I read this book back in 2009 and this is the original review I wrote about it
[— my original book review —]
Like many non-vegetarians, I have always been a little curious about vegetarian diets. Is being vegetarian really better? Why do we hear so many stories about anemic vegetarians, their lack of B12 vitamins, etc.?
Because I tend to be curious and never satisfied by the myths we hear, I wanted to learn more about vegetarian diets, so I bought this book called “Becoming Vegetarian”. This is probably one of the best nutrition books I have ever read. The book is divided into four main sections:
– the benefits of being vegetarian (for your health, the environment and the animals)
– nutritional information that would be useful for any human being including non-vegetarians (i.e., how to balance proteins, carbohydrates and fats in your diets, what minerals and vitamins do you need and how you can get them)
– how to become vegetarian (i.e. changing how you do groceries, designing menus and the proper etiquette for being vegetarian in a “meat eaters” world).
What I enjoy the most about this book is that the authors are not preachy. They simply present the facts and let you make more informed decisions about your diet. In other words, being vegetarians does not imply that you are eating healthy; especially if you diet is based on fries and pasta.
The book also makes the point that becoming vegetarian can be easy. Eating healthy as a vegetarian does not require tracking everything you eat and making sure that you are obtaining all your vitamins and minerals. In fact, as long as you vary the food you eat, you are likely getting all the nutrients you need. In a sense, this is also true for non-vegetarians.
Do I want to become vegetarian?
At this point, I am not sure whether or not I will become a vegetarian; but I will surely be adopting more vegetarian habits. More to follow on this topic for sure!
[— my updated review —]
This book was definitely part of my journey to becoming vegan. They did an updated edition in 2013.
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