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Food Is the Solution: What to Eat to Save the World--80+ Recipes for a Greener Planet and a Healthier You
“The way we eat reflects how we are taking care of the planet. This book can guide us towards real change.” ― Alice Waters In Food Is the Solution , Matthew Prescott, Senior Food Policy Director for the Humane Society and a leader in the environmental food movement, shows how our plates have the power to heal the world. This lavishly designed resource and recipe collection shows how anyone can help solve the world’s major issues―environmental problems chief among them―simply by incorporating more plants into their diets. Featuring investigative reporting, compelling infographics, and essays from notable contributors like Dr. Michael Greger, John Mackey, James Cameron, Paul McCartney, and Wolfgang Puck, Food Is the Solution will inspire us all to put more plants on our plates. What we eat will determine what kind of world we live in and what kind of world we live on ―and Matthew Prescott proves that meat-heavy diets are destroying the planet. Imagine a world in which we are all healthier. Imagine a world where the air is clean, forests dense, water pure, and animal life healthy. That world is a happier world, a better world―and the delectable plant-based foods Prescott shows us how to prepare in Food Is the Solution will help us create it. “Food is power, and this book will help you use it.”
― Chef David Chang, Momofuku “Devour this book. Eat it up. It might just save your life and the world.”
― Michael Greger, MD, New York Times -bestselling author of How Not to Die
― Chef David Chang, Momofuku “Devour this book. Eat it up. It might just save your life and the world.”
― Michael Greger, MD, New York Times -bestselling author of How Not to Die
288 pages, Hardcover
Published March 20, 2018
22 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 13, 2018
In and effort to eat healthier, I am challenging myself to go meatless for the remainder of April. In doing so, I borrowed Food is the Solution: What to Eat to Save the World from the library to learn more about the impact of a plant-based diet and to get some meal ideas. I enjoyed this book and especially love being the first to check out a brand new book!
This book was insightful and while it shared some daunting facts about factory farming, green house gases and the energy used to produce meat and animal products it was written in a supportive manner. The author did not preach what readers should do but encouraged individuals to reduce their meat intake. He suggested participating in Meatless Mondays and incorporating more plant based foods into meals.
Growing up eating meals based around meat, it has been surprisingly easy to transition to beans for protein. I enjoyed the vegetarian lentil tortilla soup tonight, bean and rice soft tacos yesterday and pesto chickpea pasta earlier this week. It has been great to have leftovers to take for lunch and even the kids have been open to these meals (although my youngest was adverse to the meatless tacos).
The book starts off with a discussion on the impact of animal-based foods on the planet, divided into sections on the earth, water, air and fire. It was shocking to read that chickens are bred to grow so fast that their bones cannot support them, that pigs are corralled in pens so tight that they cannot turn around and that these factory farms can hold thousands of animals destined for our plates. It is gross to think about the waste of these thousands of animals and the damage to the land as more space is set aside for meat production.
"The power is on our plates - let's use it"
I enjoyed reading through the recipes and am committed to eating more vegetables and buying local when I can. I will try a few new recipes and look for some more vegetarian options for the instant pot. Feel free to add comments below or email your favourite vegetarian options. In the meantime, consider your purchases and find opportunities to be kind to the environment!
This book was insightful and while it shared some daunting facts about factory farming, green house gases and the energy used to produce meat and animal products it was written in a supportive manner. The author did not preach what readers should do but encouraged individuals to reduce their meat intake. He suggested participating in Meatless Mondays and incorporating more plant based foods into meals.
Growing up eating meals based around meat, it has been surprisingly easy to transition to beans for protein. I enjoyed the vegetarian lentil tortilla soup tonight, bean and rice soft tacos yesterday and pesto chickpea pasta earlier this week. It has been great to have leftovers to take for lunch and even the kids have been open to these meals (although my youngest was adverse to the meatless tacos).
The book starts off with a discussion on the impact of animal-based foods on the planet, divided into sections on the earth, water, air and fire. It was shocking to read that chickens are bred to grow so fast that their bones cannot support them, that pigs are corralled in pens so tight that they cannot turn around and that these factory farms can hold thousands of animals destined for our plates. It is gross to think about the waste of these thousands of animals and the damage to the land as more space is set aside for meat production.
