 The Kindest Thing You Can Do |
| Review Date: November 21, 2009 |
| Reviewer: T. Szefler, Blaine, WA United States |
I got interested in reading The Kind Diet soon after reading the book written by Jonathan Safran Foer titled "Eating Animals". Foer really made me think and I decided to research the idea o vegan living. In the chapter about "Nasty Foods" Alicia Siverstone's observations about meat industry were in line with those of Mr. Foer. And she does a good job of backing her statements with well-conducted studies from reputable sources.
According to Alicia, in addition to meat, Nasty Foods include also dairy, refined sugar, and processed foods. These are the foods that we have to avoid in our daily diet. However, she realizes that it is very hard, if not impossible, for most people to just drop their normal nutritional habits and go totally vegan from one day to another. Therefore she suggests three levels of changing into Living in the Kind Life - from Flirting, via Going Vegan, to Becoming a Superhero.
Alicia insists that by eliminate harmful foods like meat, dairy, refined sugar and processed products, and enjoying an endless variety of deeply nourishing grains, vegetables and other delectable whole foods, you will live in agreement with nature and get rid of obesity problem that plagues the modern societies. By changing your eating habits and becoming vegan you will say good-bye to dieting once for all. And that's while enjoying "irresistibly sweet treats, you can eat every single day, forever."
I recently verified Alicia's statement on my recent trip to Central Europe. I discovered a restaurant chain called "Green Wave" that was serving plant foods only. Throughout the whole week I was consuming a variety of delicious meals not even once missing my traditional North American Big Burger.
By the end of the book Alicia provided some good (and some not so good) recipes of vegan meals. I suggest trying most of them to decide which ones suit you best. Keep in mind that you need to eat what's indigenous to the area to avoid stressing your body. This isn't a totally novel idea. The author of a great health/longevity book titled "Live 150 Years - Your Body Maintenance Handbook" is also a great proponent of living in agreement with nature and eating indigenous foods. If you check this book out, make sure to also read the chapters about obesity causes, and proper food combination.
TO SUMMARIZE: Plant-based diet is just about the greenest thing you can do. It requires less fuel, water, and other precious resources. It can also be the secret to your health, slim physique and radiant beauty. Enjoy the ride.
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A Winner!
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| Review Date: October 13, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Eco-Friendly Feng Shui Designer, |
The title: The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet, by Alicia Silverstone, says it all. The plant-based diet, according to Silverstone (and a few doctors quoted) will improve your health, help prevent disease, improve the environment and help you lose weight.
The book begins with Silverstone's personal story. It includes her early attempts at not eating meat, and an unhealthy period when she ate only raw foods.
Then the book discusses the "nasty foods"--meat, dairy, white sugar and processed foods. We learn the many reasons these foods are unhealthy, bad for the planet and bad for animal's welfare.
Next, we learn what the "kind foos" are--notably, whole grains, new proteins, veggies and healthy desserts.
There is a chapter on nutritional FAQ's.
Silverstone gets we are not all ready for a vegan diet, especially if we are used to a diet heavy in meats, dairy and processed foods. So, she presents three levels: flirting, vegan and superhero.
In flirting, she makes recommendations like: go to a vegetarian restaurant and order a dish, buy some vegan products from her "Transitional food chart", and simply recommends we start adding vegan meals into our diets.
In vegan, she presents a plan on how to build a meal and a vegan meal plan.
Finally, the superhero level is loosely based on the macrobiotic diet (minus fish,) and features fresh, local and seasonal fare.
Silverstone adds helpful tips, like chew your food really well, what to do about detoxing and cravings and more.
There is a chapter on tips when away from home.
Lifestyle tips is a very short chapter, mentioning things like the importance of reusing and buying secondhand. I would recommend HARMONIOUS ENVIRONMENT: BEAUTIFY, DETOXIFY & ENERGIZE YOUR LIFE, YOUR HOME & YOUR PLANET to learn how to make your entire home green and beautiful for optimal health and it also describes how to eat healthy with recipes and cooking/shopping tips.
