| Title | : | The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1605296449 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781605296449 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 308 |
| Publication | : | First published October 13, 2009 |
The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet Reviews
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I want to preface my scathing review by mentioning that I am a vegetarian, and toying with the idea of veganism, so it is definitely not the book's subject matter that garnered my wrath.
There were so many things that bothered me about this book, that even though I finished it two weeks ago, I'm still talking about it to my husband. Alicia Silverstone has gone the route of many famous people these days, writing bad books that get published mainly because the author is, well, famous. Call me crazy, but I'd like to read well-written books by an unknown author than this drivel any day.
Where to start? How about the pseudo-science Silverstone throws around at every turn? Someone needs to sit her down and explain how science works, because she clearly doesn't get it. If a study produces a certain result, but no other study can reproduce those results, it is not considered valid. In order to be substantiated, those studies need to be capable of being reproduced multiple times by different scientists under different conditions. Many of the "studies" Silverstone references don't meet that standard. For example, there's apparently a resurgence of the Victorian-era thinking that chewing your food excessively releases more of the nutrients. This hasn't been proved through any legitimate scientific studies, but that doesn't stop Silverstone from discussing it at length.
She advises against using a lot of spices in cooking because of some vague argument about the spices hiding the true flavors of the foods you're eating. Except that spices enhance many foods' flavors, and have health properties of their own, something that a person as heath-conscious as she claims to be should be aware of.
She says people shouldn't eat eggs because it's something else's genetic material, while encouraging people to eat seeds which are, you know, a plant's genetic material. (I only eat eggs from my local farm because of the horrible way hens in industrial operations are treated. I'm a huge proponent of buying only locally-sourced eggs from humanely treated hens. But Silverstone throwing out these ridiculous claims that we should avoid eating genetic material only makes the rest of us look ridiculous, too.)
She also latches onto other "quaint" arguments that did nothing but make me laugh. How about this: "Humans are the only species to drink milk from other animals." Uh, OK. So what? We're also the only ones to read, wear clothes, and cut our hair. I don't understand how that argument is logical or reasonable.
Then she goes off an a tangent about how many people, if they omit all animal products from their diets, will start having putrid sweat while their bodies get rid of the toxins that built-up over time from eating animal materials. Really? Putrid sweat? I'd like to see more than anecdotal evidence on that one.
The recipes, which I had hoped would be this book's saving grace, were horrible. Silverstone does my least favorite vegan-cooking technique: relying (sometimes heavily) on animal-product substitutes. This bothers me for three reasons...
1. Most substitute (like veggie burgers and cheese made from tofu) are horrible. Nothing will drive a carnivore back to meat faster than meat substitutes.
2. She claims to be so worried about her health, but I'm sure that the fillers in her fake mayo and tofurkey wouldn't meet the "whole foods" mantra she says she lives by.
3. Having substitutes is like a flashing sign that says, "Hey look at this meal! No meat!" Why not cook a meal that puts the focus on fruits, veggies, and grains, rather than dragging the eater's attention back to what's not there?
I'll stop here, although I have more complaints still swirling around in my head. The point is, this book will not be the one that will convince you to go vegan.
If you want to check out some great books that discuss our relationship with meat, try...
Eating Animals This book gives such a horrific look at the meat industry that I cried through parts of it.
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals This book makes a good case for locally-sustainable agriculture rather than a complete removal of meat from the diet, and is very readable.
Good vegetarian cookbooks, with recipes so good you won't miss meat:
How to Cook Everything Vegetarian
Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone -
Okay, most important things first:
IF YOU HAVE ANOREXIA NERVOSA, OR ANY OTHER KIND OF RESTRICTIVE ED, INCLUDING EDNOS subset CHEW-AND-SPIT, OR IF YOU ARE IN REMISSION FROM ANY KIND OF RESTRICTIVE ED, I WOULD ADVISE AGAINST READING THIS BOOK, AND AM WARNING YOU ABOUT THE CONTENT OF THIS REVIEW. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
ETA: ED = EATING DISORDER. EDNOS = EATING DISORDER NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. SORRY, I FORGOT FOR A MOMENT THAT I LIVE IN A PSYCHOLOGY BUBBLE.
Okay, first things first.
ONE: I like Alicia Silverstone. She comes across as cute and funny in this book, and I generally think of her in a good way. Please don't think any criticism of this book means "I hate Alicia Silverstone," or something.
TWO: DO NOT read this book if you have/are in remission from any kind of restrictive ED. I'm not fucking around here.
The Book.
Okay, so this is Alicia Silverstone's book about how she became a vegan and why you should be a vegan, too.
PROGRESSION:
This is how the book progresses.
First, Silverstone discusses her path to becoming vegetarian. She loved animals. After being an actress and being called fat a lot, she became vegan. Then raw. Then macrobiotic. She gives up meat, dairy, eggs, only eats local and seasonal foods, no white sugar, no white flour, no processed foods.
She tells us meat is "nasty." She lists a lot of reasons why.
She tells us dairy products are "nasty." She lists a lot of reasons why.
She tells us sugar (although vegan) is "nasty." She lists the reasons why.
She's against eating honey. Vegans are divided on this issue, but Silverstone falls into the no-honey camp.
She tells us processed foods (even if they are vegan) are "nasty." She barely tells us why, this is only one or two paragraphs.
Artificial sweeteners are bad for you.
Caffeine is a drug, you should eliminate it from your diet.
She purports that low-carb diets are bad for you (I disagree with her.)
You can eat soy but not too much soy or it will kill you.
You probably shouldn't eat spinach, chard, beet greens, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, and peppers. They're bad for you.
You should eat organic and no GMOs. (This is sounding more and more difficult with every page.)
Stevia is OKAY, if you absolutely must have some sugar, Gosh, you're so weak, but Silverstone doesn't really like it. Chocolate is also evil, because it has caffeine AND fat. And possibly sugar/sugar substitute. If you HAVE to have some, you weakling, it must be NON-DAIRY, MALT-SWEETENED DARK CHOCOLATE. You can "turn it into milk chocolate" by heating it with soy milk.