"The power is on our plates - let's use it"
I enjoyed reading through the recipes and am committed to eating more vegetables and buying local when I can. I will try a few new recipes and look for some more vegetarian options for the instant pot. Feel free to add comments below or email your favourite vegetarian options. In the meantime, consider your purchases and find opportunities to be kind to the environment!
April 6, 2018
Matthew Prescott, Senior Food Policy Director for the Humane Society and a leader in the environmental food movement, shows how our plates have the power to heal the world. This lavishly illustrated guide and cookbook includes over 80 recipes, most quite simple and all focused on using local and sustainable ingredients. Prescott opens with an examination of current growing, harvesting and production practices and how these are impacting the planet, along with input from food environmentalists and activists. Then you can dig into the all-vegan recipes! A few highlights: Creamy Basil-Chickpea Lettuce Cups, Oatmeal with Chai-Poached Pears, and Blackened Brussels Sprouts with Capers and Raisins.
Get Food is the Solution from the Denver Public Library
- Dodie
Get Food is the Solution from the Denver Public Library
- Dodie
January 6, 2019
Well, this definitely reconfirmed for me the desire to be mostly vegan. I originally went vegetarian for a combination of health and Temple Grandin book reasons (her book was just the final straw for me and I was no longer able to overlook how poorly animals in CAFOs are treated), but this one has bumped the environmental factors up there just as high.
The recipes...I dunno. There are certainly a few I’d like to try (kugel, kugel, kugel!!!), but most of them are I guess just not to my taste. Great photos, though.
Like others are saying—probably mostly worth it for the pre-recipe part.
The recipes...I dunno. There are certainly a few I’d like to try (kugel, kugel, kugel!!!), but most of them are I guess just not to my taste. Great photos, though.
Like others are saying—probably mostly worth it for the pre-recipe part.
November 20, 2018
The first half of this book discusses the environmental impact of animal agriculture in a really easily digestible way, and I enjoyed it a lot. The second half is full of recipes, and I found these really lacking. They rely very heavily on "vegan meats" - many recipes simply calling for "vegan chicken tenders" or similar products. I'm not against these products by any means, but I don't enjoy many of them, and I'd much rather eat vegan food that isn't pretending to be meat.
January 25, 2021
It had pretty pictures and drew attention to this issue. It also makes an effort to let people know that all change is good, and the author doesn't expect everyone to be vegetarian or vegan (though I bet he would strongly prefer this). However, I was put off by James Cameron's comment in the foreword that going vegan was easier than he and his wife thought it would be. Yes, it probably is easier if you have a lot of money. It also depends, to some extent, where you live, even in North America. I would have liked to see information on how to realistically adopt a plant-based diet when someone has a limited budget, or lives in an area that isn't readily conducive one (e.g., lives in an urban food desert or a remote rural area, such as the Arctic). While the book had some citations, some claims needed more scientific backing. Finally, I would be very interested to know the author's academic credentials, not just his work experience (though it is impressive).
August 2, 2019
This is an ideological book as much as a recipe book. I’m the target audience too: someone who loves their meat, dairy, etc. I appreciate that, although Prescott’s agenda is clear, the voice is (usually) patient and respectful. The book is also thoroughly sourced and includes various voices. After reading it, I’m pretty convinced that our eating habits are unsustainable, but I can make a difference.
December 28, 2021
Nice and easy way to Kickstart your plant-based diet
July 20, 2018
Convincing photos and argument for going vegan plus some great recipes.
April 11, 2018
This book is great for new vegans and established vegans as well. It really solidified my reasoning to become vegan a few years ago. Read it and you will change your mind about what you eat and how we are slowly killing ourselves and our planet. Highly recommend this book for everyone!
December 30, 2018
The one thing I appreciated about this book is the description of factory farms or Concentrated or Confined Animal Feeding Operations - CAFO’s for short. I knew it wasn't good but I have a better understanding of the issues involved now.
