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The Beginner's Pegan Diet Cookbook: Plant-Forward Recipes Combining the Best of the Paleo and Vegan Diets for Lifelong Health

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Over 100 amazing recipes with guidance on following the pegan diet, a balanced, anti-inflammatory blend of the paleo and vegan diets. From the creator of SunkissedKitchen.com, Michelle Miller brings over 100 delicious pegan diet recipes to the table and introduces you to the eating philosophy that celebrates plant-based foods, limits sugar intake and focuses on a high fiber diet in The Beginner’s Pegan Diet Cookbook. ​This cookbook puts you on the path to a balanced, anti-inflammatory eating approach that provides you with the necessary vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and phytonutrients your body needs. The principles of the pegan diet Unlimited low-glycemic, and occasional high-glycemic, fruits and vegetablesLimited dairy or inclusion of raw and fermented dairy productMinimally processed whole foodsSmall amounts of gluten-free grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds as well as meat and eggsNo gluten and small amounts of minimally-processed sugar Unlike paleo and vegan diets, following the pegan philosophy is less restrictive, so you can easily maintain lifelong health. Inside this book, you will find pegan recipes for every meal of the day plus snacks and desserts,   Lemon-Raspberry Buckwheat MuffinsChia Seed Power CrackersSalmon and Artichoke SkewersTurkey Sweet Potato ChiliPesto Spaghetti Squash with Blistered TomatoesSeared Lamb Chops with Citrus Mint SaladAlmond Berry Cobbler Make healthy eating feel like a treat instead of a chore with The Beginner's Pegan Diet Cookbook.

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 23, 2021

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Michelle Miller

165 books24 followers

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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Alicia Bayer.
Author 10 books248 followers
March 5, 2021
The idea behind the pegan diet is to mix the healthiest parts of veganism with the healthiest parts of paleo. The result, which was first popularized by Dr. Mark Hyman, is a mostly non-dairy diet that is high in nourishing vegetables, nuts and healthy proteins, with whole foods that are very low on the glycemic index. This is the kind of diet to take up if you're trying to heal your gut, stave off diabetes, get past autoimmune issues, heal from a tough illness and otherwise really support your health. It's less restrictive than either paleo or vegan but it lacks the ethical slant of veganism. That said, proponents stress the importance of sourcing grass-fed, sustainably farmed, ethically raised animal products so there is an ethical component in that sense (the health-supporting and anti-inflammatory nature of these recipes will be completely undone if you make them with conventional animal products, which are pro-inflammatory and terrible for your health -- even butter has been found to have drastically different amounts of omega 3 and omega 6 fats depending on whether the cows were raised on grass or feed, for instance).

This cookbook is a great accompaniment to the pegan diet. There are beautiful color photos for about half of the recipes. Nutritional information is provided for every recipe. Most of the recipes are low in sugars and starches. They'll work well for low-carb diets but most are still too high in carbs for keto diets (though there are many that will work for keto too). Vegans will be discouraged by the abundance of animal products, especially things like honey and drippings. There are many vegetarian dishes. It does use some grains but they are healthier grains like buckwheat and quinoa, and it often relies on things like almond flour instead. The recipes are largely dairy free (though many recipes do call for ingredients like pasture-raised butter) and there are lots of tasty sounding dairy-free dressings, sauces and drinks. The desserts at the end were refreshingly low in sugars and carbs but looked and sounded delicious. This isn't a cookbook I'd use every day but there are a number of recipes I've marked to try.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
Profile Image for Tove R..
618 reviews17 followers
February 22, 2021
It’s hard for me to review this book. This is my first look into a pegan diet. I’m a vegan myself, so not thinking about adopting this diet. In fact, I was a bit surprised how many recipes were with meat, and how many veggie recipes with honey. This confused me a bit, would have expected a lot less meat.

