Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Happy Herbivore Light & Lean: Over 150 Low-Calorie Recipes with Workout Plans for Looking and Feeling Great

Rate this book
With easy, no-fuss recipes, the bestselling Happy Herbivore cookbooks show how easy, affordable, and delicious eating healthy can be. Now, in her latest cookbook, Happy Herbivore chef Lindsay S. Nixon provides recipes that put a special emphasis on weight-loss and a set of exercises that, like her recipes, are quick, easy, and produce great results.Like all Happy Herbivore cookbooks, Happy Herbivore Light & Lean contains filling, flavorful, plant-based recipes that take 30 minutes or less to prepare. But this time, Nixon takes healthy to an all-new level, with low-calorie, satisfying meals that will help you achieve your weight-loss goals—and without deprivation.True to its title, Happy Herbivore Light & Lean also includes "recipes” for your body with basic workouts, plus tips and tricks that will inspire you to move more for a trimmer, more-toned you. As always, Happy Herbivore Light & Lean recipes are free from oils, processed foods, and diet chemicals such as artificial sweeteners.Happy Herbivore Light & Lean keeps it healthy, keeps it simple, and keeps it delicious.

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

99 people are currently reading
860 people want to read

About the author

Lindsay S. Nixon

22 books799 followers
Author of the Happy Herbivore Cookbook series and CEO of Meal Mentor, the first and best vegan (plant-based, no oil) meal planning and recipe app!

Start your free trial at http://getmealplans.com

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
516 (51%)
4 stars
269 (26%)
3 stars
163 (16%)
2 stars
36 (3%)
1 star
20 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Laurie  (barksbooks).
1,961 reviews809 followers
August 29, 2016
I lucked out and bought this on the Kindle for only $2.99 (now it'll cost you $9.99 for an ebook, what?!)

There is a very handy shopping list in the beginning of the book, some blah, blah info about caloric density which I tuned out because I'm not really interested in all that and the author's journey from yo-yo dieter to healthy vegan where she states that Skinny Bitch was one of the books that set her on the path to wellness. I have to admit this scared me. I despise that damn Skinny Bitch book. It's filled with craptastic recipes that use a ton of processed faux food. I couldn't get it out of my house fast enough. Anyway, no worries. This author uses mainly whole foods so I will give it a go.

I have realized I absolutely do NOT enjoy reading cookbooks on my Ipad and I'm a little PO'd that I am unable (either due to my incompetence or some Kindle App fuckery) that I am unable to print any of the recipes. This makes it near impossible for me to use. I am blind as a freaking bat and have to have that Kindle App close to my face so putting it near me on the counter when I am cooking is not going to happen. I am not putting my Ipad's life in jeopardy to make dinner. I have four cats that will gleefully knock it on the floor and I am a complete disaster in the kitchen, dropping things and splattering food to and fro with reckless abandon (my clean up crew, the dogs, love it when I cook). None of these things are the books fault, of course, but it might explain why it has taken me months to finally attempt one of the recipes.

So last night after typing up one of the recipes (seriously, in 2014!) and printing it out and putting it in a protective sleeve to keep it safe from my slobbery, I tried the Caribbean Bowl.

It contains cooked quinoa, steamed kale, pineapple, pineapple salsa, black beans, green onions and I added in some lime juice, avocado and a few big dashes of smoked chile pepper because everything is better with a little spice, right?

The verdict? My vegan child did not like it. She took a few bites and gave the rest to the dogs.

 photo gross_zpsbisbz3tb.gif

"I don't like sweet and savory or pineapples in my dinner."

Fantastic! This is why I go through so much trouble.

My son and husband who are carnivores and usually throw some chicken on top of any vegan dish I cook raved and raved about it. I don't know if they actually loved it (though they did put a big dent in the bowl and ate it for lunch the next day) or if they're maybe a little afraid of me. Either way they ate it and didn't attempt passing it off the dogs.