January 11, 2022
I loved how it highlights the issues that poor agriculture, aka mainstream agriculture, creates in such detail and in such friendly terms. It will help anyone and everyone understand the severe importance of eating more sustainably for our communities, country, and planet.
September 14, 2018
The first part that discusses the environmental impacts of the meat industry is super interesting and eye opening. The recipes I think could be more exciting.
June 3, 2022
Do you consider yourself an environmentalist? Have you considered how what you eat affects the environment you love, and if your habits actually match your beliefs?
This cookbook is a power house of knowledge, packed with information and recipes that are all environmentally focused. In the introduction alone readers learn about how wasteful meat production is, that "...even the most efficient sources of meat convert only around 11 percent of gross feed energy into human food. That means that even in the best cases, nearly 90 percent of what we put into turning animals into meat is wasted". Further, "...it's no surprise that the livestock sector is now a leading greenhouse gas emitter, estimated to account for more direct emissions than the entire global transport sector...". Concerning water resources, "...it's an incredibly thirsty system, with hundreds of gallons of water needed to produce a single pound of chicken or glass of milk, and dozens of gallons needed to produce a single egg" (9). If that wasn't enough, this book is packed with evidence showing the health benefits of a plant-based diets, with pivotal facts throughout such as how "...plant-based diets are the only type of diets ever proven not only to help prevent heart disease but also to reverse it in the majority of patients".
The beginning sections talk specifically about each of our resources that are threatened by not eating plant-based: earth, water, air, and fire, and breaks them down in an easy to understand and poignant manner. In the earth section you'll learn how "...nearly a third of all the land on the planet goes toward producing protein from animals" (20), and the catastrophic consequences of that. In the water section you’ll learn how farm waste runs into our rivers and oceans, how trawling vessels are destroying mammals and coral reefs, and how “Fish farms may use more fish to feed their fish that the total amount of fish they produce”. The air section talks about the “…five decades of social science research which has found detrimental effects of industrialized farming on many indicators of community quality of life” . The effect from these facilities is “…incredibly dangerous: it’s a top cause of bronchitis, can cause heart disorders like arrhythmia, and can even lead to heart attacks” (49). If all of that still isn’t enough evidence for a plant-based diet, the fire chapter talks about the evidence that clearly shows animal agriculture being the biggest force behind climate change, and how “Even ‘locally produced’ animal proteins can be climate unfriendly, since animals are inefficient at converting natural resources into food” (69). As Thict Nhat Hanh says, “By eating meat, we share the responsibility of climate change” (131).
Once all the evidence is laid out, the rest of the cookbook is packed with over 80 delicious recipes you can feel good about eating! I’m personally quite excited to try the ‘Save-the-Bay Crab Cakes’, the creamy herbed mashed potatoes, crispy rice paper bacon, and the green bean casserole. Did I mention the BBQ beans and the rosemary cornbread mini muffins? Or the sweet potato fries with ranch?
This is not just a cookbook, this is your reason to take responsibility for what you eat because, as the author says, "The power is on our plates- let's use it" (11). As one of my favorite authors and researchers Michael Greger says, “Devour this book. Eat it up. It might just save your life and the world.” Couldn’t have said it better myself!
This cookbook is a power house of knowledge, packed with information and recipes that are all environmentally focused. In the introduction alone readers learn about how wasteful meat production is, that "...even the most efficient sources of meat convert only around 11 percent of gross feed energy into human food. That means that even in the best cases, nearly 90 percent of what we put into turning animals into meat is wasted". Further, "...it's no surprise that the livestock sector is now a leading greenhouse gas emitter, estimated to account for more direct emissions than the entire global transport sector...". Concerning water resources, "...it's an incredibly thirsty system, with hundreds of gallons of water needed to produce a single pound of chicken or glass of milk, and dozens of gallons needed to produce a single egg" (9). If that wasn't enough, this book is packed with evidence showing the health benefits of a plant-based diets, with pivotal facts throughout such as how "...plant-based diets are the only type of diets ever proven not only to help prevent heart disease but also to reverse it in the majority of patients".