The book concludes with fantastic looking recipes (I'm a pretty good cook, I can always tell.) They recipes are divided into vegan and superhero.
Even if you are not committed to a full time vegan diet, I highly recommend this book--just start with the flirting and see where it takes you. If you do get into the vegan lifestyle, know that there are lots of good cookbooks out there to help.
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I am really enjoying this book
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| Review Date: October 29, 2009 |
| Reviewer: cameraphonevegan, |
I had stopped eating meat again; it had been almost 10 years. Since my last veggie venture, I learned how to cook and really needed to find a vegetarian cookbook to give me direction.
This book is inspiring in many different ways. First, it reinforces the reasons why I decided to go veg again. You may want to skim through this section if it comes off too evangelical for you. Second, it gives the reader different options for using the book. Namely, you can try vegetarian foods, go vegan or try some macrobiotic diet. Being that I had only ever been vegetarian in the past, it did offer a wealth of new information, and sparked a curiosity to find out more. Alica does a really good job of making the narration engaging and personal. Like a good friend that wants to hang out in the kitchen & cook healthy food with you.
Some of the recipes that i've tried:
*morrocan couscous with saffron: i left out the saffron and the zuchini, and doubled the butternut squash and carrots.
*sweet potato & lentil stew: really good! i added my leftover butternut squash too. yum.
** eggplant chana masala: a favorite! i add extra curry powder and spices. also, you should definitely add veg broth after sauteeing, before simmering. it was way too thick otherwise. i serve it over brown rice and crumbl corn bread in to it. mmm.
*cornbread: the soupy batter looks like something went wrong, but stick it in the oven anyway. it'll be fine. i used half maple syrup/half molasses. it's a deep brown bread with a nice, sweet, complex flavor, though it is different than any other cornbread you've eaten.
*sicillian collard greens: wasn't really crazy about these. i think cooking a little longer, uncovered, would have fixed it though. just to get the balsamic less vinegary and more reduced.
*peanut butter chocolate chip brown rice krispie treats: these are excellent. you end up using pretty much a whole average size jar of brown rice syrup. (if you can't find it, it's by the maple syrup, at the bottom at whole foods.) i did not wait long enough for it to cool before adding the chocolate chips, so mine were peanut butter chocolate swirlish. still tasted good though!
A lot of it is my taste, but there are plenty of exotic new things to try. I would say the only thing I wish she would have expanded on was this though. More detailed explanations of what the more exotic ingredients are, and why/how to use them. The ones I wasn't sure about, I googled. Whole foods has most of the items you need. And it's a great way to try a bunch of new things.
I also purchased the hip chick's guide to macrobiotics, as recommended by alicia. i found that a lot of the macro material is directly taken from that book, but that being said, this is a much stronger cookbook.
I will definitely use this cookbook for a long time. |
Giving it a try as of today!
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| Review Date: January 26, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Martinis for all, |
I received my book yesterday afternoon and read chapters 1 thru 9 last night. It was insightful and finding out what it takes to keep animals in stock for food, and what happens to male calfs (they become veal) and their few months on the planet vs. what happens to girl calfs becoming milkers, and the mom being shot up with hormones to produce endless milk is madness. There are many systems in this world that are cruel and just dont make sense. This morning I went through starbucks and ordered a green tea instead of decaffeinated coffee. ALicia's book helped me to start questioning "what is next" down the line. Okay, so I have my green tea, but now I have a papercup, if I purchased a reusable cup and rinsed it out and let it air dry, then my carbon foot print will be reduced by 365 cups a year.
I cooked the last of the ground turkey last night and had it for supper, Alicia recommends either giving it away or finishing what you have, no waste! I also baked a lot of brussel sprouts with olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper and that should last the remainder of the week. Tonight, I make the grains that Alicia talked about - for protein, and this morning I brought in a tomato and avocado for morning. Which is better than having nothing for breakfast, my normal routine. But ohhh, someone brought in donuts this morning. But I feel good. Because now that I know what processed sugars will do, it makes it easier. ONly because I now understand the effect white sugar has on my body. I cant give up lemonade for now, eventually yes, but this being my first day - I'm going to wean into this gradually.