I thought it was tasty though next time I would lighten up on the lime juice and add more pineapple salsa. It was a bit tart for me but again that's on me, not the recipe. I give the Caribbean Bowl 4 1/2 stars. It was easy, it was good and I'll make it again.

More later. Perhaps sooner if some kind soul can explain to me how I can print out these recipes!

Later is here. I made these Pumpkin Pancakes yesterday.



It's kind of difficult to screw up pancakes and these were good. The recipe calls for 1 TBS of baking powder (or soda, I can't remember now), 1 cup of flour and 1 cup of non-dairy milk, pumpkin, spices, brown sugar and a pinch o' salt. Hmmm, I was skeptical when the batter was so thick it resembled the consistency of cookie dough so I added more milk and they came out alright. They are on the heftier side and super filling. They could've used a little more cooking time (instructions say 2-3 mins on each side) because some of the middles were a wee bit undone. 4 *'s Quick & tasty & I'll make 'em again but with more milk.
Profile Image for Emma.
310 reviews18 followers
January 10, 2017
Disclaimer: I have not actually tried any of the recipes from this cookbook.

I am disappointed in this cookbook. I have one of Nixon's other cookbooks, Happy Herbivore, and got this one out from the library to see if she has anything creative. Unfortunately, the layout of this cookbook is not at all user friendly. I much prefer the layout of the Happy Herbivore. First of all, the table of contents does not list every recipe. Instead, it only lists the page numbers that each category (breakfast, muffins & breads, salads & dressings, bowls & wraps, etc.) starts on. A little bit annoying to not have them all in one place, but okay, I flip to the page of the category expecting to find a listing of all the recipes in that category (as it is in Happy Herbivore). Nope. Nowhere can I find a list of the recipes and their page numbers grouped by category. Instead, there is a separate table of contents that lists all the recipes and has them grouped by their calorie count. I do not find this helpful. Another annoying thing about the layout is that the directions for all the recipes are not given numbered steps, or even bulleted steps. It is written in paragraph form. This makes it difficult to quickly determine how difficult or easy the recipe would be to follow--a key factor in my decision of whether or not I will actually make the recipe.

While there are a lot of recipes in this book, I'm not impressed by many of them, and that's why I haven't tried any. Most call for very bland ingredients and don't mention any spices besides Sriracha. It mostly reads like a diet cookbook with the emphasis on cutting calories rather than a healthful, plant-based cookbook. There are also multiple mentions of Nixon's 7-day meal plan subscription which makes me wonder if this book is actually an advertisement.
Profile Image for Tisha (IG: Bluestocking629).
932 reviews41 followers
September 27, 2017
What a great cookbook. There's nothing extravagant in this cookbook and just about anything in here would be good for a busy weeknight. I love that I have heard of every ingredient used. No Google needed, yay!

Like the majority of other cookbooks out there the recipes are categorized into groups: breakfast, bowls and wraps, Pasta stirfries and noodles, dessert, drinks, etc. except this book there's a cute little elephant to help divide them.

Some recipes I'm going to try ASAP: pizza burgers, tempeh burgers, meatloaf bites, lentil and oat burgers, Cajun corn chowder, pumpkin chili, baked potato samosas and Eggnog.

There's also a section of suggested workouts. Each exercise has three methods: basic modified and harder.

And I love that there are two pages for ingredient substitutions. I.e. Fresh herbs versus dried.

I am very happy with the purchase of this book.

Profile Image for Laura Leaney.
535 reviews117 followers
August 22, 2021
First, I have to say that it irritates me greatly that a few GR members are rating this little cookbook without ever having made a single recipe. That is so uncool. Then, readers are quibbling about the table of contents and/or the layout. These are aspects of a cookbook that matter, but the layout of the book is not so confusing that you should disregard the fact that there are some killer recipes in here.

I don't eat meat or dairy - but I'm not on a diet. Nevertheless, I loved the inclusion of "information per serving" (calories, fat, carbs, fiber, sugars, protein, and even WW points) for each recipe.

