So you’re thinking about going vegan, or maybe you’ve already taken the leap to eliminate animal products from your diet. Good for you! Switching to a plant-based diet can be exciting, inspiring, and deeply gratifying. While you should consult with your doctor on all diets and major lifestyle changes, it’s essential to understand what a vegan diet entails so that you can ensure your body is getting the nutrients it needs. With the increasing visibility and availability of meat and dairy analogues, eating a predominantly plant-based diet is becoming more mainstream. Nearly 68% of Americans have tried a plant-based meat or dairy alternative, and one-third are actively incorporating plant-based foods into their diet. Some people are motivated to eat this way for health reasons - looking to nutrition to prevent or heal chronic conditions and diseases.
Vegan cookbooks have seen a similar boom in popularity as interest in cruelty-free alternatives continues to grow. That’s where cookbooks come in-these vegan cookbooks are full of tasty recipes and balanced meals to help you live your best vegan life. While you can surely find a variety of recipes on the Internet, investing in a few good vegan or plant-based cookbooks can really set you up for success. Cookbooks are a great resource for finding real, kitchen-tested recipes that are healthy and tasty. Many of them include suggestions for pantry staples to have on hand, plant-based substitutions for dairy, or where to find specific ingredients you may be unfamiliar with. But as plant-based diets continue to rise in popularity, so do the number of cookbooks to choose from.
Why Choose a Plant-Based Diet?
A plant-based diet has been proven to be a healthy and balanced alternative to diets that include meat. In Plant-Based Diet Cookbook For Dummies you’ll get all the recipes you need to guide you through a durable lifestyle change that will boost your energy, lower inflammation, encourage a healthy weight, and reduce your risk of disease. You probably know that a plant-based diet can be extraordinarily healthy. But did you know that the food you eat can actually save your life-or end it prematurely? Heart disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal issues, Alzheimer’s disease, and even cancer have been found to have strong ties to diet.
What to Expect from Plant-Based Cookbooks
These options only address the question of what to eat, leaving many critical questions about nutrition, eating out, grocery shopping, and so much more. Whether you’re vegan-curious or a total convert, it’s always a good idea to seek advice from the experts. Make sure your meal plans measure up, your ethics are on point, and science can support your choices with these top plant-based lifestyle books on your side.
Featured Plant-Based Cookbooks and Guides
Plant-Based Diet Cookbook For Dummies: This book will help you cross over into a cruelty-free lifestyle with nutrition info and tips for easing the transition. And you’ll find more than 125 recipes for meals, snacks, appetizers, and desserts. Part 1 Learn all about plant-based diet, how to get started, and what health benefits to expect. Part 3 Recipes!
Read also: Delicious Plant Paradox Breakfasts
Veganomicon: Two vegan cooking powerhouses, Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero, have updated their seminal vegan cookbook to include twenty-five new recipes! Veganomicon is the ultimate cookbook for many because of its easy approach, rigorously tested recipes, beautiful photographs, and tips to set up your kitchen and stock it with vegan-friendly ingredients.
Isa Does It: If you love cooking but you're on the go a lot and need weeknight meals that can come together in a snap, this is an excellent vegan cookbook! Isa Chandra Moskowitz's recipes include sweet potato red curry, miso vegetable soup, chickpea "tuna" salad sandwiches, and more!
The Vegan Starter Kit: As this title suggests, this is the ultimate starter kit for vegan eating! This book is a bit more information-heavy rather than being a straight-up cookbook. The Vegan Starter Kit includes lots of useful information about going vegan, nutrition, protein sources, vitamins, and concerns you might have if you're an athlete, pregnant, or living with various health conditions.
Salad Samurai: A common misconception about vegan eating is that all you eat is salads, and while that may not be 100% true, this cookbook proves that a diet of salads doesn't have to be boring or unfulfilling! Terry Hope Romero makes salads the star of your meals and organizes this cookbook by season so you can dive into the freshest ingredients possible. There are many yummy-sounding options, from Pomegranate Quinoa Holiday Tabouli to Lentil Pate Banh Mi Salad Rolls.
Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes: Neal Barnard has recognized that a lot of people may choose to go vegan for health reasons beyond not wanting to consume animal products-maybe they want to lose weight, or help manage some preexisting health conditions.
Read also: Nutritious Granola Recipes
Ageless Vegan: Tracy McQuirter and her mother have eaten vegan for decades, and they know it's a path to a longer, healthier life. In Ageless Vegan, McQuirter offers tips for people interested in switching to veganism, methods to ensure they're successful, and advice for vegan eaters to up their game.