Salt is evil.
You really should be drinking 8 glasses of water a day if you can.
Alcohol is evil, eliminate it from your diet.
She gently encourages doing yoga, [but personally I would not recommend doing yoga unless you are already into it/curious. If you don't like yoga, that's okay, it is NOT a requirement for a vegan lifestyle. Please don't feel pressured.]
Actually, milk substitutes (rice milk, coconut milk, soy milk,) are bad. Avoid them.
Actually, sugar substitutes are bad. Avoid them.
Actually, eat fruit very rarely. It's bad.
Don't use herbs and spices if you can help it.
Don't eat too many nuts or nut butters, they are fattening.
Eat almost no salt.
CARMEN: At this point, do you really even want to live? How did this "vegan" book turn into a total elimination diet?!!?!?!? I have nothing but respect for vegans but this seems extreme. I wasn't joking about this book being triggering for people with restrictive EDs.
THE GOOD:
- The meat industry is bad for the environment. TRUE.
- Big Pharma is evil. TRUE.
- Meat production is downright cruel. TRUE.
- Artificial sweeteners are evil. TRUE.
- Beans are amazing. TRUE.
- You can get all the protein you need without meat. TRUE.
- Vegetables are amazing. TRUE.
- After giving dairy the heave-ho, your tongue will start to wake up and those desserts will taste even more amazing. These days, when I have a 'normal' dessert, even at a really good restaurant, it's generally a disappointment. Of course the first bite wows me, but very soon my tongue is overwhelmed and the tastes are harsh and obvious. THIS IS TRUE.
- You can get enough iron from a plant-based diet. TRUE.
- You can get enough calcium as a vegan. TRUE.
- You can get enough omega-3s as a vegan. TRUE.
- Here are some pictures of hot vegan boys. TRUE. I mean, they're men... not sure why Silverstone is calling them boys,... but TRUE.
Vegans are amazing athletes! I mean, Frank Medrano, anyone? Warning: Watching Frank Medrano do typewriters could cause involuntary drooling because you wish you could do what he does. Men and women, I'm talking to you. LOL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFPsvF...
- She encourages cooking, saying anyone can cook or learn to cook. TRUE.
- Microwaves are bad. She encourages throwing hers out. TRUE. I mean, I would never tell anyone to get rid of their microwave, but it is true.
- Call ahead to a party and offer to bring a vegan dish. This takes pressure off your host/ess. TRUE.
- Tap water. Let's drink it. TRUE.
- I used to eat the presweetened, instant oatmeal that came in a packet until I joined the cast of a play about Orthodox Judaism in which I portrayed a lesbian who has a cocaine overdose onstage... anyhoo,... Proof that Silverstone is funny and cute. :)
PROBLEMS:
- Vegan pets, even vegan cats. [NO. NO.]
- This dessert is RIDICULOUSLY rich and INSANELY delicious. This brownie is your new boyfriend! Desserts are not Boyfriend. Comparing food to romantic partners is unhealthy. I'm being completely serious here.
- She expects people to scold her because she had a orange-chocolate cake in Paris that HAD SUGAR IN IT. She literally apologizes in the book for eating sugar this one time in Paris. This makes me very, very sad. Extremely sad.
- She uses the word "naughty" a lot. Listen... eating a food is not "naughty." Breaking your diet is not "naughty." Please, love yourself and stop associating eating food that is enjoyable to you as being "bad." "Oh, I'm going to be SO bad and have this piece of chocolate cake." No. This is hateful language. Labeling yummy foods as "bad" is damaging to you mentally. Associating eating yummy foods with guilt and shame is a terrible idea and a horrible habit to start. Please, love yourself and stop shaming yourself for eating something 'off-plan.'
- She also calls any non-vegan, sugary, or processed food "nasty." I really hate that and I hate that word.
EATING DISORDER SHIT
Please do not read this section if you have anorexia nervosa or another restrictive ed and/or if you are in remission from one and think you may be triggered.
Hardcore chewers go for 50 - 100 chews per mouthful.
*Carmen cringes*
- Stop eating three hours before bed.
- Truth is, when I concentrate on chewing a mouthful, my jaw aches a little, I get bored, and finally I feel like an old lady at a retirement home. But then the bliss sets in... I try hard to chew every mouthful 30 times...
Poster ED right here.
- Sigh. Her whole section on "Magic Foods" is the most triggering section in the whole book in regards to eating disorders.
Miso - but not from a restaurant or processed/prepared miso.
Umeboshi plums.
Other pickles.
Sea vegetables.
This section is a hair-trigger for eating disorders. Not to mention she cautions the reader not to overdo it on the pickles. After all, pickles are salty and salt is BAD. Even these extremely low-calorie foods must be restricted, you cannot eat 'as much as you want.'
In all seriousness, this section makes me weep. Pickles and sea vegetables are already super-popular among anorexics due to their extremely low calorie-count and the fact that it is near-impossible to overeat them. I know anorexics in remission who to this day cannot eat a pickle or a sea vegetable without vomiting involuntarily, due to anorexia flashbacks. The fact that she feels she needs to warn people about overconsumption of pickles is especially revolting to me. Worst section of the whole book.
- Of course, gorging on any dessert is never the route to your skinny jeans, but enjoying moderate portions of healthy desserts will keep you happy on a way to a thinner you.
- She assumes her readers are dieters with an interest in losing weight. This entire mindset may be triggering depending on the anorexic.
- She talks about being taken to Weight Watchers by her manager at age 14 and also the whole Batgirl/Fatgirl fiasco, which was tragic, because she was fucking gorgeous. My heart aches for her.
Tl;dr - I generally have good feelings towards Alicia Silverstone. I think this book has it's good points and it's truths. Silverstone has a funny and cute voice in the book (if you ignore her uses of the words "naughty" and "nasty"). She has some vegan recipes in the back, some look very good. She has cute, sweet, and pretty pictures scattered throughout the book, of herself, her and her hubby, animals, and food.
On the bad side, this book is an absolute nightmare for people with any kind of restrictive ED (whether active or in remission). It is extremely triggering.
