Thinking about making the transition from vegetarian to vegan? Erik Marcus’s The Ultimate Vegan Guide* is a supportive and concise guide. He keeps the Why? section brief—those who are thinking of going vegan are already aware of the reasons for doing so. The section on How? is gloriously detailed, though not overwhelming, served in bite-sized sections. He shows how to navigate cookbooks, nutrition, supermarkets, farmer’s markets, travel destinations, veg and non-veg restaurants, and social situations. Other chapters discuss core foods and beverages, and lots more.
Want to become a vegan activist? Activism 101 as well as advanced activism are here, too. Erik has tips for staying motivated, though it can be argued that the entire book is about staying motivated—his love of all things vegan shines though, and he succeeds in making it fun and easy. No judgment, no guilt trips. Just many, varied tips for staying the course and enjoying the journey.
One thing I’ve been wondering lately: It’s well known that Americans on the Standard Diet don’t get nearly enough fresh produce. Do vegetarians and vegans? Current recommendations are for 5 to 9 servings a day. That seems like a tall order even for those who eat plant-based diets—I consciously try to strive for this ideal daily. So I particularly enjoyed the chapter titled Eat More Produce. Here’s a brief except:
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There are countless studies indicating that people who eat more fruits and vegetables enjoy better overall health, and have lower rates of cancer. Sadly, dietary surveys continually show that Westerners eat far fewer fruits and vegetables than they should.
The wonderful thing about becoming vegan is that it gives you an unequaled opportunity to upgrade your diet in various ways. Since you’ve got to eat something in place of the meat, dairy products, and eggs you formerly ate, why not make a point of stepping up your consumption of fruits and veggies?
One great way to improve your diet is to set goals. If you’re not in the habit of eating much produce, how about setting a goal to eat ten different fruits and veggies this week? A goal like this probably sounds impossible to some people, but in reality it’s incredibly easy. Just visit your local market, and by an apple, a pear, some grapes, a tangerine, and a tomato, and boom—you’re halfway there. If summer fruit is in season, load up on that as well. The point is to get into the habit of eating several different kinds of fruits and veggies every day.
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For anyone considering going vegan, or new vegans needing more information and support, The Ultimate Vegan Guide* by Erik Marcus is your ultimate resource!
Aside from the well-priced $8.95 paperback, this book is also available in a 99-cent Kindle edition.*
*This post contains affiliate links. If the product is purchased by linking through this review, VegKitchen receives a modest commission, which helps maintain our site and helps it to continue growing!
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