I enjoyed the info about which fruits, oils, and veggies to eat. Good useful information about the glycemic index. I believe this book and its recipes will work for quite a few people, and it is an interesting combination. I’ll try a few veggie recipes from the book, and keep my eyes on the glycemic index in the future.
Profile Image for Kimba Tichenor.
Author 1 book161 followers
March 10, 2021
Pegan is defined as a combination of the paleo and vegan diets without the firm restrictions those diets demand. Some followers of this program place more emphasis on the paleo aspect while others place more emphasis on the vegan component. This particular cookbook I would describe as placing more emphasis on the paleo component, so if you are, like me vegan/vegetarian, the entrees in this book are of very limited value, as they are so low in protein as to not qualify as an entree. For example, the Moroccan-style Chickpea Salad per serving has only 7 grams of protein; the Winter glow rice salad has 9 grams of protein per serving; and the Eggplant meatballs with noodles has only 10 grams of protein. This issue is made more glaring when one looks at the protein level of the meat entrees, where the lowest is 15 and many are over 30 grams per serving. While obviously this is not an issue for those who plan to incorporate meat, poultry and fish, it does make clear that the primary focus of adding the "vegan" aspect is side dishes and so this book is not. a good option for a vegetarian/vegan looking to introduce some modifications based on the Pegan concept.

That said, this book does have much to offer for those who are looking for a more natural diet while continuing to eat meat, fish and poultry. All recipes include basic dietary information (calories, fiber, carbs, protein, and fat). Although there is no information on sodium, just based on the recipes, it is clear that the author does not use salt as a seasoning, so I am guessing all or most of these recipes are relatively low in sodium. Some recipes do include Coconut amino, which does have sodium, but at a much lower level than even a reduced sodium soy sauce.

Second the photography is beautiful. The pictures alone will encourage the reluctant convert to try new things.

Third, the book includes valuable information on topics such as natural sweeteners and on the importance of meal prepping for maintaining a healthy eating lifestyle. However, I was surprised given this is an introductory book, it did not include a section on stocking one's pantry, although it did include lists about what grains, cheeses, legumes, oils, etc should and could be enjoyed in moderation. Another topic that it did not tackle and which is always a challenge when wanting to incorporate organically-grown vegetables and environmentally-friendly meat, poultry and fish products is costs. It would have been nice if the author included tips on how this type of diet can be made more cost-effective, so that those in lower income brackets who might benefit from such a diet change might feel that there is a way that they could do this or at least shift in this direction. As we all know buying a organically-grown head of cauliflower can be shocking.

Fourth, the book is very well-organized. In addition to the main table of contents: Introduction, Breakfast, Simple snacks, Soups and Salads; Entrees, side dishes, gravies/sauces/etc, dessert, and drinks. Each section also includes a quick access table of contents, pointing you to recipes, as well as an index for finding recipes and topics.

I would like to thank the publisher, NetGalley and the author for a advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Profile Image for Danielle .
299 reviews66 followers
February 17, 2021
This is a good book for those looking to clean up their diet and go to a more Paleo-type diet featuring plants. The recipes are not strictly vegeterian, but rather focus on a 3:1 plant to meat balance.
There are lots of photos in the book and all the food looks delicious- there are so many dishes I can't wait to try making.
Many thanks to Fair Winds Press and NetGalley for the advance copy.
Profile Image for OjoAusana.
2,265 reviews
May 20, 2021
*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Some of the recipes in here i'd never use but ngl, if i saw this book for a good price i wouldn't mind owning it!
Profile Image for Annie.
4,671 reviews83 followers
April 10, 2021
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

The Beginner's Pegan Diet Cookbook is a tutorial and recipe guide for the pegan diet with recipes developed by Michelle Miller. Due out 27th April 2021 from Quarto on their Fair Winds Press imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

The pegan (paleo + vegan principles) hybrid diet aims to improve health by minimizing inflammatory responses as well as being sustainable, helping support weight loss and balancing hormonal responses. Since it avoids dairy, gluten, additives, sugar, processed foods, and refined oils, it's easier on people who have negative metabolic responses to those items (celiac disease, lactose intolerance, etc).

Although based on vegan and paleo diet principles, this diet is a hybrid method and less restrictive than either. For readers who are already vegans, these recipes contain about 25% overall animal protein, as well as other non-vegan ingredients such as honey. The point of the animal proteins is to source only the best quality usually grass-fed red meat and wild caught fish. The first 10% of the content covers the theory behind the diet, how to source the ingredients, understanding the glycemic index of foods (and why that matters), and some very general layman accessible physiology. The author has also included a sample meal plan and some basic info about meal-prepping.

Recipes are grouped thematically: breakfast, snacks, soups & salads, entrees, side dishes, gravy sauces & dips, desserts, and drinks. The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard with metric measures in parentheses. Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Recipes contain a brief description, nutritional info (calories, protein, fat, carbs), servings, and prep time. The ingredients will mostly be easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store.

Roughly 30% (by my count) of the recipes include photographs and serving suggestions are appetizing and appropriate.

