Simply Vegan! isn't just a cookbook for those who follow the vegan lifestyle. It's a cookbook for those that want to eat healthier. It's a cookbook for those that want to lower their grocery bill. It's a cookbook for those that are interested in eliminating meat and dairy from the dinner table a few nights a week.
Following a vegan diet helps to reduce the risk of heart disease by drastically reducing consumption of saturated fat and cholesterol. These two products are found almost exclusively in animal products. A vegan diet can also help with weight loss and weight management which is the reason we have several vegan meals a week in our home. Vegan diets include more whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits than traditional diets and because of this, they are much higher in fiber. Following a vegan diet can also be a frugal choice especially if you primarily prepare your meals with whole foods rather than relying on processed canned, frozen, or packaged ingredients.
Simple Vegan! also includes nutritional guidelines for vegans that are helpful for people who are new to the vegan way of eating. It explains the basic nutrients you need to have and where you can find them. There is also a handy guide for plant based vegetables with iron and vitamin c along with vegan dairy and egg substitutes.
The recipes themselves are broken down into Energizing Breakfasts, Satisfying Sandwiches, Eat Your Vegetable Salads, Nourishing Noodles and Grains, Great Grilling, Globe Trotting Dishes, Comfort Food and Savory and Sweet Treats. Each recipe has a detailed nutritional breakdown including calories, protein, carbohydrates, total fat & saturated fat, fiber, cholesterol and sodium. Information is also included on prep time.
Scattered throughout the book are helpful pages for those new to vegan diets including a guide to non-dairy milks, barley basics, easy vegan condiments, a guide to Asian noodles, etc. There's also a great selection of full color photos for many of the recipes included.
There's a nice choice of recipes that will probably be familiar to you like Tomato Rice Soup and Jalapeno Cornbread. There will also be many recipes that are new to you like Bulgar Pilaf with Garbanzo Beans and Apricots and Kale Chips. You should be able to find most of the ingredients in a large grocery store in the vegetarian or alternative diet section. If not, your local health food store will definitely have the supplies you need. This is a great book to begin your vegan journey!
Article comments
1 - Kim
I see no scientific basis for the claims made in the article. Author needs to cite references.
2 - Ellen Christian
It's a book review. I make no claims in my review except my feelings on the book.
3 - Candice
You can find all the scientific references you need in Google 'scholar', and you can look them up yourself.