Are you saying Alicia Silverstone has an ED?
No. And it's none of my fucking business whether she does or not. I'm not commenting on her personal life here. I'm just warning you so that you know. Forewarned is forearmed. I'd expect as an anorexic you'd know what you were getting into by picking this up, but I would hate for anyone to undergo any unnecessary pain, hence the warning.
Also, I'm not sure how "Let's be vegan! Animals! Snuggles!" turned into an elimination diet where you are forbidden from a lot of foods. This is not straight veganism. What she calls "superhero" level is not what I would consider 'vegan,' but a more extreme diet.
There are plenty of fat vegetarians and fat vegans. Sometimes people falsely believe being vegetarian/vegan is a magic weight loss button. It's not. It seems as if Silverstone could not achieve what she thinks of as "the perfect weight" (another trigger) through simple vegetarianism, then not through simple veganism either, then she went to raw, then she went to macrobiotic. I often see young women cycling through increasingly and increasingly more restrictive diets as they try to whittle themselves down to that "perfect number."
Are you saying all vegetarians and vegans have eating disorders?
ABSOLUTELY NOT. There are tons of happy, healthy, non-eating-disordered people out there who practice a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. It is sad that these are so often associated with eating disorders, as that is NOT what those lifestyles are about, but sadly this book (and tens of thousands of real life people) does choose to use them as a weight-loss tool instead of for health, for animal-love, or for personal reasons. It's even worse because 'going vegan' DOES NOT automatically make you lose weight or become a skinny person. YOU CAN BE A FAT VEGAN. THERE ARE PLENTY OF FAT VEGANS. Which is why people who are using it as a weight-loss tool end up restricting more and more and more, unsatisfied with the results of a simple vegan diet.
To people who are NOT suffering from an ED (restrictive), are NOT in remission from an ED (restrictive), I would give this book two stars, with the caveat that this is NOT veganism, it's something else. If you have any kind of restrictive ED history or you are prone to developing an ED, I give this zero stars and a hard warning. If you are using this NOT as a "let's go vegan!" book but as a weight-loss book, I give it three stars. This book WILL make you lose weight if you follow Alicia Silverstone's restrictions. I'm not sure it's for everyone, but it would be very effective. -
I was so, so disappointed by this book. I want to say first and foremost that I am a full vegetarian and about 75% vegan, so my beef (no pun intended) with this book is not the preachiness to quit eating meat and animal products. Alicia Silverstone is not a great writer, and that in and of itself would be fine if her book was not full of unsound health advice. She makes claims that she never substantiates (such as why you shouldn't use spices in your food if you are an eating "superhero"), and she says to eat only local fruits but doesn't seem to think the same applies to vegetables for no apparent reason. She also spotlights a variety of celebrities who are also vegan or vegetarian but who I know for a fact would find her recipes completely unhealthy (such as Dr. Joel Fuhrman). I was looking forward to trying a few of her recipes, but not a single one sounded both tasty and healthy to me, and the few that did called for bizarre ingredients I wouldn't be able to find locally. All in all, I found nothing of use in this book, though I do recognize the value in a celebrity endorsing a meat-free diet. Still, I highly suggest skipping this book and reading Dr. Fuhrman, Dr. Dean Ornish, or one of Isa Chandra Moscowitz's fabulous cookbooks.
-
Part of the reason I want this is so I can hear Cher Horowitz's voice in my head while I read.
"I am totally butt crazy in love with tofu."
----
First, yes, I did hear the entire book in Cher's voice.
This is sort of
Eating Animals: The Light Version. The first part of the book is Alicia's journey to becoming vegan. She decided at an early age that she didn't want to eat animals, but when you're only 8, it can be difficult. She ate meat on and off before going veg full force.
She talks about reasons why a plant based diet is a good idea, and this is where Eating Animals: The Light Version comes into play. She does touch on the industry and practices of factory farming as well as the emotions and behaviors of animals, but it feels more anecdotal than researched, even though she clearly did research. Both styles are effective, but for some reason part of these sections felt a little too fluffy for me, which is probably unfair. If someone was just learning about becoming a vegan and animal farming then this is a good resource. I also think it would work well for a younger audience. I don't mean this in a negative way - I think that teens would respond well to Alicia's voice and journey. I skimmed over a lot of these sections but I probably would have read them fully if I hadn't already read Eating Animals .
One thing I really liked is how she's honest about her eating. There are times when she'll be out and about and will snag a piece of cheese off a passed tray or nick a bite of sushi from a friend's plate. She explains how her body reacts to this and how physically horrible she feels either immediately after or the next morning. There's no judgment here, and I like this.
She spends a good part of the book talking about refined sugar and processed foods and how your body reacts to them. We all know about sugar crash and she tries to keep her diet completely free from refined sugars. She makes sure to include lots of dessert recipes to show that she's only giving up sugar and the resulting headaches, and not taste or happiness. Again, she talks about times when she will eat a sugary dessert and how her body reacts, but there's still no judgment. I think a lot of people get turned off by vegs because they feel like they'll be beaten up and then shunned if they so much as look at meat. Alicia celebrates moments when her friends realize how much better they feel with a plant based diet and doesn't bash on moments when people are eating meat. It's clear that she hopes more people will learn about their diet and the food industry, and as they start to ask questions will come to vegetarianism and veganism on their own.
The rest of the book is very friendly towards people who are flirting with a plant based diet to people who want to go full force super, including macrobiotics.
The recipes are a mixed bag. As with all cookbooks, there are things I'll never try because I refuse to spend $50 on a bottle of something that I only need 2 teaspoons of. She picks a good range of foods from friends and her own kitchen and there were things I'd try, but I'm glad I got this from the library because it wouldn't be a full time cookbook in my kitchen. -
While I feel strange giving a book by Alicia Silverstone the same rating I gave, say,
To Kill a Mockingbird, this book alone out of dozens I've read in the past two weeks convinced me our family could go vegan and be healthier for it. Since the night my enraged preschooler passionately declared he hated "bad people who eat dead animals" in the middle of a steak house (think Jesus cleansing the temple of moneylenders meets Rosemary's Baby), I’ve read every book our library has on children & vegetarianism and while a few of them gave some good recipe ideas, The Kind Diet was the only one that got me excited and confident about this life-style.
