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Being Vegetarian for Dummies
Before you arrived at the restaurant, your friends all ordered a large pizza--half pepperoni, half sausage. As the solo vegetarian, you discreetly add a small cheese pizza to the order--with peppers and onions, of course! Welcome to the world of a vegetarian in an otherwise carnivorous population. Vegetarianism has found itself growing in popularity, whether for religious, health, moral, or many other reasons. Still, it's not uncommon to be the minority in a large group of people based on your vegetarian lifestyle. Going to a restaurant, a dinner party, traveling, and holidays (think: tofurkey!) can often be a challenge for many vegetarians. Being Vegetarian For Dummies helps you choose the vegetarian lifestyle that is right for you, whether you're a vegetarian in the making or if you've been a vegetarian for years . With the helpful advice this guide provides, you'll:
Discover the vegetarian food guide pyramid Figure out true benefits of vegetarianism Find out how to reinvent your favorite recipes Learn how to arrange for vegetarian foods at wedding, banquets, and other social events Best of all, Being Vegetarian For Dummies tackles head-on some of the most common questions that vegetarians often face when someone learns of their dietary lifestyle. Aren't you lacking a ton of vitamins and minerals? What exactly do you eat? Don't you get tired of salads? Isn't it dangerous to be vegetarian when you're pregnant? The list goes on--mainly because most people don't have a clear understanding of what being a vegetarian really entails. Being Vegetarian For Dummies offers you all you need to know to make smart, healthy choices, and also covers:
Deciding whether to switch to vegetarianism overnight or gradually Finding vegetarian sources of protein Ensuring that you have a healthy vegetarian pregnancy Vegetarian diets for children and teens Understanding what's really in your food and other products Being Vegetarian For Dummies definitely promises that you won't be eating grilled cheese sandwiches for the rest of your life.
Discover the vegetarian food guide pyramid Figure out true benefits of vegetarianism Find out how to reinvent your favorite recipes Learn how to arrange for vegetarian foods at wedding, banquets, and other social events Best of all, Being Vegetarian For Dummies tackles head-on some of the most common questions that vegetarians often face when someone learns of their dietary lifestyle. Aren't you lacking a ton of vitamins and minerals? What exactly do you eat? Don't you get tired of salads? Isn't it dangerous to be vegetarian when you're pregnant? The list goes on--mainly because most people don't have a clear understanding of what being a vegetarian really entails. Being Vegetarian For Dummies offers you all you need to know to make smart, healthy choices, and also covers:
Deciding whether to switch to vegetarianism overnight or gradually Finding vegetarian sources of protein Ensuring that you have a healthy vegetarian pregnancy Vegetarian diets for children and teens Understanding what's really in your food and other products Being Vegetarian For Dummies definitely promises that you won't be eating grilled cheese sandwiches for the rest of your life.
326 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
9 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 8, 2024
AN EXCELLENT SUMMARY OF MOST ASPECTS OF VEGETARIANISM
Suzanne Havala is a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant, as well as the author of 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Being Vegetarian,' 'Becoming Vegetarian: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Vegetarian Diet,' 'Shopping for Health: A Nutritionist's Aisle-By-Aisle Guide to Smart, Low-Fat Choices at the Supermarket,' etc.
She wrote in the Introduction to this 2001 book (which is really an expansion and reformatting into "Dummies" style of her 1999 "Complete Idiot's" book), "This book is for vegetarians and prospective veg-heads, too---for anyone who would finally like to know that a 'vegan' is, who still has questions about where vegetarians get their protein, for moms and dads who are wringing their hands because Junior has 'gone vegetarian,' and for Junior to give to Mom and Dad so that they won't worry. This book is for vegetarians and nonvegetarians alike. Whether you want to enhance your athletic performance, control or prevent the onset of disease, manage your weight... help keep the planet healthy and the animals happy, or you just want to look and feel your best, this book's got what you need." (Pg. 2)
She notes, "Macrobiotic diets are often lumped into the general category of vegetarian diets, even though they may include seafood. The diet excludes all other animal products, however, as well as refined sugars, tropical fruits, and 'nightshade vegetables'... Many people follow a macrobiotic diet as part of a life philosophy..." (Pg. 14)
She argues, "Another result of the market for meat in affluent nations is the choice of those in power in poor countries to raise animals for export to the wealthy overseas. The losers are again the local people, who might have benefited from less profitable plant foods grown to feed the masses. Another downside to this practice is that in some developing nations, natural resources such as land and forest are depleted and are no longer suitable for growing the crops that could feed the masses." (Pg. 30)
She observes, "The United States Department of Agriculture is in the business of protecting and promoting agriculture. In large part, that means advocating for the meat and dairy industries. However, the Department of Agriculture is also charged with issuing dietary recommendations for the American public. Conflict of interest? You bet... The dairy industry has historically been aggressive about providing nutrition education for the public." (Pg. 66)
She admits, "Our need for vitamin B12 is truly miniscule, but the tiny bit that we might have gotten in years past ... isn't available to most of us now. If you eat animal products regularly, you've got a source of vitamin B12. If you don't, then you need to find an alternate source. That means that vegans, or people who eat a near-vegan diet, need to pay more attention to getting a reliable source of vitamin B12 in their diets." (Pg. 80)
This book is filled with information, and will be of great value to vegetarians, or to those simply wanting to know more about it.