The recipes are super easy and contain the fewest number of ingredients of any of my cookbooks. I love making a work of food art as much as the next "foodie," but most of the time I do not have ambition to use up 2-3 hours on dinner. Most of the meals in this book can be accomplished quickly (although there is no "prep and cooking time" listed). You have to read the recipe and add up the times shown.

Of course I haven't made every single meal in the book, but each recipe I've followed has turned our really damn good. The "Spice Cake" is astonishingly tasty, as is the "Lentil Joes," the "Butternut Soup," the "Olive Gravy and Whole-Wheat Drop Biscuits, the "Skinny Pad Thai," and the "Smashed White Bean Wrap." All delicious. I've had this book for more than a year, and I have to say that I've used it enough to justify the measly 20 bucks I spent on it.
Profile Image for Tara.
676 reviews8 followers
April 4, 2016
I got this book from the library cuz I liked the idea of some simple recipes & a cookbook with some workout plans in it. But I guess based on the title I should have been suspicious- it ended up having way too much dieting language for my liking. Some of the recipes do look interesting if you can get past all of that, but some also are so bare bones they don't list a single spice- not even salt? If you're looking for super bare bones recipes with calorie listings then maybe it would be helpful. I found Oh She Glows and Minimalist Baker to be better for simple recipes though.
Profile Image for Jo * Smut-Dickted *.
2,038 reviews521 followers
April 6, 2014
So far I like everything I've made out of here. The Chocolate Muffins with Cranberries are so so good. I fed them to TEENAGERS who were not vegan and they loved them. I've made several other recipes from various places - mostly veggie based and all were good. I'll keep this updated as I make more recipes but I am really liking this author a lot. Though the baked stuff I've made tends to be a bit denser it was very tasty!
Profile Image for Megan.
45 reviews
December 31, 2018
This helped me fully transition to a gf, vegan lifestyle, and make meal prep so much EASIER! There were things I was buying that I could have so easily made - using the recipes in this book! Definitely could have used this book sooner! THANK YOU!
480 reviews4 followers
September 8, 2017
I didn't like the layout of this book. The table of contents doesn't list all the recipes, just the section titles. Then there is a list of all the recipes by calorie content. Yuck! Her story is interesting enough, and that section was well written. When reading the recipes, the instructions are written in a paragraph form, rather than bullet points. This makes it hard to cook by! I do enjoy the photos, and the few recipes I tried were yummy, but I had to ramp up the spices. The Pumpkin Chili is my fav.
Profile Image for Abbey.
1,011 reviews4 followers
February 22, 2019
Really great book if you are new to trying vegan. I found a few recipes to try. For example, adding a sweet potato to salad instead of meat. Also, wraps with no meat but still tasty looking. Finally, I wrote down three desserts; one ice cream made of sweet potatoes, one ice cream made from frozen bananas and chocolate truffles with white beans in them.
Profile Image for Angie Kennedy.
173 reviews3 followers
September 17, 2019
Lots of tasty looking recipes, pretty basic, simple ingredients that are probably already in my kitchen. I have to admit that when I saw the words "lean" and "workout plans," I thought it was going to be pretty heavy handed and preachy, but I was pleasantly surprised! Accessible writing, good advice and ideas and I'll definitely have to look up some of Lindsay's other books.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
336 reviews46 followers
January 31, 2021
If you only get one of Lindsay's books, get this one! (I think she would agree). It has so many "aha!" moments when it comes to veganism and a healthy body.
Profile Image for Nicole.
2,077 reviews7 followers
July 31, 2023
I appreciate the nutrition info and the lack of oil but some of the recipes just seem too restricted in that they are trying to be under a certain number of calories. Not my favorite book.
Profile Image for Larae.
244 reviews
January 13, 2017
Another great book in this series with recipes I would actually make.
1,417 reviews59 followers
November 9, 2014