Because of the limitations already on my family’s diet due to Celiac disease, the thought of my son cutting out an entire food group terrified me. Alicia’s book reassured me we’re getting so much of the protein and other vitamins & minerals we need through the foods we already eat because of our dietary restrictions, such as soy milk, almond milk and the high-vitamin content of our various wheat-free alternatives to bread & pasta. Her detailed break-down of the various nutrients a carnivore gets from meat and how vegans can get those same nutrients was extremely helpful and exactly what I was looking for but not getting in all the other books I read. I even handed the meat chapter over to my barbecue-loving, skeptical-but-indulgent husband – after reading it, he stared off into space for a while and said, “Well…that was convincing. I think she’s right. Ok, no more meat.” And that is why this book on veganism gets 5 stars.
Update: The Lentil Sweet Potato Stew is one of our all-time favorite recipes. We've made it regularly for the past 7 years now - it's amazing. -
One of my Goodreads’ friends wasn’t sure if this book would be for me because I’ve been vegan so long. True; I have. I also know a lot about healthful eating (although plenty of times I’ve been a junk food vegan) and I’m very familiar with the vegan macrobiotic diet and philosophy, but I always learn something, and I think that this book is a very worthwhile addition to the genre.
I think that Alicia Silverstone is adorable and I admire her for using her fame for good, to help others.
This book is combines autobiographical material, information about good reasons to go vegan and to go to super hero status (macrobiotic vegan) and it’s also a cookbook. It’s an attractive book with an appealing layout and beautiful photos.
I thought that she gave a bit of wonky advice, some incorrect advice in my opinion, but much good advice too. I don’t subscribe to the macrobiotic diet because I think that tomatoes and eggplants and peppers, and even potatoes are healthful foods, and that sea vegetables aren’t all THAT healthy, nor is too much oil or salt, but most of the rest of the “super hero” diet, and vegan diet too, described in this book is one I’d like to adopt, at least more of the time than I do now. I’m already a vegan and I already eat mostly whole grains, but I eat a lot of junk/convenience foods, desserts. The optimal diet according to Alicia is one that makes liberal use of vegetables, whole grains, beans, sea vegetables (except for a little kombu in some soups I am not a fan and I will pass on those) and natural sweeteners. In addition to non-vegan foods, ideally there’s no white sugar, processed foods, other unhealthful foods.
What I like about Silverstone’s approach is that she realizes people are different and need to go at a pace that feels comfortable, so she has 3 categories: flirters, vegans, superheroes. (I’ve been stuck at the middle category for decades.) I might be inspired (I’ve been ready to be inspired) to once again eat healthy foods much more often than not. I also appreciated when Silverstone describes her own deviations from what she considers the ideal diet. She doesn’t preach perfection.
I’m thrilled that there are so many new books promoting a vegan diet/veganism, ones that take different approaches. I’ve never seen one quite like this, and I am grateful it’s available because I think it will inspire some people. There’s also a web site affiliated with this book:
http://www.thekindlife.com/. The web site looks sensational. Even though I’m sure I’m years (decades) older than the usual demographic, I’ll even consider registering. Alicia Silverstone is doing a great service with this book and especially with the web site.
The recipes make up a significant part of the book; it is a cookbook. They go from pages 137-291.
Personally, I’d leave out a lot of oil and salt, and foods I don’t like such as vinegar, most sea vegetables (kombu is okay), etc.
They’re divided into Vegan and Superhero. The Superhero recipes that look especially good to me are: Azuki Beans with Kabocha Squash, Alicia’s Magical Healing Soup, Squah ‘n’ Onions, Creamy Kabocha Squash Soup, Cuban-Style Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Kim’s Red Raddish Tabboleh, Scarlet Roasted Vegetables, and the Roasted Lotus Roots, Sun Chokes, and Leeks dish. Of course, the Vegan sans Superhero recipes looked delicious to me. Some of those that look especially tasty are: Moroccan Cous Cous with Saffron, Sweet Potato Lentil Soup, Black Soybean and Kabocha Squash Soup, Sweet Potato Lentil Soup, (yes, both Alicia and I love squash and sweet potatoes!), and many (most) of the amazing desserts: Coffee Fudge Brownies, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Crispy Peanut Butter Treats with Chocolate Chips, Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Cookies, Lemon-Poppyseed Pound Cake, My Favorite Cupcakes, Peanut Butter Pie, Pumpkin Bread, and Hot Chocolate.
There’s an appendix with a list of other suggested books. While it’s only 1 page long, there’s a variety of book types included. There’s an especially helpful index too. -
What's the book about?
This is not just a food diet it is a life diet. It shows you how to look at food in a new way consciously and decide for yourself if it is something I want in my body.
Like countless celebrities before her, actress Alicia Silverstone has put together a book that she says reveals the secrets of how she stays fit and healthy. In The Kind Diet, Silverstone she swears that a diet of only organic, vegan diet, free of meat, dairy, white sugar and processed foods is what keeps her fit and healthy.
In The Kind Diet, Silverstone reveals that she is a passionate animal activist and environmentalist. She says a plant-based diet is not only good for your body but also saves animals and is one of the "greenest" things you can do.
In her opinion "a plant-based diet requires less fuel, water and other resources than animal products, and following a vegan diet is one of the best things you can do to lose weight, improve your health and the health of our planet," says Silverstone.
This is a fact. I wanted to see if this was just a bunch of hot air. In addition, it is fact take a look on the internet and there are many articles out there that back up her theory.
What You Can Eat?
Silverstone encourages readers to switch to an organic (whenever possible), plant-based diet, and rich in whole grains, sea vegetables, and foods many Americans have never tasted, like dikon, shoyu, and lotus root.
Big No is for the diet is Meat, Dairy anything processed. In basic terms if you want to buy something ready made it has to be organic and say all natural.