Suzanne Havala is a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant, as well as the author of 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Being Vegetarian,' 'Becoming Vegetarian: The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Vegetarian Diet,' 'Shopping for Health: A Nutritionist's Aisle-By-Aisle Guide to Smart, Low-Fat Choices at the Supermarket,' etc.
She wrote in the Introduction to this 2001 book (which is really an expansion and reformatting into "Dummies" style of her 1999 "Complete Idiot's" book), "This book is for vegetarians and prospective veg-heads, too---for anyone who would finally like to know that a 'vegan' is, who still has questions about where vegetarians get their protein, for moms and dads who are wringing their hands because Junior has 'gone vegetarian,' and for Junior to give to Mom and Dad so that they won't worry. This book is for vegetarians and nonvegetarians alike. Whether you want to enhance your athletic performance, control or prevent the onset of disease, manage your weight... help keep the planet healthy and the animals happy, or you just want to look and feel your best, this book's got what you need." (Pg. 2)
She notes, "Macrobiotic diets are often lumped into the general category of vegetarian diets, even though they may include seafood. The diet excludes all other animal products, however, as well as refined sugars, tropical fruits, and 'nightshade vegetables'... Many people follow a macrobiotic diet as part of a life philosophy..." (Pg. 14)
She argues, "Another result of the market for meat in affluent nations is the choice of those in power in poor countries to raise animals for export to the wealthy overseas. The losers are again the local people, who might have benefited from less profitable plant foods grown to feed the masses. Another downside to this practice is that in some developing nations, natural resources such as land and forest are depleted and are no longer suitable for growing the crops that could feed the masses." (Pg. 30)
She observes, "The United States Department of Agriculture is in the business of protecting and promoting agriculture. In large part, that means advocating for the meat and dairy industries. However, the Department of Agriculture is also charged with issuing dietary recommendations for the American public. Conflict of interest? You bet... The dairy industry has historically been aggressive about providing nutrition education for the public." (Pg. 66)
She admits, "Our need for vitamin B12 is truly miniscule, but the tiny bit that we might have gotten in years past ... isn't available to most of us now. If you eat animal products regularly, you've got a source of vitamin B12. If you don't, then you need to find an alternate source. That means that vegans, or people who eat a near-vegan diet, need to pay more attention to getting a reliable source of vitamin B12 in their diets." (Pg. 80)
This book is filled with information, and will be of great value to vegetarians, or to those simply wanting to know more about it.
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June 30, 2020For March book club I read the book Being Vegetarian for Dummies. I bought this book for my own personal enjoyment because there is always something new to learn about being a vegetarian. I started reading the book and realized it talked a lot about the connection between technology and healthy choices. Throughout my CTEP year I have seen the effects of a lack of technology in almost every aspect of my residents’ lives. It’s hard to find; housing, benefits, employment, transportation, etc. without access to a computer. I never noticed the potential connection between internet access and healthy living.
I use the computer every day to look up nutritional information. This is done by searching for recipes, finding healthier alternatives, checking the calories in different food, and finding ways to make natural household products. The internet has provided me the ability to change my entire life in a healthier way. I truly believe that without the internet I would not be living the way I am today. It makes me wonder; would our residents make healthier choices if they had access to the information? Do you, a CTEP member make healthier choices because you are able to use a computer every day?
Being Vegetarian for Dummies thinks that there is a definite connection between access to technology and your health. The book says that people who have the ability to read nutrition labels (online and in store) are able to make healthier choices. If people are able to get online and find nutritional information on the food they are feeding their family they would realize that there are more natural choices. I would have to agree with the book. There are many ways to help the people we serve make better choices when it comes to their health. At PPL we offer rides to multiple food banks that provide nutritional information when they get there. I made a point of asking where the food banks get this information they told me online. They said they provide the information to their clients because they know the clients don’t have access to the nutritional information. *Ding Ding* other people are noticing that there is a lack of information available to people who don’t have access to the internet. PPL also offers freshly made bread every Tuesday to their residents that are made at a local store. I’m glad to see that my site is trying to provide healthier alternatives to the residents, but there is definitely room to improve. It would be nice to teach a computer class that focuses on finding health information like recipes and health concerns.
