who, though. :)
This is a very informative and useful guide for those considering veganism. It covers all the essential information on vitamins and minerals we need and how to get them, offers menu plans and a vegan food pyramid and contains special sections on topics like pregnancy, aging and athletic performance. I was a little surprised the book is so pro-soy; it constantly recommends drinking vitamin-D fortified soy milk and eating "fake meats" but the authors never mention the many other types of alternati...more
Very informative, but about as exciting as reading a textbook. Not a book I would recommend to an omnivore considering a vegan or vegetarian diet (for that I would suggest The China Study). But this is an excellent book for someone who's already made the decision to eat vegan and needs practical advice on how to do so healthfully. It goes into exhaustive detail on every macro and micro nutrient the body needs. I appreciated that the book doesn't sugarcoat everything about vegan nutrition. It poi...more
May 14, 2010
Lindsey
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
all vegans, vegan skeptics, vegetarians, dietitians, doctors, nurses
Excellent book covering every little nook and cranny of vegan nutrition. The best feature of this book is that the authors are unbiased with the information they share, and they truly have their readers' health as their primary interest. There are chapters for every stage of life - pregnancy, breastfeeding, infancy, childhood, adolescence, old age, even a chapter for athletes.
Despite the title, this really is a book mostly all about nutrition. For other issues surrounding living as a vegan, che...more
Despite the title, this really is a book mostly all about nutrition. For other issues surrounding living as a vegan, che...more
I found this to be a helpful book in learning how to make a vegan diet healthful, but often more technical than I really need at this point. It pointed out common pitfalls of new vegans and how to avoid them, and that's mostly what I took away from it on this reading. I expect that it will be a valuable resourse to come back to as I learn more about vegan cooking, especially the chapter about raising vegan children. I wish it also had more practical information, like how to plan for eating out a...more
This has a lot of great information but it does get a bit complicated at times. I have found myself skimming some parts. And it gets a little too much into the animal rights aspect at the beginning, which is not really the reason I am going more vegan with my diet. (Not that I don't think animals deserve respect.) It has a good chapter on pregnancy/lactation and also on feeding children a vegan diet. This is important since most diets for those life stages focus a lot on dairy. I'm glad I know w...more
I liked this book. My main reservation is that going so deep into individual nutrients can distort the way a person thinks about diet. Worrying about levels of every vitamin and mineral listed in this book would drive someone crazy. So, while I respected the research, I did wonder if it was ultimately helpful. If one simply wants to eat a healthy vegan diet, one probably doesn't need a book of material on what to eat. Eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes. Take a B12 supp...more
Dec 08, 2010
Laura
added it
LOVE IT!!!: I have been a vegan for 2 months now. I am an information hound, and after exhausting many online resources this is the first printed book that I purchased. It cleared up many cloudy areas for me. There are many different chapters which pertain to certain groups of people and dietary needs at different stages of life. I found the information for athletes helpful as I am a personal trainer and an avid exercise enthusiast. I recommend this book as a foundation for anyone currently prac...more
It is the position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases....Well-planned vegan and other types of vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life-cycle including during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence. (Source)
...still, whenever I tell a family member of my decision to becom...more
This is the best material on nutrition that I have ever read. While Davis and Melina's focus is on vegan nutrition, the basic information would be valuable to everyone (even omnis). I feel that more than any other type of person, vegans are constantly being interrogated about their eating choices and their nutritional fortitude; therefore, having a solid understanding of food science is beneficial not only for one's personal well-being, but also to shut people up when they haughtily ask about pr...more
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I actually bought this book a long time ago (I've been vegan for almost eight years) and only just now read it cover to cover because I've recently become very interested in the quality of my food and eating healthy. Better late than never! This is a good read for anyone whether they are considering veganism or have been vegan for many years. It is written in a realistic and candid way and just gives you the facts. It never suggests that a vegan diet is the only way to eat but it does offer as m...more
*UPDATED REVIEW BELOW*
No! I'm not a vegan, but I lean vegan. I'm a vegan sympathizer, if you will. One day maybe I'll take the plunge (why not? my family already thinks I'm crazy! and my husband might actually go along with it, strangely enough) but for now I like reading this to help guide me in making good nutrition choices since I am dairy-free (baby allergy) for another year or so. Plus, I eat very little meat. Since my intake of animal products is limited, I need nutritional guidance and th...more
No! I'm not a vegan, but I lean vegan. I'm a vegan sympathizer, if you will. One day maybe I'll take the plunge (why not? my family already thinks I'm crazy! and my husband might actually go along with it, strangely enough) but for now I like reading this to help guide me in making good nutrition choices since I am dairy-free (baby allergy) for another year or so. Plus, I eat very little meat. Since my intake of animal products is limited, I need nutritional guidance and th...more
An intellectually honest book about the pitfalls and benefits of a vegan diet by two vegetarians. A lot of research and scientific information about familiar topics to those considering veganism or something close to it--Vitamin B12 deficiency, protein, etc. The book makes abundantly clear the challenges of trying to live up to this demanding lifestyle, something I've toyed with for periods but never been able to maintain and not sure I want to, although I have considerable respect for those who...more
I read this book years ago, when I first began embracing the vegan lifestyle. It was so helpful in educating me on the topic and I still often refer to this book for additional information or to remind myself about something I had read. I remember this being an essential book for when I was attempting to be as healthy as possible while cutting out all animal-based products. A helpful guide to anyone going vegan or wanting to incorporate vegan practices to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
Aug 07, 2011
Maria
added it
It's an excellent reference book for anyone considering becoming vegan or even just wanting to learn more about plant-based diets, the dos and don'ts, the myths etc. It focuses on the health aspects of making the choice to go vegan (rather than the ethical or environmental reasons). It did take me a while to get through it (months actually) as it is rather dry, but it's the sort of book one will go back to time and time again.
"Becoming Vegan" was written by two of the Registered Dieticians (RD) who coauthored The American Dietetic Association Position Paper On Vegetarianism. It covers the nutritional needs of all phases of life from birth to death as well as special needs. It is complete and easy to read. The same authors have also published The New Becoming Vegetarian ( second edition ) which has even more nutrition information and is essentially a vegan nutrition book aside from the title.
I've heard from one of th...more
I've heard from one of th...more
This is a comprehensive solution for a healthy vegan diet. It explains everything about nutrition and how to get enough of all the phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, protein,etc. to get a balanced diet.
It advises how to meal plan, eat in resturants, travel, and be out all day, etc. How to deal with non supportive family and friends. It is a must read!
It advises how to meal plan, eat in resturants, travel, and be out all day, etc. How to deal with non supportive family and friends. It is a must read!
It had some helpful information but somewhat over the top in some ways. Such as the animal cruelty chart, "Percentage of laying hens that suffer broken bones in their cages 30%" and some facts more gruesome, good info for those that want it. I found that I hunted out the info that I wanted and avoided the preaching in the rest of it. Not a book I am going to buy to put on my shelf.
This was a good book for me, and it answered a lot of questions I had about our diet. There are sections on how to stay healthy through different times in life, including having a vegan diet while an infant, and in the crucial growing years. Not to mention the changing dietary needs of adults as the years pass.
I read Brenda Davis's Becoming Vegetarian last year around this time, and it opened a world of knowledge to me. I've been a vegan for a couple of months now, and wanted to refresh my nutritional knowledge as well as making sure that I get everything I need. As I'd expected, this book was great, packed with a lot of useful information. Strongly recommended to other novice vegans.
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| Food education | 1 | 4 | Sep 03, 2012 06:24am |