Included in the book are 100 delicious recipes that range from main meals to desserts to prove that eating vegetarian is not about just eating grass. You can eat a wonderful variety of foods even if it is vegetarian.
How It Works
Readers choose from three different stage points into The Kind Diet, from the first, "flirting," stage to the "ultimate superhero" stage. The flirt level encourages readers slowly replace meats with plant-based foods and suggests they will see immediate results to spur them on to the next level. This is the stage most people will stick to; it is just taking baby steps to a healthy eating and Making better choices.
The book is full of information anecdotes, cooking advice, eating-out strategies, and motivational tips encourage readers to stick with their chosen plan for four weeks before moving on to the next phase.
The recipes in the book are outstanding. They are satisfying and yes, they are very yummy.
Based on her personal experiences and philosophy, Silverstone also claims the vegan lifestyle will lead to clearer skin, higher energy levels, mental clarity, and smoother digestive function.
At this point, I do not see it but as you know, change does not happen over night.
As for exercise, The Kind Diet recommends going outside for walks, playing games or sports with friends, practicing yoga, or engaging in fun exercises three to five times a week. Silverstone prefers activities that allow you to commune with nature to the rigors of the gym.
Food for Thought
The Kind Diet does a good job of making readers' aware of where food comes from and the impact it has beyond our bodies. And most of us would benefit from shifting to a diet with more plant foods and fewer animal products.
The Kind Diet is not for everyone, but if you have ever wanted to try a vegetarian diet, the "flirt" stage is a nice way to experiment with eating more plant foods. Taking it to the "superhero" stage is probably too drastic for most people, because it requires dedication, commitment, and a consultation with a registered dietitian or health-care provider.
I absolutely recommend this book for anyone who wants to eat healthier. Just because this promotes a began diet, it does not force a complete vegan diet down your throat. It shows you ways you can make better choices when it comes to food.
Now I am on the flirt stage and I think I am going to on it for a long while. However, what this book has done is it has made me look at food in a new way. I read the labels and packaging better. Before I never use to do that.
I would just look for what is on sale and throw it in my wagon. Now I look very carefully at what is in the product and if the ingredients are something I do not know, I put it back. I make better choices.
I eat more greens and less sugary junk food. However, if I do want a sugary junk food I make it myself replacing the high sugar and un-healthy crap for healthier ingredients.
Okay so information in this book is not new. It has been around forever but Miss Silverstone did something that I did not get from the other books. She made it so I understand and its fun. It is not a chore reading this book. It is something I look forward to, for over week this book has not been back on my bookshelf that is how much I read or scan through the book for recipes. I know this book will be a staple in my fight to get healthier. -
Overall, I loved Alicia's book! I had heard about it, since, well, she is Alicia Silverstone. I love the title of the book, I mean, who wouldn't want to follow "The Kind Diet"!? It sounds like the best diet ever! ;-) Be kind to yourself, the animals and the planet. Sign me up! But I'd hesitated to pick it up because I know some reviewers slammed the book and I am sometimes more than a little annoyed at celebrity-authored books. But then a few of my vegan friends here on GoodReads gave it a hearty endorsement, and I found out my library has a copy, so I figured I'd give it a try. I am SO glad I did!
I have to say that, first of all, I am probably a great target audience for this book. I'm a female in my late twenties--and I have to say Alicia really gears her tone in the book to hanging-out-with-my-gal-pals. I doubt most guys will relate to the one month trial of the vegan diet as being "only one menstrual cycle, or four episodes of 'The Bachelor'" long. Or to feeling like he has released his “inner goddess” with how healthy he will feel on the diet. And while I do wish she had been a little more universal in her tone—I mean, there is no reason for guys NOT to follow the Kind Diet, and she includes many examples of men, including some famous athletes, who are vegan—I also think that you really do need to think that you are writing to someone if you want your sentiments to come off the page and really touch them. So, thanks, Alicia—it was fun hanging out with such a funny, wise and caring gal!
I'm also a prime target audience because I have dabbled in vegetarianism since I was sixteen—sometimes staunchly adhering to my self-imposed regime for many months at a time. Then there have been spells where I would eat meat (chicken, fish) now and then, due either to what I perceived as necessity (i.e., not wanting to impose on others when I was visiting, limited options while traveling, or a recent nutritional diet for stomach problems that is very restrictive of grains-based meals). Yet, every time I slid away from vegetarianism, I felt unsettled--something kept speaking to my heart, telling me I was not being true to myself, or to the spirit of love and harmony I feel for animals. Alicia’s book finally put all the pieces together for me. Her warm, wise approach and the humor and passion with which she conveyed her ideas really worked for me. She presents some pretty awful statistics in the “Nasty Foods” section, in terms of what consuming meat, eggs and dairy does to the animals, to your body, and to the environment. But I didn’t come away feeling traumatized, I felt sad, certainly, but more empowered. I never really “got” veganism before and The Kind Diet really lays it out for us so plainly. I really don’t see how I can continue supporting the dairy industry after what I read—and I have battled milk allergies for years, so it seems that perhaps my body has been trying to tell me something all along! I also firmly believe that food is the foundation for our lives, that what we put into our bodies has a direct impact on how we feel, how we act, how we regard ourselves and how we treat others. I am not a fan of processed foods, and believe in the power of fruits and veggies and eating as straight from the earth as possible. So, Alicia’s philosophy really jived with my own, giving me more strength to pursue my convictions.
