A Plant-Based Life

Micaela Cook Karlson’s contribution to the bestseller Forks Over Knives put her on my radar. She made a decision at 17 to stop eating meat. Whatever her reason and after trial and error on her path to what worked for her, the evolving diet developed into being whole-food, plant-based. She has had impressive results with her strategy and she is common sense. I was inspired by this dietary lifestyle which will move me away from those ingredients that I can’t pronounce – back to basics. I love food and she’s gotten me motivated to make the right choices on my journey to 100% healthy eating.

There are a number of recipes included as well. The chapter that blew me away and I will refer to again and again was the “Sauces, Spreads, and Dressings” which includes recipes for staples such as thousand island dressing, mushroom gravy, ketchup, sun-dried tomato marinara and basic mayonnaise just to name a few. There are also chapters for Appetizers, Breakfast, Quick Bites, Mains, Salads, Snacks, Soups, Treats.

I got this book because I've been on a plant-based journey myself and needed more recipes. I've been a Paleo-in-training (P.I.T.) for close to four years and then one day, I just got tired of eating meat.

I like that this book focused on finding balance and transitioning gradually into plant-based life rather than just "not eating meat" which is an unhealthy pattern for vegetarians and vegans. This emphasis is something that is emphasized throughout the book. I didn't necessarily follow the guidelines in the book because I was doing my own thing, but I appreciated that it was included. I also liked the recipes.

Pretty good book if you are just starting to a plant-based diet. If you are a die-hard meat-eater, this won't change your mind. If you are someone interested in trying to wrap their head around a plant-based diet, this book will start the process.

I highly recommend this book for all who seek information on a plant based diet. A vegetarian from childhood, I found many helpful recipes here to expand my vegan diet. I was pleased with the nutritional information that is in a common sense format for anyone to adapt. The author has a wealth of information in a sensible format for anyone with questions about being plant based, those that like to cook plant based diets and budding vegetarians seeking information. I found this book indispensable for my cooking and have incorporated much of what the author included here The additional inclusive menu suggestions and nutrition information is a bonus for all readers. Thank you to the publisher for this wonderful book. I will be buying hard copies for myself and my vegan friends. I recommend this book for all interested in a plant based diet. Well Done to the author.

This is an easily-accessible book about why and how to switch to a plant-based whole foods diet. I love the combination of prose and recipes; it makes it easy to get started with vegetables.

Are you interested in eating only plant based foods? Does veganism frighten, yet intrigue you? Do you need more delicious, whole food, plant based recipes? This is the book for you!

This book has been researched extensively, and, happily, all of the sources are included in over twenty pages of notes. I appreciate that, especially in a book on a topic that tends to be hotly argued using emotion rather than fact.

This book was very enjoyable to read, and would be great for those seriously considering a plant based diet. Every aspect of changing is explained and the steps are mapped out carefully. There are several self-assessments to help you decide what transformation speed would be most effective,

An intense amount of information is packed into this book: health benefits, meal planning, nutritional information, shopping tips, budget comparisons, and (especially helpful) how to translate recipes to qualify for your new diet,

Then there are a lot of recipes, some as simple as the 5 ingredient 'emergency mini burritos' and some as fancy as 'Oyster Mushroom Ceviche and Bitter Orange-Lime Sauce.' Classic recipes are provided, such as Thousand Island Dressing and Apple Crisp.

Note: T. Colin Campbell, who wrote the amazing book "The China Study," has written the foreword.

I highly recommend this book for those interested in plant based diets.

Very enjoyable read. Learned a lot about making the transition and health benefits to a plant-based diet. Loved the meal plans and how to gradually make the transition. Lots of practical tips on incorporating the changes into your diet. A great book to start a plant-based diet. Yummy recipes included!

This is definitely the go to guide for a successful vegan diet. Packed fully of excellent nutria so advice, this is the perfect book for those transitioning. I have been vegetarian since a child and found the recipes delicious. The savoury tofu scramble was a hit as I have been trying to add more nutritional yeast into my diet. This great for those experiencing difficulty with family members opposed to veganism and for busy mums trying to convince a family to eat. The recipes are clear and I loved the meal plan with its prep ideas too. No one wants to spend there weekend prepping food for the week . I will definitely hand sell this title as it converts well to Australian shopping lists. No exotic overseas ingredients.

This was a really good and informative book. I have been trying to incorporate more veg in my diet for years and stick with it for a few weeks before falling off the wagon again. This book has definitely provided me with some great ideas and recipes to try out in the future. I loved reading about how Karlsen herself came to eating plant-based foods, as well as the stories about her friends and the people she knows. It was interesting to see the different reasons as to why people have gravitated towards this way of eating.

What I loved the most about this book was that it doesn't urge you or try to guilt you into abandoning meat. Instead it encourages and is willing to help if you only wish to eat more veggies than you do at the moment. Some books/people that discuss a plant-based diet more lectures about how bad it is to eat meat both physically and morally. I am a meat eater and unlikely to stop. But I wouldn't mind changing out some meals a week for something completely vegetarian. This book says "wow, that is great, glad to hear it" instead of saying "just a few meals? You shouldn't eat meat at all". Will definitely use this book in the future as a reference when planning my meals.