Mayim's Vegan Table: Actress Mayim Bialik and her family eat a vegan diet, and she understands the concerns and challenges of eating vegan while raising kids. This cookbook is full of delicious family-friendly recipes that are easy and quick, and kid-approved!
Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease by Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr.: The results of a revolutionary twenty-year study clearly demonstrate that a plant-based, oil-free diet can not only prevent the progression of heart disease, but even reverse the effects for anyone already diagnosed. This book provides all the tools you need to embark on that same path towards fundamental, lasting wellness.
The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, PhD, and Thomas M. Campbell II: Quite possibly the single most cited books on the effects of a plant-based diet, The China Study was a pioneer in the field, making waves over thirty years ago. Before most people had even tasted soy milk, this father and son team was uncovering the unmistakable link to diet and health.
Fiber Fueled by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz: Renowned gastroenterologist “Dr. B” focuses in on utilizing fiber-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, nuts, and legumes to heal the microbiome, which effectively boosts the metabolism, balances hormones, and reduces inflammation. It all starts in the gut with plant-based whole foods!
Read also: Advantages of a Plant-Based Cleanse
Real Superfoods: Unlike the heavily marketed version of superfoods that are trendy, inaccessible, and expensive, this comprehensive and beautiful cookbook unveils the essence of what makes a “real” superfood. Instead of exotic and hard-to-find ingredients, Real Superfoods features foods that are readily available, budget-friendly, and nutrient-dense.
Plant-Based on a Budget Quick & Easy: Blogger Toni Okamoto of Plant-Based on a Budget provides valuable advice for eating nutritious food on a budget, proving that you don’t need to spend your whole paycheck on whole foods. In her latest cookbook, Plant-Based on a Budget Quick & Easy, she shows how you can prepare and enjoy healthy, nutritious, and affordable meals without much muss or fuss.
How Not to Die: Speaking of Dr. Michael Greger, he’s the founder of NutritionFacts.org, and the author of How Not to Die. Because Dr. Greger’s approach to plant-based eating is research-based, you’ll find specific examples of nutrition-related findings that correspond to a variety of diseases. You’ll also learn more about Dr. All of Dr. Greger’s plant-based recipes have a note at the bottom to indicate which of his Daily Dozen foods are included.
Sweet Potato Soul: Southern cooking never looked so healthy with food blogger and personal chef Jenné Claiborne’s Sweet Potato Soul cookbook. Sweet Potato Soul not only transforms soul food favorites into plant-based masterpieces but also offers a unique look into the history and culture of soul food in the African-American experience.
The Fiber Fueled Cookbook: Best-selling author Dr. Will Bulsiewicz partnered with plant-based chef and registered dietitian Alexandra Caspero on the companion cookbook for his bestseller Fiber Fueled. Inside you’ll find an impressive array of fiber-filled recipes designed to improve the health of your gut. The cookbook also has Dr. Along with providing microbiome-friendly recipes, The Fiber Fueled Cookbook is also a program of sorts, helping you get to the root of and heal your tummy troubles. You’ll get insight on FODMAPs and histamine and how to work with food intolerances.
Vegetable Kingdom: Vegan chef and food justice activist Bryant Terry will have you looking at plants in a new light with his critically acclaimed cookbook Vegetable Kingdom. Throughout the cookbook, Bryant frequently mixes unexpected ingredients and flavor combinations, as he encourages readers to also experiment and play with their food. Each recipe even comes with a recommended soundtrack to cook to.
PlantYou: Many whole food, plant-based eaters choose to cook without oil since it’s actually a refined or processed food. But it can sometimes prove challenging to know how to do this effectively without sacrificing flavor or consistency. Luckily, Carleigh Bodrug of PlantYou is here to show you the way to create oil-free plant-based recipes. PlantYou is a virtual treasure trove of oil-free recipes, whether you’re looking for entrées, salads, sauces, or desserts. Plus, each recipe has a visual representation of its ingredients to make shopping a cinch, along with simplified and easy-to-follow instructions.
The Korean Vegan Cookbook: One of the most highly regarded vegan cookbooks in recent history, The Korean Vegan Cookbook is the James Beard Award-winning debut by home chef Joanne Lee Molinaro. Each Korean Vegan recipe is accompanied by stunning food photography that really elevates the overall reading experience. The cookbook is also organized into culturally appropriate categories like banchan (side dishes) or kimchi and salads.