The beginning sections talk specifically about each of our resources that are threatened by not eating plant-based: earth, water, air, and fire, and breaks them down in an easy to understand and poignant manner. In the earth section you'll learn how "...nearly a third of all the land on the planet goes toward producing protein from animals" (20), and the catastrophic consequences of that. In the water section you’ll learn how farm waste runs into our rivers and oceans, how trawling vessels are destroying mammals and coral reefs, and how “Fish farms may use more fish to feed their fish that the total amount of fish they produce”. The air section talks about the “…five decades of social science research which has found detrimental effects of industrialized farming on many indicators of community quality of life” . The effect from these facilities is “…incredibly dangerous: it’s a top cause of bronchitis, can cause heart disorders like arrhythmia, and can even lead to heart attacks” (49). If all of that still isn’t enough evidence for a plant-based diet, the fire chapter talks about the evidence that clearly shows animal agriculture being the biggest force behind climate change, and how “Even ‘locally produced’ animal proteins can be climate unfriendly, since animals are inefficient at converting natural resources into food” (69). As Thict Nhat Hanh says, “By eating meat, we share the responsibility of climate change” (131).
Once all the evidence is laid out, the rest of the cookbook is packed with over 80 delicious recipes you can feel good about eating! I’m personally quite excited to try the ‘Save-the-Bay Crab Cakes’, the creamy herbed mashed potatoes, crispy rice paper bacon, and the green bean casserole. Did I mention the BBQ beans and the rosemary cornbread mini muffins? Or the sweet potato fries with ranch?
This is not just a cookbook, this is your reason to take responsibility for what you eat because, as the author says, "The power is on our plates- let's use it" (11). As one of my favorite authors and researchers Michael Greger says, “Devour this book. Eat it up. It might just save your life and the world.” Couldn’t have said it better myself!
February 6, 2026
I'm a biased reader of books that advocate for plant-based eating, so it's almost unfair to give them all high praise based upon my own knowledge of the damage CAFOs and AFOs are causing our planet, but I'm doing it anyway.
Matthew Prescott has written a terrific "Part One," which is comprised of chapters that deal with earth, water, air, and fire. Very elemental. The first three need no explanation, but the last deals with the effect that industrial animal agriculture has on a warming planet; the "fire" refers to wildfires. What I liked about Part One was the inclusion of charts and diagrams that pretty much lay out the case for eating far less meat and a lot more plants. I also liked reading the anecdotal stories from real people who live near factory farms, adjacent to giant waste pits of sh*t that produce putrified air that they can't avoid inhaling. All the chapters chillingly reveal the destruction intensive animal farming has on the land, air, and ocean, yet the book barely touches on the wide-scale profound misery caused to sentient animals.
Part Two is a compilation of plant-based recipes that look pretty easy to make. Some include processed "meat" like Gardein's chicken nuggets, but most are whole foods. I've tried the "Quick Country Coleslaw," which was delicious. I was glad to see a recipe for "parmesan" that uses pine and brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, nutritional yeast, and spices -- because I hate the industrial dairy industry almost more than any other industry on the planet, and I like to make my own "dairy" foods.
There is an uplifting note from Chef José Andrés at the end, that follows with an informative "Shopping For a Better World" section that might help novice plant-based eaters with their choices to avoid meat. However, this book was published in 2018, and already "vegan" or "plant-based" sections in the supermarkets near me have been getting smaller in the last year or so. Thanks to RFKJr and the carni-bros, the meat and dairy industries are flush with renewed popularity. So, if you choose to reduce your meat intake for the sake of the planet, you need to keep that commitment in your mind when you shop for food.
Just think about this statistic:
KG CO2 Emissions for beef = 27.0, for cheese it's 13.5, tofu is 2.0, and lentils = .9
Matthew Prescott has written a terrific "Part One," which is comprised of chapters that deal with earth, water, air, and fire. Very elemental. The first three need no explanation, but the last deals with the effect that industrial animal agriculture has on a warming planet; the "fire" refers to wildfires. What I liked about Part One was the inclusion of charts and diagrams that pretty much lay out the case for eating far less meat and a lot more plants. I also liked reading the anecdotal stories from real people who live near factory farms, adjacent to giant waste pits of sh*t that produce putrified air that they can't avoid inhaling. All the chapters chillingly reveal the destruction intensive animal farming has on the land, air, and ocean, yet the book barely touches on the wide-scale profound misery caused to sentient animals.