In some ways, I think this book would be perfect for anyone dabbling in, or even just considering, vegetarianism or especially veganism. It’s not at all overwhelming but it gives you enough information that you can investigate more on your own, or even try one of the four-week trail diets Alicia outlines. She is very good at being non-judgmental and reminding you that any step you take to reduce your support of the meat, dairy and egg industry is one step you are treading lighter on this earth; but also that not all of us are going to quit cold turkey (insert groan at pun here). One of her trial diets is “Flirting” in which you just try going veg*n for a few meals, when you eat out at restaurants, or supplementing one of your frozen lunches with a veg*n frozen meal. Then there is the Vegan Diet, which is much more restrictive but also she gives a handy list of her favorite convenience foods and some recipes to try and sample meal plans for one week. Then there is the Superhero diet (macrobiotic vegan) which is like ultra-healthy vegan, where you eat virtually no processed foods or refined sugars, and are doing a lot with various plants, including some sea vegetables and other “unusual” (for most of us in the USA) foods. She presents it all as very doable, but I must say I think the practicality is not there for many of us. I love some of her ideas, like how she and her husband spend Sunday morning browsing the farmer’s market, and Sunday afternoon cooking together, creating a nurturing of their relationship and their bodies. How cool! But, um, not all of us have farmer’s markets where we can pick up one or two varieties of sea kelp, nor the time to devote an entire afternoon to cooking. I haven’t tried any of the recipes yet, but some look really daunting and with unusual ingredients--and I am looking at the recipes as someone who has just spent the past year cooking almost my meals from scratch with virtually no convenience foods so I’m no stranger in the kitchen (though I admit I don’t really like to cook). So, I would highly recommend that anyone looking to start a veg*n diet also pick up some easier-to-manage cookbooks like “How it All Vegan” or “Vegan on the Cheap” to supplement Alicia’s ideas and recipes.
Despite its flaws, I think Alicia’s book is a genuine, from-the-heart gesture to help us all live happier, healthier lives. Her philosophy is that we are all connected, and the pain we are causing the animals (and the earth) by ingesting their flesh, milk or eggs is taking a toll on not only on them but on our health and happiness. Admittedly, there will be some people who just do not agree with this at all—and I doubt they will connect with the book. But, if you are nodding your head in agreement at any of this review, I encourage you to at least try “The Kind Diet”—even just reading about it made me feel happier and more empowered. There are so many “bad things” happening in the world today and lessening our consumption of animal products is one way we can actually help reduce the strain on our precious Earth and our “sacred temple”—our body. Yay! -
This was a really great read about vegetarianism, or more accurately veganism, and what it entails along with insights into being environmentally friendly. The book covers all aspects of what to do to live healthfully, taking care of your body and our planet. Alicia Silverstone uses easy to understand writing and a conversational style tone to convey heavier topics such as why one should abstain from animal products. She takes leading research from The China Study, Dr. Furhman, Dr. Ornish and Dr. Barnard and breaks things down so that it is digestible and concise. For those new to vegetarianism or want to know more about the lifestyle without reading a plethora of books, this is the book for you. Often books on vegetarianism/veganism are emotionally weighty but the tone of Alicia's book is happy, light and encouraging. She does not call for anyone to be a legalistic vegan, but rather to start slowly and gives three stages - flirt, vegan and superhero. Her superhero chapter and recipes goes into macrobiotics, which I found highly interesting to read. This was my first encounter with macrobiotics and it just made sense. I was encouraged after reading "The Kind Diet" to read other books that Alicia recommended like the "The Hip Chicks Guide to Macrobiotics" which is also a good read.
I have made some recipes from Alicia's book and all I can say is "Wow!" Every recipe has been amazing, tantalizing and intriguing. None of them have been boring, that is for sure! Her homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups are to die for. Her vegan recipes are comforting and pleasing - taking a more nutritious spin on old favorites, while her superhero recipes are wholesome, filling and energizing.
From her vegan recipes I have made:
*Radicchio Pizza with Truffle oil - who knew salad on a piece could be that good?
*Alicia's Sexy Inspired Salad - amazing sweet, tangy and rich dressing
*Caesar Salad - really good veganized Caesar!
*Coffee Fudge Brownies - the frosting is sinful but oh-so-amazing
*Traditional English Breakfast - of all the times I have eaten an English breakfast, I have never had Kale and this really makes the breakfast!
From her superhero recipes I have made:
*Toasted Nori Burritos - quick, easy and delicious, really filling too!
*Thin Mushroom "Pizzas" - this is hands down my now favorite veg pizza
*Polenta Casserole with Seitan - this one did not come out too well for me, but I think it is because my polenta was too runny when I put it in the casserole to bake. Did not turn out firm, but rather mushy and not tasty.
*Doma with Tofu Cream - my first attempt at making stuffed cabbage rolls and it was divine! The cream is out of this world!
*Fried Rice - quick, easy and delicious with lots of fresh ingredients and very healthy - first time I had daikon and lotus root and both were crunchy and delightful.
*Baby Bok Choy Drizzled with Ume Vinaigrette - light and satisfying. I added some mirin and this was a wonderful salty, sweet, tangy creation.
*Alicia's Soft Rice Porridge - who knew rice could be so satisfying for breakfast?
Next up - tempura. I'm looking forward to it! Happy eating from the outside in! -
This is one of the better vegan books out there. She doesn't rely heavily on soy which I really appreciate. The recipes, for the most part, are normal, everyday foods that my kids would eat. The pictures are lovely.
The first half deals with why a person should become vegan. I wasn't really interested in this part since we eat meat - I'm just wanting to find more vegetarian recipes to add into our menus to decrease our use of meat and dairy. I think the author does a good job explaining the vegan diet and addresses things like supplements, protein, a stocked pantry, exercise, etc. There is quite a bit of discussion on macro/microbiotics which I found interesting. She also sets up a few different "levels" of veganism - those that are flirting with it, those who are vegan and those who want to be "superheroes" and go a little further.
I thought some of the arguments for becoming vegan weren't well-devoloped and she doesn't address the responsible side of meat production/eating. I grew up on a farm. We raised our own beef, chickens, goats and sometimes rabbits and pigs. I know all about having to kill "cute cows" and then eat them so arguments about 'the poor animals' don't really work with me. Now, as an adult and not living on a farm (yet) we try our best to buy meat/eggs from local farmers who use humane, clean conditions for raising and butchering their animals. These animals don't contain all the hormones, steroids, toxins, etc and should be included in any discussion of good nutrition. There is the bad of meat, but there is also the good...there needs to be a balance in the conversation.
