recommendations
BLOGS:
(1) Oh She Glows: www.ohsheglows.com
Oh She Glows is a vegan blog that provides step-by-step instructions – with photos – on how to prepare delicious vegan recipes. Angela, the author of the blog, provides a wide variety of unique recipes, ranging from vegan butternut squash macaroni and cheese to vegan twix bars. I visit this site multiple times a week and am always amazed by her creative recipes.
(2) Post Punk Kitchen: www.theppk.com
Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero entered the vegan discourse in 1993 with a vegan cooking show. Since then, they have created a blog with a library of vegan recipes and have co-authored numerous vegan cookbooks. Post Punk Kitchen is a website worth exploring.
BOOKS:
(1) In Defense of Food
Michael Pollans’ In Defense of Food is my favorite book on the subject of food and diet. Pollan has a simple thesis, “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” I love this idea because it is simple, and it makes intuitive sense. In a time when health messages can be complex and contradictory, it is refreshing to read advice like, “only eat food that your grandmother would recognize.” I enjoy re-reading it and giving it as a gift to others.
(2) Eat and Run: My Unlikely Journey to Ultramarathon Greatness
In Eat and Run, Scott Jurek recounts how he began running ultramarathons (any race that is longer than the 26.2 mile marathon) and transitioned to a vegan diet. Jurek is an ultramarathon icon—some of his victories include winning the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run seven years in a row, the 135 mile Badwater Ultramarathon twice, and the 153 mile Sparthathlon three times.
As an athlete, he is aware that his food affects his performance. In his book, Jurek chronicles how he became a vegan after growing up on meat and potatoes in Minnesota. He further explains how his plant based diet unraveled common myths about nutrition and led to the best results of his professional career. In addition, at the end of each chapter, Jurek shares a favorite recipe. The recipes range from smoothies to chili, and from granola to pizza. Whether you are looking for an inspirational story or new vegan recipes, this book is definitely worth checking out!
DOCUMENTARIES:
(1) Food, Inc.
I know, I know, everyone has a list of food documentaries that “you have to see.” At this point, I don’t need to be any more grossed out by industrial food production. However, if you are interested in learning more about modern farming practices, how small farmers are struggling to stay in business, or what actions a mother who lost a child to salmonella poisoning is taking to change food laws, this documentary is for you!
(2) Hungry for Change
The documentary is a series of interviews with health experts and those who have survived serious health issues arising from food and diet. I like this documentary because it not only set forth the common causes of health problems – stress, junk food, and soda – but also because it suggests easy steps to alleviate these problems. Segments of the documentary are available on YouTube if you want a peek before committing to a purchase or rental!
COOK BOOKS:
(1) The Kind Diet
The Kind Diet is a cookbook/vegan manifesto written by Alicia Silverstone. I enjoy this cookbook as much for the lifestyle insights as the recipes. The cookbook covers various topics, such as explaining what tempeh and seitan are and how to stock a vegan pantry. Silverstone understands that many people are not ready to transition to a 100% vegan immediately, so she sets out three phases. The first phase is for those who are “flirting” with the idea of becoming vegetarian and who want to experiment with swapping out meat products for plant based foods. The second phase is for those “vegans” who are focused on eliminating animal products completely from the diet. The third, “superhero” phase, is for those who want to eliminate those vegan foods that are processed or have white flour and sugar as ingredients.
Some of the recipes, like the Barley Casserole and the Raw Balls, are truly amazing. They are in my “go to” stack of recipes for when I am preparing food for special occasions. If you are interested in a cookbook that has useful information on how to become a vegan, or just want a cookbook with delicious vegan recipes, the Kind Diet is a great resource!