Part Two is a compilation of plant-based recipes that look pretty easy to make. Some include processed "meat" like Gardein's chicken nuggets, but most are whole foods. I've tried the "Quick Country Coleslaw," which was delicious. I was glad to see a recipe for "parmesan" that uses pine and brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, nutritional yeast, and spices -- because I hate the industrial dairy industry almost more than any other industry on the planet, and I like to make my own "dairy" foods.
There is an uplifting note from Chef José Andrés at the end, that follows with an informative "Shopping For a Better World" section that might help novice plant-based eaters with their choices to avoid meat. However, this book was published in 2018, and already "vegan" or "plant-based" sections in the supermarkets near me have been getting smaller in the last year or so. Thanks to RFKJr and the carni-bros, the meat and dairy industries are flush with renewed popularity. So, if you choose to reduce your meat intake for the sake of the planet, you need to keep that commitment in your mind when you shop for food.
Just think about this statistic:
KG CO2 Emissions for beef = 27.0, for cheese it's 13.5, tofu is 2.0, and lentils = .9
May 16, 2018
I skim read this until the recipes. I think it's approach was great; Prescott picked and arranged the chapters so they would really make an impact. Also, his string of A list celebrities sharing their stories was fascinating. Prescott footnotes every fact which, as a science-loving person, I really appreciated. This book is all about saving the environment and I love it! A lot of plant-based books cover it all; the environment, animal welfare, and health... or just singularly the latter two, but I have yet to read a book solely on how animal agriculture is destroying the planet. I'm so glad this book exists. There are a lot of environmental vegans out there: this book is for them! It does touch on animal welfare briefly which I think really important. The recipes are top-notch and there were several I was eager to try which honestly doesn't happen all that much. #foodisthesolution #bookworm #bookstagram #bookish #whatvegansread #vegan #whatvegansdo #environmentalvegan #animalagriculture #climatechange
April 23, 2018
I started following a plant-based diet for my health. Now I see how we need to eat this way for the health of the planet. My eyes were opened regarding the effects of factory farming on the environment, from deforestation, to animal waste in our water supply, to hazardous air we breathe, to climate change to name just a few. Each of the chapters in the “Our Planet”section of the book ends with a bulleted list of major points of the environmental impacts of reliance on animal agriculture for the food we eat. But, the good news for us all is the positive impact we can have on the earth by simply eating more plants.
Divided into two sections, the second half of the book is called “Our Plates” and is filled with great recipes along with photographs from breakfast through main dishes to desserts. Great book!
Divided into two sections, the second half of the book is called “Our Plates” and is filled with great recipes along with photographs from breakfast through main dishes to desserts. Great book!
August 4, 2021
What kind of food we eat has such a big impact on our planet. I stopped eating meat for a while now and the switch over wasn't as hard as I imagined. It has been quite fun to try and modify different recipes given the many accessible meat alternatives we have nowadays. Even just relying on vegetables, legumes, and mushrooms as the main ingredients is plenty enough but sometimes you run out of ideas and eat the same things on repeat.
A third of this book provides informative facts, infographics, and anecdotes about the many sectors food industry and their environmental impacts. There are so many recipes in this book to choose from breakfast to desserts and everything in between. I've tried a couple of recipe and bookmarked many more to try next. I highly recommend this book to those looking to make the switch or those looking for new recipes.
A third of this book provides informative facts, infographics, and anecdotes about the many sectors food industry and their environmental impacts. There are so many recipes in this book to choose from breakfast to desserts and everything in between. I've tried a couple of recipe and bookmarked many more to try next. I highly recommend this book to those looking to make the switch or those looking for new recipes.