The point is, whether it was Alicia or someone else, find the right book for you that has a message written so that you can understand. WHat I gained from this book is that I really am affected by a system much larger than myself (processed foods, cows and hormones, dirty places that kill animals, would I trade places with an animal for a day? No, the affect sugar has on my body, how my bones give up nutrients to help break down what I eat - the process itself contributing to osteoperosis).
For me, this book broke it down, and the recipes look simple. My family lives in the four corners area and I just visited them for Christmas, I perused Safeways and Smiths while I was there and I am happy to say that the standard of living in northern New Mexico will not inhibit my new diet when I visit next year.
One other thing I want to say is I've been concerned with my diet for a long time. I've wanted to incorporate being a vegetarian into my life for a long time. In the past, I didnt know what to read or where to start. When I went to bookstores, there are plenty of Vegetarian/Vegan books, but they were mass volume encyclopedias (really thick vegetarian books) and its overwhelming because I want to start now, not in 3 months and I never wanted to invest money and time in a food encyclopedia. This book is simple, and now I know what questions to ask. Im a beginner, I'm peeking around the curtain, and this is an easy read, and for me, this answered basic questions. Like what is Quoina (?) and why would I want to eat it, what nutrition does it offer me? I thought it was just a carb. Alicia's book encourages one to go slow, and not to stick to an "ideal" - meaning dont beat myself up if Im not perfect in my first steps towards becoming vegetarian. So Im going to do the best I can, and be patient, and if I feel like faltering as myself "what is available to me now or within 5 minutes, that is a better alternative to _____ (eating meat, eating a donut, etc.)? If its an apple that a coworker offers to tide me over for 30 minutes until I get something substantial, thats an alternative. Wish me luck and good luck to you!
Thank you. |
Flirting with veganism, totally turned on by macrobiotics!
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| Review Date: October 15, 2009 |
| Reviewer: M. Lanstra, Real World |
Ok, so I've been flirting with vegetarianism/veganism for a while and now have been gathering a rather extensive vegan cookbook library (it's become a bit of a compulsion)... and have been waiting with baited breath for this book to get to my door.
It came yesterday while I was home sick, and I read the entire book in one sitting.
I'm in love. While this book is simply based on Alicia's life experiences and observations, for the most part (with facts backed up by research sprinkled about)... something about she says speaks to me.
All the veg cookbooks I've been getting still had so many processed food items in them... I didn't know that what I was really craving was macrobiotics. I've always believed that eating foods in a more natural, whole state were better for you, but didn't realize it was an actual named practice... I thought regular ol' veganism was the way to go, but it didn't quite speak to me the way this book did.
The part I really enjoyed was the discussion about exercise, and her assertation that she wants EVERYTHING she does in life to be enjoyable. Amen, sister. We only go round in this body once, why not make it as enjoyable as possible... not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.
I'd suggest reading this book along with Yoga & Vegetarianism by Sharon Gannon. While you may not be into yoga, there are some interesing points of view to consider about the animal industries, if you are still on the fence about your eating choices...
I'd recommend this book to anyone who just wants to take a look at their life, consider the alternatives and figure out how to make life simpler... simple= less stress, and who couldn't use less of that? |
Changed My Life
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| Review Date: December 25, 2009 |
| Reviewer: L. Abel, |
| This book has changed my life completely. The information is fabulous if you are willing to listen to what is being presented. The recipes are delicious. My health is improving dramatically and I can tell when I eat something I should not. This book is definitely one of my best purchases. |
Kindness Never Tasted So Good
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| Review Date: February 10, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Blake Fraina, Connecticut |
It may sound like hyperbole, but this book has really been life-changing.
I've been a vegetarian, for ethical reasons, for several years. Additionally, I am a staunch believer in animal rights and try to always buy from PETA approved, cruelty-free manufacturers. So I've known for a long while that, despite my love of cheese, ice cream and eggs, I would have to give up dairy in order for my lifestyle to align fully with my principles.