Four stars. There are some good ideas and recipes here which look tasty and healthy.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Profile Image for Terri (BooklyMatters).
736 reviews1 follower
March 29, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a delight! This book introduces the reader to the “pegan” diet, which is a lifestyle based on the best parts of eating according to both Paleo and Vegan guidelines. Basically, the diet consists of whole foods, mostly low-carbohydrate fruits and vegetables, along with nuts and seeds, meat (preferably grass fed), fish. Legumes, healthy full-fat dairy, and low glycemic sweeteners are also allowed in moderation, as well as gluten-free grains.

Less extreme than some of the popular diets, for people already experimenting with healthy eating choices the pegan lifestyle appears relatively easy to adopt. This beautiful book will form a great introduction to the pegan lifestyle, providing tips and guidelines as well as a luscious set of recipes that can form the backbone of introductory pegan meal planning. Along with the beautiful photos, the recipes are clear and easy to follow, utilizing ingredients most kitchens will already have on hand, with a few basic updates including plenty of fresh vegetables, nuts, healthy oils and gluten free grains. (For example, Millet, quinoa, buckwheat). Each recipe is also labeled with nutritional info and there is broad coverage for breakfast, entrees, snacks, deserts, soups and salads, as well as gravies/dressings, and beverages.

Some of the recipes I can’t wait to try include:

-Sweet potato breakfast skillet
-Roasted carrot hummus
-Chicken zoodle soup
-Cauliflower fried rice
-Cleaned up Cobb salad
-Eggplant meatballs
-Golden lentil soup

Not to mention:
-Dark chocolate raspberry shortbread bars
-Vanilla bean coconut milk custard
-Cashew hot fudge

I’m excited to review this book, and am looking forward to giving many of these recipes a test run in my kitchen.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance review copy of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
649 reviews17 followers
May 7, 2021
So what is a Pegan Diet? It a blend of paleo and vegan diets that focuses on real, whole foods and prioritises the most nutrient-dense options: high quality meats, low-carb fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds". Gluten is generally avoided in this diet, along with processed grain foods, sugars, trans fats and omega-6 fatty acids, dried fruits and food additives and preservatives.

After the Introduction the book is divided into 8 chapters (no of recipes):
- Breakfast (10)
- Simple Snacks (10)
- Soups & Salads (10)
- Entrees (26)
- Side Dishes (10)
- Gravy, broths, dips, sauces & dressings (16)
- Dessert (10)
- Drinks (10)

The recipes contain both imperial and metric measurements. Whilst there is colour photography, not all of the recipes have one. Each recipe has the nutriental information and how many servings it produces. Some of the recipes have handy notes such as boneless thighs marninate quicker than in bone pieces or how to create zoodles if you don't have a spiralizer.

There are a number of recipes I'd like to try from this book, though there are a few we have to avoid as they contain cashew nuts (allergies) and there isn't an alternative suggested.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.
Profile Image for Nikki.
1,174 reviews26 followers
March 31, 2021
The Beginner's Pegan Diet Cookbook: Plant-Forward Recipes Combining the Best of the Paleo and Vegan Diets for Lifelong Health by Michelle Miller
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group – Fair Winds
Genre: Cooking, Food & Wine | Health, Mind & Body
Release Date: April 27, 2021

The Beginner's Pegan Diet Cookbook: Plant-Forward Recipes Combining the Best of the Paleo and Vegan Diets for Lifelong Health by Michelle Miller is an introduction to the Pegan diet with recipes.

Pegan is considered the combination of the Paleo and Vegan Diets. There is a whole chapter dedicated to the basics of the Pegan Diet.

The recipes are broken down into the following chapters: Breakfast, Simple Snacks, Soups & Salads, Entrees, Side Dishes, Gravy, Broths, Dips, Sauces, & Dressings, Desserts, and Drinks. There is nutritional information provided with each recipe.

I look forward to trying some of these recipes. I think there are even some my picky husband would enjoy!

I'm so grateful to Michelle Miller, Quarto Publishing Group – Fair Winds, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Jessica.
179 reviews18 followers
April 19, 2021
My family has been following a strict paleo diet, off and on, for several years. A new cookbook that focuses on more vegetables and fats over meats? Sign me up! Michelle Miller does a fabulous job of introducing newcomers to the Pegan diet. The first few chapters don't read like a textbook and are full of so much condensed information.