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July 8, 2020Really good start to my journey to incorporate more plant based foods and recipes into my everyday diet. There were a ton of recipes that I am really excited to try out (eventually). I will say that there were some small formatting issues that I had, including that some recipes didn’t have pictures but instead had a gigantic sized font with a quote from a well known celebrity. It seemed weird to be talking about eco friendly solutions, but having a book where there was just an ungodly amount of paper wasted just to show celebrity quotes that pretty much all sounded the same. But that’s maybe a me thing. Anyway I’m really looking forward to making a lot of these delicious looking recipes, including that vegan pumpkin pie.
May 25, 2019
Really enjoyed this and have tried a few of the recipes! I am not a vegan but am interested in decreasing my animal product intake. One thing I did not like about this book is that most recipes require a good bit of skill off the bat, and a lot of them take longer than an hour to prepare. One of my biggest struggles with eating a more plant based diet is the time required to create fun recipes, and this definitely does not solve that problem. This book also recommends so many faux-meat, soy based products without offering alternatives. Personally, I try to avoid an excess of soy in my diet due to hormonal issues, so I found that to be disappointing.
October 10, 2019
Wow, a beautifully produced cookbook with great recipes that also teaches us about how our food choices affect the planet... A must read for those looking to learn more about why so many of us are choosing veganism, and it's role in activism towards environmental health, and respect for all living things. For example, for those of you who eat bacon, know that you are supporting a female pig stuck in a cage the size of it's body for it's entire life, unable to turn around, looked at as a machibe that only churns out babies. Your morals are supporting unethical mistreating of animals all in the name of $$$$. How does that make you sleep at night? That depends on your morals.
October 24, 2023
I normally don't add cookbooks to my Goodreads list, but this book had such an impactful message in the first 73 pages that I encourage folks to sit down and read that part straight through. Stories and photos of factory farms for beef, pork, chicken, and fish are all covered as well as their impacts on the environment and human health for those who live near them.
The recipes were just ok for me but gave strategies to swap out dairy and eggs. The last few pages had a shopping guide with opinions on best-tasting meat substitutes. Then 6 pages of citations.
The recipes were just ok for me but gave strategies to swap out dairy and eggs. The last few pages had a shopping guide with opinions on best-tasting meat substitutes. Then 6 pages of citations.
April 26, 2018
Terrific book - This is the book to read if you are considering a vegan diet because you are concerned about reducing your carbon footprint and making a very real and positive impact on the environment. The recipes are vegan but not WFPB, but they do seem modifiable. Plus, it's just a beautiful book that brings in a chorus of voices to speak about the environmental issues that could be solved simply by food.
May 21, 2020
I wanted this book to be an in depth look at regenerative food choices and ways of looking forward through food. Instead it was mostly about the evils of the current food industry, at about the level that vegetarian girl in middle school would tell you - informative and impassioned, but not in depth or integrated. The second half of the book is recipes and they didn't really add much. If you're interested in this subject, I'd watch a documentary or read a cooking blog instead of reading this.
November 2, 2020
Very effective presentation of how animal agriculture of any sort has a huge detrimental impact on the environment, our health, and is a major contributor to green house gases.
The recipes are delicious, I’ve already tried quite a few of them!
The recipes are delicious, I’ve already tried quite a few of them!
January 10, 2022
This was the most pretentious and condescending book ever. Filled with lukewarm quotes from people who are more well known than credible(Bill Gates and the like). Still making it two stars because the world needs to go vegan though.
August 29, 2025
EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK!! I was shocked at how much damage eating meat and dairy is for the environment, animals, and us. Please check it out. Also, some amazing and delicious vegan recipes!!🌱
May 16, 2018
Couple good recipes but overall not that great. Didn't read the book just checked out the recipes. Lemongrass coconut curry was delicious.
November 13, 2018
A must-read for anyone who truly wants to help our planet get back on the right track and to also improve their own health. Lots of good recipes for plant-based dishes as well.
September 12, 2019
An inspiring and honest look at the ecologically harmful food production industry while offering hope and practical ideas.
October 27, 2024
Very interesting! Super informative. Provided a perspective that I had never heard before.
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