The Complete Idiot's Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition

I stumbled upon this book when, after watching Forks Over Knifes, I was looking for more information about a whole foods, plant-based diet. I almost didn't buy it because I'm not a big fan of the "Idiot's Guides" books. However, I checked out a few pages on Amazon, liked what I saw, and bought the Kindle version. I am VERY happy I did. The author attempts and, in my opinion, succeeds at three tasks: 1. To provide a basic, but accurate, overview of human nutrition 2. To provide a persuasive argument in favor of a whole foods, plant-based diet 3. To provide a guide to the reader as to how to achieve such a diet (i.e., the cookbook part of the book) It is with respect to #1 that the book is most impressive. When I started reading, I didn't know a macro-nutrient from a micro-nutrient. By the time I was done, I not only had acquired a good understanding of the individual nutrients and their effect on the body, but also had a sense of how these various elements fit together to influence overall health. Ms. Hever is a certified personal trainer in addition to being a Registered Dietitian. This is a real benefit to the reader because she can relate diet to fitness for a variety of populations: athletes, pregnant women, folks who are aging, etc. In this sense, the book is truly comprehensive -- no one is left out. While this isn't a textbook, it almost could be. I'm a professor and was able to borrow an introductory nutrition textbook from a colleague. I found that Ms. Hever's book presents pretty much the same material you'd get in a Nutrition 101 text, but in a much more accessible manner. The author's style is informal and often chatty, but the information is in there and it's easy to access and retain. Compared to a $115 textbook (which is the cost of the book that I had borrowed), the $10 I spent on Ms. Hever's book was a real bargain. I was intrigued to read a negative review of this book on Amazon, criticizing it as being "very basic." This is a little like criticizing the Bible for being "very religious." With respect to its intended audience, this book is SUPPOSED to be basic. No one should buy a Complete Idiot's Guide to anything expecting a complete examination of all sides of an issue supported by lots of footnotes, citations, and in-depth discussion of scientific research. There are other books out there that provide this, if that's what the reader is looking for. This is a book for the rest of us who are just looking to learn what we need to know to get and stay healthy. In short, this is a wonderful book hiding under a somewhat unfortunate title. Given the importance of the information conveyed within, and the positive influence the book has already had on my life, I honestly expect that this is going be the best $10 I'll ever spend. It's a great book, one that I'll keep coming back to over and over. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! One qualification: The cookbook part of this book is great (as others here have noted), but it's a little awkward to read the recipes on the Kindle version while trying to cook. I ended up buying the print edition, as well, and that works much better in the kitchen.

A diet based entirely on whole plant-based foods is no longer for the radical fringe or 60's hippies. The science is in and it is compelling...just ask CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Pres. Bill Clinton, and thousands of others whose health has been restored by shunning all animal products and oils in their diets. Dietitian Julieanna Hever of the fun and instructive "Chef and the Dietitian" series of you-tube videos on healthy cooking and eating has written the The Complete Idiot's Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition , and it is definitely "complete." This book is an exceptional addition to the increasing numbers of books and resources that advocate whole-food plant based eating for optimal health, that began with T. Colin Campbell's groundbreaking scientific studies correlating diet patterns with disease patterns in The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted And the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, And Long-term Health . Whether you have never eaten this way, or you have been a vegetarian or vegan for years, there is much to learn in Hever's book. I've been eating this way for about 4 months now and my high cholesterol numbers have come down without medication to the astonishment of my doctor, I've lost some excess pounds without counting calories, I'm actually enjoying cooking for the first time in my life, my taste palette has changed so I'm enjoying the wonderful tastes of lots of new foods, and I'm feeling great. I'm still a work in progress as I learn how to negotiate eating out and try to be consistent about exercise...but what's not to love about this life-changing way of eating! Covering every possible question, Hever lays out simply and informatively not only how to eat this way, but more importantly, why. It is full of easily accessible information and practical tips broken down into four parts: Part 1: The Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet covers nutrition facts, what your body needs, what foods supply those needs & the new 4 food groups--Vegetables, Fruits, Whole Grains, Legumes Part 2: Living a Plant-Based Life covers why you'll no longer have to obsess about calories, the real facts about dairy and soy, tips on how to shop smartly, exercise and fitness and facts about supplements Part 3: Special Considerations covers nutrition for pregnancy and children, seniors, athletes, weight loss, and specific diseases Part 4: The Plant-Based Recipe Box includes recipes and how to's of putting this all into practice including planning, holidays and restaurants, snacks and desserts. Whether you are a breast-feeding mother of young children, a busy traveling businessperson, an athlete, a student or family on a budget, someone dealing with heart disease, hypertension, or other western ailments, or just a "healthy" average American this is the book for you. Real Men and Women DO Eat Kale! Finally, I rarely pick up books in the "Complete Idiot's" series, but I ran across Hever's book and ordered it on a lark. Kudos to Complete Idiot's for publishing this serious and practical life-changing book. Now I can hardly wait to read CI's latest Hever offering: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Gluten-Free Vegan Cooking

I turned to eating plant based foods almost a year ago and, since then, have been looking for a definitive guide on the nutrition and composition of meals to ensure everything was met and that I would be short of no vital nutrient. This book is it!! Easy to read and clear in the layout and explanations. Excellent recipe section and I have tried a few to date. Very tasty indeed. Would highly recommend this book for anyone who is 'at sea' with it all and needs some good advice about nutrition and help with meal planning.

I loved this book, Juliana explains the micro and macronutrients we need to live healtfully. I also love the recipes in this book, and how they use only whole plant-based ingredients. THere are many recipes I still want to try, but last night I tried the recipe for Peanut BItes turning them in to brownie bites as per the instructions. THey were absolutely fantastic. SOme other recipes earmarked to make in the future are Japanoese noodles, cheesey cauliflower, lental casserole bake. There are just too many to name, but I would definitely recommend this book to anyone thinking about going vegan or just eating more plant-based in general.

I love nutrition. It is my passion. I've read a lot of material and listened to a lot of lectures on this topic. This book does an amazing job at laying a solid foundation to understand how to make the switch to a plant-based diet healthfully. The author has made it easy to understand and non-intimidating. I whole-heartedly recommend it! I respectfully disagree with the previous review. I've seen Forks Over Knives and I *totally* recommend it - I thought it was wonderful, but I in no way think that it diminishes the value of this book. This book takes the reader through step by step in depth for the "how to" part. This is a registered dietitian who has worked with pretty much every expert in that film. She offers additional necessary fundamental in depth nutritional information that partners beautifully with the movie. So, I whole-heartedly recommend both! :0) All the best on your journey!

As a recent vegan convert, I have been having serious concerns re my intake of the necessary building blocks that keep me alive. I've purchased a pile of reading material explaining the why's, but was in need of something about the how's... This book is an incredible resource for: - What you should eat - What you should not eat - Facts and figures (what you need vs what you don't) - Daily requirements - and another useful source of recipes Bravo....and thanks

Reliable information regarding plant based nutrition seems really hard to come by...especially as most people seem to be trying to sell you something along with the information they are giving you. This is the first book I've found that gives you all the information you need in a way that makes it easy to understand. The recommended ingredients are easy to come by, the recipe guides are simple and meals are realistic and tasty. I can't recommend this highly enough - especially if you're new to veganism/plant-based diet.