I received a copy of Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet for my birthday this past November and have never looked back. Reading the text, written in an approachable, no-nonsense style, made the decision seem so obvious and the recipes made the change effortless. While I have many vegan cookbooks (and I love them all), it was Silverstone's "Superhero" (aka macrobiotic) recipes that truly changed the way I relate to food. At first, it's hard to believe her superlatives (everything is "yummy" or "nourishing" or "energizing") but, once you start cooking - darn, if she isn't right every time.
Believe me, I was skeptical when I purchased my first pack of mochi (pg 236), a hard, plastic-like block of cooked sweet brown rice, but once I sliced and pan-fried it as instructed, it was sticky, sweet and delish. Drizzled with a bit of the recommended brown rice syrup, this stuff is better than French toast. I swear! And when I was slicing the burdock root for stew called Kinpira (pg 272) the strange astringent smell it gave off actually scared me a bit, but once it had been sauteed in the sesame oil with the carrots, it was truly amazing. There's so much here to love. I've enjoyed the simple steamed baby bok choy (with ume plum vinaigrette), the azuki bean stew, Sicilian collard greens and sweet brown rice porridge. And I've only just begun!
The reason this is such a revelation to me is that I own an older macrobiotic cookbook by Lima Ohsawa and it isn't particularly user friendly. The ingredients seemed very foreign and the recipes weren't made to be appetizing, but more like a medicinal prescription. The Kind Diet, with its gorgeous photography and the author's friendly, colloquial encouragement, make macrobiotics, and many of the same recipes, incidentally, much more appealing for a Western audience.
This book made going vegan (not to mention giving up nearly all pre-packaged foods and white sugar/flour), for both me and my hithertofore omnivore spouse, a breeze. Not only do we feel good that we are no longer supporting factory farming, but we feel healthier and more energetic. As an added bonus, his borderline cholesterol dropped 25 points in three months! It's true.
For anyone looking to improve their health (or the health of the planet) through dietary changes, any ethical vegetarian seeking to make the leap to veganism or any fan of the lovely, talented, adorable [and kindly] Ms. Silverstone...this book is a must. |
What can I say!!!!
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| Review Date: January 30, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Susan Bovio, Conway, NH |
| I saw an article in a magazine about Alicia Silverstone and her new book. This sparked my interest so I went to a bookstore, had some coffee and skimmed through the book. I didn't buy it that day, but I kept thinking about what I had read. I have been flirting with vegetarianism for many years and this book really helped me to seal the deal. It is well put together, she writes from her heart and all the things she has researched and written about I have either heard or read before. The recipes are delicious and with a little effort I was able to find most of the ingredients. The book has helped me to move my diet in the direction that I feel is right for me. I am now a vegetarian flirting with being a vegan and hoping to end up a superhero. |
Love This Book
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| Review Date: October 29, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Amber L. Mackert, Atlanta, GA USA |
| I have just recently decided to give up meat and after reading this book, I know I've made the right decision. It's so insightful, easy to read, and just a great book all around. I've already bought several copies for family members as Christmas gifts and I can't wait to see what they think. I do agree with another reviewer that the ingredients in the recipes are a bit foreign to me, but luckily I do have great farmer's markets and vegetarian/vegan specific markets near where I live, so I think I'll be ok getting everything I need. I can't wait to make some of the recipes and continue on with this hugely beneficial new lifestyle. |
I am so happy, to be so KIND :)
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| Review Date: January 21, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Natalie Would, |
Alicia has lifted my spirits with a wonderful vegan opportunity!
Not gonna lie, the fact that she has barely aged and always looks wonderful was one of my primary reason for going veggie just one year ago. I nearly died when I knew she was coming out with the book!
The steps and the advice are so helpful! She is not talking down to you, like other veggie books can.
I love it...if anything, just try a little "Flirting!" :)
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Life Changing
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| Review Date: March 17, 2010 |
| Reviewer: C. Phillips, Orlando, FL USA |
This book is well written and based on facts. The focus is primarily on the relationship your body has with the foods that you consume. I can almost hear Alicia telling me the information through the pages. It's a book for everyone no matter what their purpose in reading it.
