Never Too Late to Go Vegan: The Over-50 Guide to Adopting and Thriving on a Plant-Based Diet by Carol J. Adams

Never Too Late to Go Vegan: The Over-50 Guide to Adopting and Thriving on a Plant-Based Diet Reviews

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  Lisa Vegan

  So, I’ve loved all of Ginny’s books, and have also enjoyed/admired Carol Adams’s and Patti Breitman’s work. This book is another winner, and is geared toward an important demographic. I consider Ginny a friend and am proud to call her friend. She’s a lovely person and has done so much good for the animals, and for helping people become vegan and helping them be as healthy as possible on vegan diets.
  
  I wouldn’t normally have had this book at the top of my radar given that I went vegan long before age 50, but I like reading all sorts of vegan books (having knowledge is good for outreach and I always learn something new for myself too) and I can’t see Ginny having a book out and not reading it. I’ve even read 2 editions of her book for professional R.D.s
  
  The main thing I can say is don’t avoid this book if you are not yet 50 years old, and definitely read it if you’re considering going vegan, or are a new vegan, no matter what your age, but definitely don’t miss it if you are 40+, 50+.
  
  I went lacto-ovo at age 23, tried to be (and mostly was, at about 95%-99%) vegan from age 34, and finally succeeded going fully vegan (it was a long road) at age 41. My biggest regret about the process is that I didn’t become vegan even sooner than I did. I really envy people who’ve been vegan from a young age, and especially those who are lifelong vegans, but, as the book says, it’s never too late to make a change and go vegan. So, I recommend reading the book no matter what your age.
  
  It’s a wonderful book. It’s packed with all sorts of useful information. I particularly like how, in several short sections, the three authors share their experiences, including what vegan foods they eat. I love vegan food and also think it’s fun to vicariously enjoy what others eat, and imagining myself eating it, not to mention I love getting ideas for foods to actually make. I got all that in this book. Here, “make” is a term used loosely. There are some wonderful included recipes (I was especially happy to see some by Jennifer Raymond, whose recipes are easy to make and delicious) but also included are foods anyone could put together without effort.
  
  I’m grateful for the book’s subtitle, because the focus of this book is vegan, plant-based foods only, not vegan living in every way. For instance, I aim to use no products of any type derived from or tested on animals.
  
  The book’s topics cover proper nutrition, ideas for foods to eat, including how to veganize some favorite non-vegan foods, and aging and various medical conditions and how diet effects them, and really helpful sections on the impact on relationships of making the change to eating vegan when others are still eating non-vegan, and might not understand vegans/vegan foods. Throughout, the authors write about some of their personal experiences, and those are wonderful and very helpful contributions.
  
  I think for people who are interested in but not yet eating vegan, this book will help them see how it’s very possible to succeed eating 100% vegan. It’s an extremely beneficial addition to the genre of vegan “how to” and informational and recipe books.
  
  For those who are over 50, or nearing 50, whether a long time vegan, newly vegan, “veganish”, or interested in vegan eating, I think this book’s contents are helpful and interesting for all these readers.
  
  I often like including the Table of Contents in my vegan books reviews, but I see the Amazon “Look Inside” has that available, for those who want to get a more specific sense of what the book offers.
• 
  Lindsey

  I bought this book for my mom for her 60th birthday, but of course I read it before giving it to her, and I ate it right up. I love books by Ginny, who has such well-educated, low-stress nutritional advice and by Carol Adams, who always seems to have delicious recipes and calm, loving advice in her books. This book is the first of its kind. I don't believe I've read any book before that talks about how to eat vegan in assisted living situations or how to handle being vegan if you are a caretaker, since it is now so common for people in their 50s and 60s to be taking care of ailing parents. My very favorite parts were the boxes throughout where Ginny, Patti, and Carol weighed in on different questions about their various personal experiences as vegans such as vegan fashion, how they became vegan, things they eat, etc. And I also absolutely loved the short essays/narratives written by various vegans over 50. I would love to read a book just with this kind of content. I was going to buy a copy of this book for myself, mostly because the recipes look delicious, and I always like adding to my vegan book collection, BUT I lost my job the day after my mom's birthday, so I can't really buy books anymore.
  
  One account that would have been fun to see in this book is of the surgeon who went vegan in his 50s to ward off heart disease and didn't retire until age 95. His colleagues didn't want him to retire; he could have kept operating (at 95+!), but 95 was just an arbitrary age he set for himself to retire at. He's still going strong at age 98 now.
• 
  Julie Durnell

  This was a great starter book for someone wanting more information on eating vegan/healthier and especially for people 50+. There are great tips/recipes and the health aspects seem sound. I really liked that the authors did not come off as morally superior because they are vegan; looking askance at those who do eat meat, dairy,and eggs- instead they are encouraging, informative and supportive.
• 
  Holly

  I'm not yet in the age group of her intended audience, but I read Adams's Sexual Politics of Meat in college and think this will be an interesting book -
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  Dana