The second half of the book is mainly recipes and there are a lot of great sounding recipes which is why I checked the book out in the first place.
For someone just starting the road to vegetarianism/veganism, this would be a good starting place. I think it's also a good resource for those just wanting a few more vegetarian recipes to add to their repertoire. -
It's not often that I read a book and am so inspired. Essentially this is a book about eventually becoming macrobiotic which I had no interest in doing but now I'm intrigued and am doing research about this diet. I love how this book is non-judgemental and I really feel like it was written from the heart. I've made two of the recipes so far and I loved them both (try the risotto recipe!). This is one of the best books I own, hands down.
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Okay, so in elementary, I was a HUGE fan of Clueless and Alicia Silverstone. I was a relatively new vegetarian (new at it compared to now, when it's been over twelve years) and she was active in PETA and also super-cute. Basically, I wanted to be Alicia Silverstone. I even did a book report on an unauthorized biography of her for sixth-grade English class.
Now Alicia has given me the tools, er recipes, to be more like her. I'm not sure how I feel about this book being labeled as a "Diet" book. It's really more a lifestyle that Silverstone suggests, after all the subtitle tells you you will be "Saving the Planet" by following her suggestions.
Here are the suggestions: Stop eating meat, Stop eating dairy, Stop eating eggs, Discover whole grains and beans which are super good and super good for you, Stop eating refined sugar, And so on. I'll admit, the book gets a little preachy in the parts about why you should stop eating meat (although not super graphic in the way that books like Foer's Eating Animals gets about their conditions). Suffice it to say that factory farms are inhumane and that it is more cost effective and healthier to eat a plant-based diet.
Here's what Alicia's book does really well: It gives you several levels of diet, flirting, vegan, and superhero to try. It's a good way to ease yourself into eating more healthful foods, giving you options instead of just saying "eat this, not that" (which, coincidentally is the title of a series of dieting books). Alicia's book also gives you a complete guide to her favorite vegan foods (from envirokids crispy rice bars for snacks to veganaise in you tofu-based "egg" salad) there are even recipes for a complete, completely vegan traditional English breakfast (Alicia's parents are British).
Yes, the recipes. As they say the proof is in the pudding, and I knew that before rating this book I had to try at least one recipe. I made Sweet Potato and Lentil Soup, and I have to say it is pretty much what pushed the book's rating up to 5 stars, it's just really savory and delicious, my whole family and my boyfriend liked it a lot, and it's very good for you. So now instead of doing book reports about Silverstone, I'm just going to borrow some of her recipes. Next up is her recipe for Candied Ginger Pears, it looks amazing. I'm still an ovo-lacto vegetarian, but going vegan is looking a lot easier and tastier after reading this.
Also, you can check out thekindlife.com for updates from Alicia and vegan forums. -
Things I like about this book:
*may inspire some people to flirt with or even embrace vegetarian & vegan living,
*her tone is fun,
*there are a few recipes that look great and have realistic ingredients (Moroccan couscous with butternut squash, peanut butter cups, pomegranate and lime tea, creamy kabocha squash soup).
Things I dislike:
*emphasis on restriction (discourages spinach, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplant, non-local fruit... in addition to the stuff that most diets limit, such as salt, sugar, alcohol, etc),
*lack of body positivity and emphasis on weight loss,
*labeling foods good and bad ("nasty" and "kind"), while claiming to be lenient with herself about occasional bites of cheese or fish,
*pseudo-science talk of toxins, detoxification, etc.
*recommends that we chew each bite an extreme number of times,
*encourages meat & dairy substitutes (Veganaise, Tofutti, seitan, etc.), despite the recommendation that we limit processed foods,
*advanced "Superhero" phase is really a macrobiotic diet full of oddities that seem hard to find, at best (lotus root, burdock, sea vegetables, daikon, omeboshi plums...).
Overall, a lot of contradictory recommendations, and not that many appealing vegan recipes. As a pescatarian trying to eat more plant-based whole foods, this book was a bit of a disappointment. -
I actually enjoyed the first hundred instructional pages of this book more than the recipes part. It's refreshing to see a person who managed to live through the craziness of Hollywood life and emerge stronger and more principled for it. Lindsey Lohan please take note.
The more I read about the vegan lifestyle, the more I think I need to follow this path, both for my moral standards and my health. One of the most interesting things I've have learned after reading a number of vegan/vegetarian cookbooks from start to finish now is how differently each person interprets the vegan diet. Alicia used a lot of obscure veggies and other ingredients that I've never heard of...other cookbooks use completely different standard ingredients. There was no mention of Bragg's Liquid Aminos or Nutritional Yeast (two of the worst named products I've ever encountered. Vegans need better marketing.) That's not a problem, just interesting. Her cooking focus was slightly Asian, and didn't really try to re-create non-vegan dishes. There were no recipes that I thought: I just *have* to try this, but they all sounded pretty decent. -
I wanted to like this book more than I did. Silverstone has a charming (if immature) writing style but too many of her ideas ring of pseudoscience. She's not an expert in nutrition but still feels free to make a lot of unsubstantiated claims (such as advising little to no spices for "superheros" and eating only local fruit because tropical fruit is too "warming" in a cold environment. What?)
Also, her ideas about being a "superhero" don't make a lot of sense. She advocates a mostly macrobiotic diet for people who want to be "superheros" but doesn't really explain why. I would totally be down for this if it would grant me flight or laser vision, but evidently her "superhero" plan would only give me the superpower of feeling exceedingly self-righteous. No thanks.
I do think that this is a well-intentioned book that I think that many people (especially 15-year old girl wanna be vegans) would enjoy. I’ve tried several of the recipes and she has some good ones . This review sounds more negative than I expected, but there has to be some better books on this topic out there. -
There were some great arguments for eating more vegetables and whole grains, which I completely supported. I was also glad she put in the information about the environmental impact of the commercial meat industry, and made such a push for whole foods.
I was really put off, though, by how poorly defended many of her points were.
"Humans are the only species who drink another species' milk" (while true, we are also the only species who cooks & uses recipes, watches movies, wears clothes, and who has the capability/dexterity to make things like pasta, which she advocates heartily. I just didn't think this was a solid enough argument.)