The recipes and photographs are stunning. Honestly, just looking at the photographs would have sold me this cookbook. So many colorful and tasty options! I will say that these recipes aren't 100% accessible for some. If you live near a large city with specialty grocery stores, then you shouldn't have any issues.

I was going to list a few recipes that interested me, but then I realized that I would be listing almost half the cookbook! Even if you don't follow a paleo-ish diet, I highly recommend this just to inspire a vegetable rich diet.

Thank you, Netgalley, for this free arc in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
1,287 reviews126 followers
February 24, 2021
Gorgeous and yummy! Filled with plant heavy meals that are really simple to prepare and have easy to find ingredients. The recipes are nice and straightforward and let the ingredients shine. The entree section is more meat focused, but the rest of the recipes are chocked full of delicious plant based recipes that will easily serve as entree meals. Many of the breakfast recipes would easily transform into lunch and dinner and there is a really great section on sauces/dressings and gravies. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy.
Profile Image for Cozy Book Spot.
447 reviews7 followers
February 21, 2021
I really like this book. I got to learn about the Pegan diet, there are amazing photos and the recipes are very nice and well organized so it's easy to read. Most of the recipes look appealing to me and I can't wait to make them! I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
Profile Image for Kate.
1,106 reviews41 followers
March 11, 2021
Overall, I liked this cookbook. However, I wish there were more pictures. A lot of the recipes are also a little bit "fancy" for what we eat on a regular basis. Translation: too many ingredients and too large of a time commitment. I do like that there were nutritional facts for all of the recipes though!
Profile Image for Witch-at-Heart .
1,567 reviews21 followers
May 18, 2021
This is a cookbook that is a blrnding of patio and began meals. I'm not a huge fan of the layout it has a very large amount of wasted space on the pages and some are split onto more the n one page making it awkward for cooking.

Otherwise the recipes themselves are not bad and I found a few tasty recipes that I enjoy.
Profile Image for Julia.
Author 1 book51 followers
March 10, 2021
The concept of the Pegan diet is very interesting. This book is a good introduction to the diet and has many recipes for tasty dishes. The recipe instructions are easy to follow. Some of the recipes need time for the preparation of the ingredients, but it's well worth taking this time.
Profile Image for Gretchen.
1,419 reviews30 followers
February 22, 2021
A good summary of the pegan diet with great recipes. I have a few to try. #TheBeginnersPeganDietCookbook #NetGalley
Profile Image for Danielle Shroyer.
Author 4 books33 followers
October 19, 2022
Alright I like this one. It has enough good recipes that I bought it- great snack and lunch ideas particularly.
Profile Image for Raj.
49 reviews
October 7, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I've experimented with Paleo over the years and enjoyed it, though I struggled to keep at it over the long term. Veganism I've danced around. Whilst family and friends and co-workers embraced veganism; I only like the idea, not the practice. The occasional meal, or a day or two of vegan meals, is acceptable. I love eating fish and meat too much to be Vegan fully, though. That's why the idea of Peganism interested me.

A Pegan diet is a mix of Paleo and Vegan. A simplified explanation of the two diets is Paleo focuses on food available before civilization, no farmed or processed food. Veganism avoids animal products and byproducts. Pegan keeps a focus on real food from the two. Whilst Peganism appears healthy and sensible to me; it is not based on scientific research.

The book is a delight to read. The layout is elegant, very clear and clean with gorgeous pictures. It's easy to read and focus on key information.
The book introduces the Pegan diet, explaining concepts such as aiming for low G.I. foods and low inflammatory food. The following chapters are divided by the type of recipe they cover, including staples such as breakfast, main, side, dessert and the rest of the gang.

Recipes have nutritional information and yield. Crucially for keto followers, there is a carb count, so it is easy for people following other diets. Most recipes are effortless, though there are ingredients that not everyone will have. Alongside the instructions are some stunning images of meals that left me feeling hungry. It's a shame that these are not present for every recipe.

My favourite dish was a bit of a cheat since I didn't learn it from the book; I've been making it for years now. Tom Kha Gai, creamy coconut and Thai chicken soup is a delight. I recommend everyone try it if you have time, even if you don't buy the book you can google the instructions. I tried a variety of meals from the book and enjoyed most. I've experimented with Paleo for years, so it was easy for me to make meals. Many I just made without looking at the instructions more than once. If you are familiar with the Paleo diet, I would recommend looking for a more advanced book on Peganism. For everyone else, this book will be a delight.
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