  This book contains some good information about why a vegan diet is healthy and why it can help you to be healthy even after the age of 50. The book is well-written and easy to read and I did learn some things from it. I was not thrilled, however, with the recipes because they rely on fake meat, fake milks and other fake food highly processed products. I think that the concept of eating a vegan diet sounds great, but I also want to eat whole foods and avoid processed foods, soy and GMOs. I have yet to find a vegan cookbook that is only whole foods and does not contain highly processed fake foods. I have, in the past, tried some of the fake meat - textured vegetable protein crumbles - disgusting, and vegan sausage - also disgusting, and vegan "cheeses" - and really, all of them are not only nasty tasting, but they are highly processed. So, if you don't mind using those ingredients, then you will like the recipes too. I received this book free to review from Netgalley.
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  Terri Palermo

  The more I read, the clearer it becomes that this is what's best for me. This book would be a good resource for anyone...it's not over the top for those over 50...more along the lines of it's never too late to make changes to improve your health and life.
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  Lesley Looper

  This was a good read with lots of interesting information. Some of the sections seemed a little long (like the caregiving section), but others may connect. Good advice on how to deal with family and friends who might feel uncomfortable. (The advice often includes. "Let me bring a dish to contribute!") Good encouragement and reminder that it's never too late to improve the food intake.
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  A

  Honestly a very useful book, with useful information. Normally books like this are a waste of money because we can normally figure out whatever the subject is, on our own. However, I found this book to be useful in the way of recipes and also tips on how to move through this kind of life change. Thank you.
• 
  Sarah

  Very good information about the benefits of becoming vegan and how to deal with the pitfalls you may encounter. I'm exploring the world of veganism, and highly recommend this book to start on your journey.
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  Carla

  Good book for those thinking about going vegan, new vegans, or for those just wanting to learn a few new things about the positive aspects of being vegan.
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  V Massaglia

  I learned a ton! Includes a lot of simple recipes to try.
  
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  Lori Koppelman

  I must have been ready for this after thoughts here and there about eating less or no meat. I found the reasons landing harder than ever and stopped eating meat, even though I love the taste.
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  Christy Coughlin

  This book was a great way to start my Vegan journey.
• 
  Bernadette

  Excellent book. Makes very convincing points on why it is never too late to change one's lifestyle, including eating, to more mindful, compassionate choices for our fellow animals, the environment and one's own health. Includes a good collection of recipes to get newbies started on eating vegan, with tips on easily adapting non-vegan recipes to vegan. Includes testimonials from the authors on their vegan journeys, as well as from others, some of whom contributed to the recipe collection. My favorite, unexpected yet greatly appreciated, part of the book is that it includes recipes from a wonderful, though deceased, friend and tireless animal rights and compassionate living advocate, the late Shirley Wilkes-Johnson! Thank you, Ben Johnson, Shirley's husband, for allowing Carol J. Adams to include Shirley's recipes in the collection. And thank you to the authors Carol, Patti Breitman and Virginia Messina, for including them, and for your inspiring collaboration.
• 
  Coleen

  Easy to read in spurts. Not only recipes and the health reasons to go vegan, but great advice on handling different situations such as the caregiver role for someone who does not eat vegan. Using common sense and compassion, the authors lay the groundwork for the new vegan and how to accept and forgive yourself if you cannot make it 100% vegan right out of the starting gate. Like so many of the books I read, I got this from my local library. It is one of the few that I'm willing to buy for my own shelf.
• 
  Cheri

  A well written, useful book for those interested in moving to a plant-based diet. In addition to what you'd expect (basic nutrition and recipes, tips for dining out, online resources), the book addresses the particular needs of people over the age of 50, such as dealing with adult children who are upset by your change in diet; working with the food staff at a retirement community to get plant-based meals; and the challenges of care-giving and being cared for. Overall, both thoughtful and inspiring.
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  Allyson Faith

  I loved this book. I have been a vegetarian for many years (actually, a pescitarian, since I occasionally eat fish). I am now moving into veganism, having read more about factory farming and the dairy and chicken industries. Even so-called compassionate farming and "cage free" hens are lies, and this book has opened my eyes. For me, new to veganism, it has good, solid information, many suggested websites and book titles, and tasty-sounding recipes.
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  Astrid

  Not much new for the existing vegan, but had quite a bit of helpful stuff wanna-be vegans, especially for seniors, like how to deal with veganism in the retirement home or hospital and such. The recipes looked easy to make and I'll try some of them.
• 
  Emily

  A good basic intro to vegan life, but also a lot of anecdotal filler. Makes its claim to elder status by including chapters on care taking and retirement homes. Many upper middle class assumptions about available resources.
• 
  Susan

  I got a few recipes from the book that seem promising, and it had some good info for people who want to change their diet.
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  Barbara

  It was so great to read that becoming Vegan at any age is a great idea. Lots of answers to my many questions and many good ideas for recipes. I am so glad that I found this book!
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  Ollies_Mom

  I am already vegan, but was curious to read what the authors said about calcium. This book is much more for the not-yet-vegan, so I opted not to finish, and will get Vegan for Women instead. Some good recipes I tried, though - yum!