The Alzheimer's Solution: Neurologists and FRN Healthy Brain Masterclass collaborators Drs. Dean and Ayesha Sherzai are experts when it comes to brain health. You’ll discover the Sherzais’ NEURO Plan approach to Alzheimer’s prevention, and find out what plant-based foods made their list of the Neuro Nine: foods that will help to keep you sharp and free from disease.
Black Rican Vegan: Bronx native Lyana Blount draws from her African American and Puerto Rican heritage in the Black Rican Vegan. Since Lyana uses oil in some of her recipes, along with meat and dairy analogues, this cookbook is best for those just transitioning to a plant-based diet.
Power Plates: With a food system that’s calorie-dense but nutrient-poor, many people are not getting the nutrition they need. As a result, blogger and registered dietitian nutritionist Gena Hamshaw created Power Plates, a cookbook that helps people understand good nutrition and how to get it.
Seed to Plate, Soil to Sky: James Beard Award-winning author and chef, Lois Ellen Frank created this cookbook out of a desire to encourage Indigenous communities to eat more plants. Although many Native American tribes included meat and fish in their traditional diets, the majority of staple foods were native plants. Lois’ cookbook, Seed to Plate, Soil to Sky focuses on “The Magic Eight” essential plant-based foods that Native peoples (particularly from the American Southwest) gave to the world.
The Plant-Based Kitchen: Your one-stop guide to preparing delicious plant-based meals with 570+ recipes made with vegetables, grains, beans, legumes, plant-based dairy, and plant-based meat products. You’ll find plenty of dessert recipes, too. Recipe variations give you the freedom to use regular dairy products and eggs where you choose and helpful sidebars give you tips, tricks, and insights into the recipes. Also inside: In-depth information on plant-based meat and dairy products (we even share our top-rated products that worked best in the recipes).More from The Book:The Plant-Based KitchenLearn how to assemble a plant-powered pantry with flavor-enhancing ingredients such as miso, tomatoes, dried mushrooms, fermented beans, and more. Use our quick reference chart that summarizes the most protein-dense foods to create dishes that meet your nutritional needs.Vegetable Science and Flavor Booster SidebarsRecipes are accompanied by spotlights to teach you about the science behind plant-based ingredients.
Herbivore’s Kitchen’s 5-Ingredient Vegan Cooking: 60 Approachable Plant-Based Recipes with a Few Ingredients and Lots of Flavor: As an introduction to this vegan cookbook for beginners, I took a Q&A approach to answer some common questions. Before I started writing 5-Ingredient Vegan Cooking, I did a lot of research on other cookbooks with a limited number of ingredients. First, I wanted to really honor the 5-ingredient concept. In my pre-writing research, I found that a lot of other authors started with an extensive “pantry staples” list - common ingredients that don’t count toward the 5-ingredients. These lists were sometimes 50 items long. First, I would focus on ingredients that were easy to find. I, myself, live in a small mountain town in Colorado. There are no specialty stores, so if it wasn’t available in a regular grocery store, it didn’t make book. Second, I wanted to really limit the use of any commercially made ingredients - things like processed vegan cheeses, jars of pasta sauce and pre-made crusts.
Tips for Choosing the Right Cookbook
With so many options available, it's helpful to consider a few factors when selecting a plant-based cookbook:
- Your cooking skill level: Some cookbooks are geared towards beginners, while others are better suited for experienced cooks.
- Your dietary needs and preferences: Do you have any allergies or sensitivities? Are you looking for oil-free recipes?
- The types of cuisine you enjoy: There are vegan cookbooks that focus on everything from Italian to Mexican to Asian cuisine.
- The ingredients you have access to: Choose a cookbook that uses ingredients that are readily available in your area.
Common Vegan Questions
Switching to a plant-based diet can be exciting, inspiring, and deeply gratifying, but also incredibly confusing. Increased mainstream awareness has given rise to a wealth of new resources for anyone curious about embarking along the path to veganism, along with an unfortunate trove of fresh misinformation. It’s often difficult to pick apart true wisdom from hearsay and personal anecdotes, especially as anyone can take the guise of an expert online. Don’t forget to check out how to answer common vegan questions-you’re bound to get asked one of these!
The Importance of Nutritional Information
Many of these books are New York Times bestsellers, written by highly respected and accomplished doctors, and have upwards of 20,000 5-star ratings on Amazon. There are tons of free vegan lifestyle guides available online to help kickstart your plant-based journey right away! If you’re just starting your vegan journey here’s the ultimate guide to how to become a vegan.