This year I got to see a glimpse of why our PPL residents only go to the emergency room instead of getting a check-up or appointment. Most of the residents don’t have health care or don’t have coverage which means they are forced to go to the ER. If our residents were able to get online and see natural remedies would it save them a trip to the emergency room? If people could read the dangers of the food they are feeding their families would it prevent them from diseases? Being Vegetarian for Dummies made a valid argument that people don’t know about natural remedies because they don’t know where to find the information. When I get sick instead of taking medicine I look up natural solution like essential oils or vegetables. I don’t think our clients are able to do that because they don’t have the resources to do that. Is the lack of access to information causing more problems outside the world of employment? This book say that yes, the lack of technology is definitely causing bigger problems in our lives besides the “normal” issues (employment, housing, transportation, benefits, etc.). The idea that people would make better nutrition choices if they had access to the information is a debatable statement. What do you think? Are you interested in learning about becoming a vegetarian? Let me know and you can borrow this book!
I use the computer every day to look up nutritional information. This is done by searching for recipes, finding healthier alternatives, checking the calories in different food, and finding ways to make natural household products. The internet has provided me the ability to change my entire life in a healthier way. I truly believe that without the internet I would not be living the way I am today. It makes me wonder; would our residents make healthier choices if they had access to the information? Do you, a CTEP member make healthier choices because you are able to use a computer every day?
Being Vegetarian for Dummies thinks that there is a definite connection between access to technology and your health. The book says that people who have the ability to read nutrition labels (online and in store) are able to make healthier choices. If people are able to get online and find nutritional information on the food they are feeding their family they would realize that there are more natural choices. I would have to agree with the book. There are many ways to help the people we serve make better choices when it comes to their health. At PPL we offer rides to multiple food banks that provide nutritional information when they get there. I made a point of asking where the food banks get this information they told me online. They said they provide the information to their clients because they know the clients don’t have access to the nutritional information. *Ding Ding* other people are noticing that there is a lack of information available to people who don’t have access to the internet. PPL also offers freshly made bread every Tuesday to their residents that are made at a local store. I’m glad to see that my site is trying to provide healthier alternatives to the residents, but there is definitely room to improve. It would be nice to teach a computer class that focuses on finding health information like recipes and health concerns.
This year I got to see a glimpse of why our PPL residents only go to the emergency room instead of getting a check-up or appointment. Most of the residents don’t have health care or don’t have coverage which means they are forced to go to the ER. If our residents were able to get online and see natural remedies would it save them a trip to the emergency room? If people could read the dangers of the food they are feeding their families would it prevent them from diseases? Being Vegetarian for Dummies made a valid argument that people don’t know about natural remedies because they don’t know where to find the information. When I get sick instead of taking medicine I look up natural solution like essential oils or vegetables. I don’t think our clients are able to do that because they don’t have the resources to do that. Is the lack of access to information causing more problems outside the world of employment? This book say that yes, the lack of technology is definitely causing bigger problems in our lives besides the “normal” issues (employment, housing, transportation, benefits, etc.). The idea that people would make better nutrition choices if they had access to the information is a debatable statement. What do you think? Are you interested in learning about becoming a vegetarian? Let me know and you can borrow this book!
March 15, 2018
Spiegazione chiara, è un valido aiuto. Non è però aggiornato con gli ultimi studi sulla soia e sui pericoli che potrebbe nascondere. Consigliato sia a chi inizia, sia a chi è già a metà dell’opera.
September 7, 2023
What I learnt. Defn of Veg. Why be Veg. Hardwires of Veggie. Ladders of consciousness
February 16, 2014
I became a vegetarian over night and this book was very helpful. It wasn't preachy or over the top, just informative. I liked how towards the back there were different variations. For example: vegetarian for kids, athletes, adults, etc. It covered a lot of material: manners at a dinner party if you're vegetarian, what different types of vegetarians are out there, and food suggestions. I would recommend this to anyone who is a vegetarian or even considering becoming a vegetarian.
March 31, 2009
an informative book. it's good for those who don't know a whole lot and are just starting out with a new life change. it's also a good book for parents/loved ones to read, if someone in their life has made the decision to become vegetarian. it walks you through all the important things.
great read.
great read.
Want to read
September 19, 2007Started browsing this one at Barnes & Noble and think it would be a good read to keep me on track toward my goal of becoming vegetarian.
Want to read
May 30, 2008I really hate animals suffering....but I still really like cheeseburgers...so, I'm not yet fully committed to becoming vegetarian/vegan. Maybe this will show me the path
June 1, 2008
Funny, informative, the Bible for vegetarians-to-be!
June 12, 2008
Tons of information that I found helpful. A source that I will continue to reference.
May 5, 2009
great info
February 13, 2010
The more I learn about food. The less I wish I knew. It weighs on my mind of what I should do and what I am doing. I just don't think I have it in me to become vegetarian, let alone a vegan.
July 27, 2011
Good information for anyone thinking of starting a vegetarian lifestyle.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews