The vegan revolution is underway! Every day, more and more people are recognising the benefits. Not just for the suffering animals, but for the health of themselves and their planet.
This article will tell you what a vegan diet entails and- if you want further info- the best books to start a plant based diet!
What is a vegan diet?
Simply put, veganism is a type of diet that doesn’t include any animal products whatsoever. That means no meat (including fish), no dairy, and no eggs.
But don’t fret – plant foods like legumes, beans, and whole grains are packed with all the nutrients you need!
Switching to a vegan diet is a big change from the Standard American Diet (which is often high in animal protein), but once you see how easy it is to make the switch, you’ll never want to go back!
There are a lot of reasons to switch to a vegan diet, but here are just a few of the benefits:
- The vegan diet is the most environmentally friendly diet you can have, the production of animal products requires a lot more energy than plant-based foods and creates more greenhouse gas emissions.
If you’re concerned about the environment, it’s worth looking into becoming vegan or at least cutting down on your meat consumption. - Vegans tend to live longer than meat-eaters do.
Vegan diets tend to be lower in saturated fats and higher in fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals—all things that help with longevity. Studies show that vegans are less likely to develop certain diseases such as obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), osteoporosis (brittle bones), Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia. - You’ll save money.
Vegans do not eat meat, which tends to be more expensive than vegetables and fruit.
So veganism isn’t just good for your health—it’s also good for your wallet. By buying only plant-based items you can save hundreds per month!
If you’re ready to take the plunge and go vegan, we’ve got your back.
We’ve compiled our top picks of the best books to start a plant based diet:
1. Forks Over Knives: The Plant-Based Way to Health. The #1 New York Times Bestseller: The Why
Following the success of Forks Over Knives, this book compiles information from the documentary into a cohesive whole by bringing together the thoughts, ideas, and findings of doctors and researchers such as Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn and Dr. Colin Campbell.
This book presents success stories and testimonials, the benefits of a plant-based diet, tips on transitioning, and 125 recipes to get you started on a plant-based diet.
AMAZON RATING 4.5 STARS
2. Plant-Based on a Budget: Delicious Vegan Recipes for Under $30 a Week, in Less Than 30 Minutes a Meal: For Budget Meals
Through her popular website, Toni has taught hundreds of thousands of people how to eat a plant-strong diet for less. With Plant-Based on a Budget, going vegan is not only an attainable goal but also the best choice for your health and the planet—and your wallet.
With her imaginative recipes and incredibly customisable instructions, Toni empowers readers to make their own substitutions based on the ingredients they have on hand—thus reducing food waste. This book offers an affordable, easy way to start a plant-based diet.
AMAZON RATING 4.6 STARS
3. Green: Veggie and vegan meals for no-fuss weeks and relaxed weekends: Easy, speedy recipes
For those wanting to get more greens into their diets, GREEN offers more than 100 easy recipes developed for weekdays or weekends. Weekend recipes are fancier, but all recipes have been developed to be quick and easy and as per the title, no fuss!
Weekday offerings include no-fuss traybakes and one-pot dishes for when you can’t face washing up or hands-on cooking. A meal prep section will have you sorted for the week ahead. Plus a whole load of meals you can make in 20 minutes for those nights when you need great food fast.
If you are already a vegetarian, or even just want to eat less meat, GREEN serves up tasty, flexible recipes, all of which are meat-free and half of which are vegan.
AMAZON RATING 4.5 STARS
4. ‘Whole’ by T. Colin Campbell: Evidence-Based
New York Times Bestseller ‘Whole’ is a good place for people curious about plant-based nutrition to start.
T. Colin Campbell revolutionised the way we think about our food by providing evidence-based proof that a whole food, plant-based diet is the healthiest way to eat.
‘Whole’ is an eye-opening, paradigm-shifting exploration of modern nutrition and its impact on our health and the environment.
It’s serious!
AMAZON RATING 4.6 STARS
5. The Plant-Based Diet for Beginners: 75 Delicious, Healthy Whole-Food Recipes: Best for Beginners
If you’re planning to go plant-based but are unsure where to start, Gabriel Miller can help. His Plant-Based Diet for Beginners includes 75 healthy whole food recipes.
The recipes avoid salt, oil, sugar, and processed ingredients and you’ll also learn the benefits of adopting this lifestyle for your health, the planet, and animal welfare.
Plant-based eating can be made easy – The Plant-Based Diet for Beginners shows you how.
AMAZON RATING 4.5 STARS
6. ‘EAT FOR LIFE’ BY JOEL FUHRMAN, MD: Best for Healing
Dr. Fuhrman’s Eat for Life is a comprehensive guide that explains the science of how a plant-based diet can heal your body, reverse chronic conditions and bring back vitality and energy.
Eat for Life delivers a nutrition-based program that prevents and even reverses most medical problems within three to six months. It is boldly written, with testimonials to prove it.
Eat for Life offers the tools you need to change your health and your life.
AMAZON RATING 4.6 STARS
7. The Vegan 8: 100 Simple, Delicious Recipes Made with 8 Ingredients or Less: Best for lots of recipes
Five years ago, Brandi Doming, the blogger behind The Vegan 8, became a vegan after her husband’s health diagnosis. Her recipes rely on refreshingly short ingredient lists that are ideal for anyone new to plant-based cooking or seeking simplified, wholesome, family-friendly options for weeknight dinners.
The Vegan 8 is a recipe book that provides delicious, healthy, and simple recipes with only eight ingredients or less. The photography is gorgeous and the recipes are perfect for beginners.
They include; Bakery-Style Blueberry Muffins and a No-Bake Chocolate Espresso Fudge Cake for those with a sweet tooth, and MANY more.
AMAZON RATING 4.6 STARS
8. Deliciously Ella: How to Go Plant-Based: A definitive guide for you and your family: Best for families
The book features 100 recipes for healthy, plant-based meals that everyone in your family will love – from toddlers to grandparents.
It’s not just a recipe book; it’s the next best thing to having Ella as your own personal health coach, guiding you through the transition to a plant-based lifestyle step by step.
Ella busts myths about eating a plant-based diet, shares her experiences cooking for her family, and makes a strong case for making a plant-based diet accessible to everyone—for health, wellbeing, and the planet. It’s definitely one of the best books out there for starting a plant-based diet.
AMAZON RATING 4.6 STARS
9. Plant-Based Cookbook For Beginners: More Than 600 Plant-Based Healthy Recipes To Cook Quick, Easy And Tasty Meals: TOP RATED
These easy and healthy Plant-based recipes will have you discovering the power of eating plants.
This book covers: The basics of a plant-based diet, how it can benefit you, and what to eat and what not to eat. It also talks about appliances and kitchen accessories necessary for your new lifestyle.
The book shows that a plant-based diet is not a limitation. It includes plenty of options for people who want to transition to a plant-based diet and is highly rated by previous readers.
AMAZON RATING 4.8 STARS
If you’re thinking of going vegan, these are the most essential books to help you get started.
And with this list on hand, you can find everything you need to start a plant-based diet, create amazing plant-based meals – and make the best possible decision for your health and the planet.
Happy reading!
These are a great starting point for anyone’s vegan journey. You might also like Pete’s blog on The Five Best Vegan TED Talks he’s ever seen- there’s plenty of food for thought there too! (plant-based, of course 😂🤦♀️)