Everyday Happy Herbivore is one of my favorite ever cookbooks, with recipes that I go back to again and again. I was so crazy about it that I ordered her other two books (at the time) without looking into them more. the original Happy Herbivore was a solid cookbook too. Not as many favorites, but still solid, with lots of recipes I could use. So I was pretty disappointed when I got Happy Herbivore Abroad. I was really excited to try her recipes with a more international flavor, but the recipes seemed so SLIGHT. Like I'd need to make 3 dishes, or quadruple portions, just to not be hungry immediately afterwards. the flavors sounded good, but the recipes didn't sound satisfying. Also, there was lots of filler with personal stories and photos from her trip. I'm happy for her getting to do the trip, I guess; I just don't care about it when I'm reading a cookbook. then I want recipes and food-related information, tips, and advice.
So I came into reading this cookbook with trepidation. I borrowed a library copy, figuring that if Abroad seemed slight, a cookbook called Light and Lively, involving exercise advice, would be even worse. And admittedly, after a first and second skim through, I wasn't impressed. A lot of the recipes looked slight, as the previous book (Pineapple chili? Lettuce tomato and corn wrap with bbq sauce?). and there was Lindsay's usual complement of gluten-heavy foods, baked goods mostly. I get it. Normal people can eat bread and pasta and baked goods, especially nice healthy ones. But I can't. While there are a few lines in the introduction to the book about gluten-free substitutions, that's not the focus of this book. It doesn't have to be. But for me, it can be frustrating opening a cookbook to dozens of recipes I CAN'T eat, increasing the feelings of deprivation and/or frustration that can frequently attend a restricted diet. So I tend to avoid cookbooks that make me frustrated.
So, with all that in mind, today I decided to sit down and go through the cookbook, recipe by recipe, to see if there were any few recipes I'd actually want to copy down to try later, so I could return this cookbook to the library for someone else. And a funny thing happened while I was doing that: I kept marking more and more recipes to save for later. at some point, I realized that the amount of recipes I'd bookmarked was a little too high to copy down in an afternoon, or to justify not buying the cookbook. So, yes, I'm going to return this copy to the library. And then I'm going to acquire a copy of my own from the bookstore later.
Yes, there ARE a lot of slight, "light and lean" recipes in this book. But sometimes there are suggestions beneath the recipes for ways to make it a heartier one-dish meal, adding in beans or more veggies or grains. there are sauces that will enrich other recipes as well as the recipes from this book. And there are enough recipes worth trying for this book to be a worthwhile purchase (whether or not I utilize the exercise hints, though, remains to be seen.) for myself. Check it out, even if you, like me, didn't care for the last book. Give the recipes a fair try, and see if it's worth it for you too.
Profile Image for {erika}.
705 reviews
January 8, 2017
Awesome gift from my sister in law and the 3rd HH cookbook I own. Awesome! so far I've made the tofu chicken salad and the samosa potatoes. A great resource with fantastic recipes as always, love the index and calorie info
Profile Image for Christy.
2 reviews
September 1, 2016
This is one of the best giveaway books I have ever received. I had to try out most of the recipes before I wrote my review of the dishes. I can sum it up in one word… yum! I almost forgot I was eating healthy and vegan. I added broccoli to the pineapple stir-fry and the flavor sent my taste buds in a whirl. I loved the pumpkin muffins and banana-chocolate chip scones. I was happy to find most of the ingredients were already in my kitchen and those that weren’t, were easily located at the grocery. The instructions are easy to follow for these delicious recipes and I found the additional information on the recipe pages to be helpful. I would highly recommend this book, it is not only for people that want to eat healthy but it also includes a fitness section to start an easy lifestyle change. Thanks you BenBella, Goodreads and Linsay S. Nixon!
Profile Image for Anna McClaugherty.
116 reviews1 follower
July 23, 2016
Although I haven't tried every recipe in this cookbook, I felt I tried enough to leave a good review. I was actually very impressed with the collection of recipes. Most of them are similar to every day happy herbivore in that they are quick, budget friendly, and use items that are typically found right in your pantry. Most of them are also gluten-free or can be gluten-free and many of them are soy free. My favorite recipes are the Thai tacos, burrito bowl, pumpkin chili, spinach love wrap, and chipotle sweet potato salad. I could see many of the recipes in this book becoming staples in our house.
Profile Image for Sundry.
669 reviews28 followers
November 21, 2014
I haven't delved too far into this book yet because I ordered a couple of new cookbooks at the same time, but I'd like to say that I am addicted to the olive gravy recipe (which I make with kalamata olives and serve over potatoes.)

