November 15, 2021
Bean (The Vegetarian Athlete’s Cookbook), a British bodybuilding champion turned nutritionist, focuses on the power of plants in this excellent offering of vegan recipes. She begins with a debunking of myths around veganism, including the belief that vegan diets make one more prone to illness. There are instructions for building a balanced diet measured against the intensity of one’s training on any given day, and first steps for those who are just starting out on the path to veganism (“Try one new food a week,” she advises). The remainder of the book presents recipes intended to “fuel your workouts and promote recovery,” with many of the main dishes supplying some 20 grams of protein per serving. Nutrition charts list the amount of calories, carbs, fiber, and fat for each recipe. Breakfast options run from sweet to savory, including cinnamon apple granola bars made with plant-based milk and nut butter, and a tofu scramble with a hint of paprika, while a chapter of single-pot dishes satisfies with such flavorful fare as a Sri Lankan sambar curry. Desserts, snacks, and smoothies in such flavors as strawberry cashew round things out. By pumping iron and flexing its flax, this uplifting volume is just the thing to keep athletes running.
January 1, 2022
Bean (The Vegetarian Athlete's Cookbook) here focuses on vegan diets. She breaks down dietary needs and uncovers myths (e.g., one can't build muscle on a vegan diet; vegans will have iron deficiencies). The book's aim is to help vegan athletes reach peak performance, with guidance on getting protein and choosing what to eat and drink before and after exercise. The recipes are divided by meal times; for breakfast, there are chickpea omelets, for example. Mixed-grain salad with tempeh and harissa dressing is one of many salads; pad thai with crispy tofu is a one-pot dinner; and there's a plum, pear, and walnut crumble for dessert; there are also recipes for snacks and smoothies. Bean cites her sources in a reference section at the end of the book. This cookbook gives a lot of detail for those athletes looking to switch to a vegan diet or simply to reduce their meat consumption. VERDICT Athletes will benefit from this sourcebook on vegan fare. It would be a helpful title to round out a collection of vegan cookbooks.--Barbara Kundanis
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