Personally I have always been the type of person who would never consider giving up meat "I love chicken too much" but after reading this book it became very easy for me to stop eating meat. I stopped in October 2009 and have never looked back.
My life has improved after reading the book and by making some lifestyle changes I have lost weight, I am less frustrated and angry, my mood is ligher, and I am happier person. I am very grateful for this book.
This will be a purchase you will not regret.
Thanks Alicia! |
great book!
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| Review Date: January 30, 2010 |
| Reviewer: D. Foley, New Hamshire, USA |
| This book is great. it's interesting and easy to read. there's a lot of recipes to help a person "flirt" with being a vegan or vegetarian. i also like how it explains all the reasons this lifestyle changes you--on many levels. I will definitely share this book with others. |
The Kind Diet
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| Review Date: February 3, 2010 |
| Reviewer: eliluvschris, CO |
| Bought this book as a gift for my sister who has been a vegan for years. She enjoyed reading it and loved the recipes in the book. |
I love this book
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| Review Date: March 3, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Deborah L. Sullivan, Napa, CA |
| I became a vegan after reading this book. The recipes are easy and delicious. I have more energy and my skin and hair look great, plus, when I am done with a meal I do not have a heavy feeling of fullness but I am satisfied. |
A lovely way of eating
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| Review Date: November 5, 2009 |
| Reviewer: PT Cruiser, CA USA |
Have you ever thought of moving to a healthier way of eating that would benefit the environment as well as your body? Alicia Silverstone's "The Kind Diet" is a beautiful introduction to the vegan lifestyle. It's a substantial book with lots of colored photos which I really like because it makes it easier to visualize how a recipe is supposed to look. (It also makes me more anxious to try the recipe if the picture looks appetizing). There is a lot of nutritional information, talk about the vegan food groups and some good information on the benefits of giving up processed and unhealthy foods.
The first 140 pages give reasons to consider a vegan diet. Alicia tells of her journey to the vegan way of living and tells about how it benefits the environment. Did you know that a single cow emits 100 to 520 quarts of methane gas daily? And there are some 1.3 billion of them in the world on a daily basis? That's a lot of gas! She goes on to explain how animal products can be bad for our health and the benefits of eating a plant based diet. The book isn't overly preachy and is laid out in an interesting and easy-to-read manner. Her writing style is cute, energetic and upbeat. It's the kind of book that makes you feel good about choosing a healthy lifestyle.
The last 151 pages are recipes. Although I own a lot of vegan cook books I find that this one has some excellent recipes and I love the photographs that are included with many of them. I've tried the Sweet Potato-Lentil Stew and the Sicilian Collard Greens with Pine Nuts and Raisins which were excellent. She uses an ingredient in a few of her recipes that I've always liked, but never thought to use it in anything other than sushi. It's called umeboshi plum, a pickled plum. It comes in a jar or in a paste form in a jar or plastic package. It can be a little difficult to find, but many of the natural food grocery stores or Asian groceries carry it. It's pricey, but goes a long way. I love it in her recipe for Toasted Nori Burritos and have made them as a snack umpteen times since reading the book. She also uses it in Alicia's Soft Rice Porridge. It could be an acquired taste, but I was excited to see some other uses for it.
This is a very good book for someone who wants to explore the vegan way of life as well as for someone who already eats this way and just wants some new ideas or motivation to lose a few pounds. She doesn't talk about cutting calories but instead proposes a vegan meal plan and for the very committed, a "Super Hero Plan" with suggestions of dishes for both. Can you lose weight on this diet without counting the calorie content of every morsel you put in your mouth? I think you can. Unless you're eating a lot of processed or high sugar or fat content foods, (like potato chips or candy) it's pretty difficult to be overweight on a vegan diet. The fact that you're eating whole foods keeps you feeling full and satisfied and if you can get away from the processed food with all their sugar, salt and fat you'll feel a lot less of the false hunger pangs that are triggered by these foods.
This would be a nice gift book for someone who is interested in improving their diet or for someone who is already practicing a vegan lifestyle. Two thumbs up!
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