Nicely laid out and well thought out. I haven't found a recipe yet that left me pondering what was missing. I'm looking forward to trying more.

This is a Forks Over Knives and Engine 2 Diet friendly cookbook!
Profile Image for Carol.
24 reviews
May 10, 2014
I got my giveaway copy in the mail today! Thank you BenBella Books and Goodreads! I can hardly wait to try some of the recipes. The dishes look amazing and I love the fact that they're plant-based and healthy. It's a great way to kick off the New Year!

This book has some really great healthy recipes. I really like the Irish Stew on Page 113. I'll definitely keep trying out more recipes.
Profile Image for Brigetta Barone.
37 reviews
August 21, 2014
Delicious, nutrient dense, and FAST

Delicious, nutrient dense, and FAST

What more could I ask for in a cookbook? Every recipe I have made has been so delicious. I also love that she even gives the WW point value of each meal. You wouldn't really expect low-fat meals to be this delicious. I hope she writes more cookbooks like this.
Profile Image for Tanya Simon.
Author 3 books35 followers
May 10, 2015
Tons of information and recipes. I did not like for more info you are led to a website where you have to pay to get more info. The recipes are stupendous and she really did get me fired up for the change I made from carnivore for herbivore! So check it out I think you will find the recipes worth your time!
Profile Image for Dianna.
1,957 reviews43 followers
June 4, 2016
This has to go back to the library today . . . boo-hoo. I love this book. The recipes I have tried from it have been great, and the photography is very nice (I find good pictures inspiring in a cookbook). I am going to have to add this book to my own collection, which is the highest compliment I ever pay a cookbook.
Profile Image for Karen!.
259 reviews
November 16, 2015
One of her best cookbooks. It is laid out logically and the page design is appealing and clean (not busy like some other cookbooks).

The mac and cheese with pumpkin was particularly delish!

I love that sometimes she gives "cheater" or indulgence options to add peanut butter or other yummy but not-so-low-calorie options.
Profile Image for Gail.
237 reviews6 followers
January 28, 2016
This book is fine. I find the author quite likable, but I'm just so-so on the Happy Herbivore recipes. There's a pretty consistent use of garlic powder and onion powder, which I don't like seeing so heavily across the board. But I'm in the minority (people love these books), so check them out for yourself!
Profile Image for Michelle.
2,628 reviews54 followers
January 8, 2014
Just about perfect. I am becoming a Lindsay groupie. I love the ideas, the fairly easy recipes, the food, the nutrition info. Just about perfect! Another out of the park home run. Lindsay makes plant-based whole foods doable.
Profile Image for Roberta.
470 reviews3 followers
June 18, 2014
Loved this book

This is my first time picking up one of Lindsay's book. It was great. I even purchased the other 3. The recipes are easy to follow, can be cooked in under 30 minutes, and the food items can be found in local stores...unlike other vegan/vegetarian cookbooks.
Profile Image for Susan.
1,682 reviews13 followers
February 24, 2014
I bought this for my nook and have made several things out of it. The tempeh bacon is good, the chocolate cake is good (though my kids didn't like the surprise frosting -- no surprise since they don't like sweet potato), and lots of other things sound delish and easy.
Profile Image for Ro.
3,124 reviews16 followers
January 27, 2016
Easy for the most part

Most recipes look interesting to me a,though there are a few that I know I won't be trying. These are no oil recipes, which definitely takes some getting used to but they are definitely halt by. I appreciate the nutritional information being included.
2 reviews10 followers
December 27, 2016
Easy to follow

A lot of people mistake going vegan with eating healthy. They assume they will loose weight but that's not always the case. The recipes in this book are easy to follow and I like the way she tagged the recipes giving budget friendly options.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.