"Make this choice like me, and many, many others" (I can't tell you how often she used the words "many, many" or "very, very" or "much, much." Plus, the bandwagon approach is pretty lame.)
Definitely not the best book I've read on veganism. I felt like the majority of the points weren't well-defended or supported by solid data. Call me crazy, but "it's sexy not to eat meat" just isn't convincing. -
I really wanted to love this book because I share a similar attitude about having plant based diet. It's about abundance and kindness to animals and the earth, and even if you're not willing to commit to a fully vegan (or in this case, macrobiotic) lifestyle, even choosing to explore vegan options is a good thing to do. Unfortunately, I thought the writing and editing were both terrible-- every page she's referring you to her website and sometimes repeating sentences word-for-word from a previous chapter. It just was not very good.
I haven't tried any of the recipes, yet. There are lots of Japanese-inspired dishes that look delicious, and there are a lot of vegan "standards" as well. That being said, if you want recipes, I think there are better, more inspired vegan cookbooks out there. Then again, I can totally see this book being able to connect with people who might not be taken in by other vegan propaganda, and if that can make someone think about their diet, than only good can come from it. -
My sister gifted me this book I assumed it was just a cookbook. However, the entire first half is a decent and fairly gentle argument for eating a plant-based (vegan) diet. I found it surprisingly compelling and am now "flirting" with veganism. So far, the recipes haven't been bad either.
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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 umi 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, adorable [and kindly] Ms. Silverstone…this book is a must. -
Sigh.
I love Alicia Silverstone. No, really! But this book really brings out her bubble-headedness. Which is saying something, coming from someone who enjoys her professional work and was really wanting to be inspired to take another step in the journey of eating kinder. In the end though, I discovered the recipes here represent exactly what I hate about many cookbooks.
The big idea of the book is that if you're eating an average American diet, you can experiment with vegan alternatives. Vegetarians can go vegan. Vegans can go whole-food, organic, or localvore. Everyone can go further toward a healthy diet, which impacts one's own wellness as well as the wellness of the earth. As someone who has been vegetarian for 16 years, yes, I get it.
Unfortunately, every single recipe in the book requires some ingredient I would need to go out of my way to chase down somewhere: mostly daikon, umeboshi products, or kabocha squash. Of the two recipes I made yesterday (wheat biscuits–the only thing I had all the ingredients for, and oatmeal-from which I omitted the maple syrup and substituted raisins for dates)–they didn't taste as "yummy!" as Alicia promised. I don't want to chase down ingredients to try new recipes–so Mark Bittman's How to Cook Anything Vegetarian, with its simple, basic recipes and ingredients, and easy vegan adaptations is going to win out.
On top of this, the writer (I'm assuming she used an uncredited ghost writer–most everyone does) inserted Alicia-speak everywhere possible. Many of the recipe introductions say "They're so good," "Yummy!" or "This dish is delicious!"–if a recipe needs to tell the reader it's good, it's probably a hard sell otherwise. Here's a particularly representative example:
"I used to eat the presweetened, instant oatmeal that came in a packet until I joined the cast of a play about Orthodox Judaism in which I portrayed a lesbian who has a cocaine overdose on stage...anyhoo, another actress in the show, Lesa Carlson, taught me how to make this oatmeal! I love using dates from the farmers' market."
Yes, Alicia loves the farmers' market and reminds us of this at every turn. I also love the farmers market–except when you don't live in southern California, they're not open year round–making the "more affordable" argument for organics rather flimsy.
Frequently I have thought about taking the next step and doing a vegan experiment–but these recipes are not what I'm going to be using if or when I do so. Back to the library with you, book! -
I admire Alicia Silverstone, for how she's managed to structure her life. It must be hard to keep it all under control, in her fast-paced California environment with so much peer pressure. I think I read several years ago that she was a proponent of raw food, which may go some way to explaining her present diet, which looks to me like food touched as little as possible. It would take some getting used to for most of us, and it is not that easy to turn out a tasty product. It might take more attention than we usually have time to give, and/or training. But this is the same type of food served at Kripalu, a yoga retreat in the Berkshires, and in no time at all, one begins to feel well. In an email I sent to a friend I said, "I would eat at Kripalu every day if I could. It made me feel so satisfied, so un-hungry, and so energetic, and yes, perhaps a little holy. Like my body really is a temple."
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I've been on a temporary vegan kick for a couple months now, inspiring my boss to learn more about the benefits of eliminating animal foods. Alicia Silverstone's new book was her most recent finding so I got the chance to read through it the other day, and it's surprisingly one of the more tolerable publications concerning veganism.
The recipes sound really great, but my main complaint there is that I would be spending my whole paycheck at the Japanese aisle in Whole Foods to abide by her diet plans.
Basically, this book is not total bullshit and I may have been convinced to remain vegan for a spell longer. I could go without the peppered mentionings of inner-goddesses, but what can you do? You'd probably start on that new-age trip, too, had you not enjoyed a steak in the past decade. -
If your Vegetarian, vegan or just plain interested in the world of vegetarian/veganism, this is the perfect book for you.
I wanted to read this from the second I heard about it and I absolutely loved it.
I was quite shocked through out the whole book. I never knew what all the meat and animal products where really doing to our bodies and health. I was so interested in all the information Alicia had compiled, I was hooked from the get go and finished it in a matter of days.
Not only was there heaps of interesting and useful information but there was also dozens upon dozens of incredible healthy vegan recipes I am dieing to try, plus all the great looking pictures just make your mouth water.
After reading this I am slowing eliminating the meat and reducing the animal products in my life. This book is well worth the read. -
I am disappointed. I really like Alicia Silverstone, and it's a bonus that she is veg. However, in "The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight, and Saving the Planet," there were many points where I felt more like it was her character "Cher" from the movie "Clueless" telling me why I shouldn't eat meat. I thought if anyone who was a meateater was reading this, they certainly wouldn't be swayed. I was almost embarrassed for the author because she sounded so...childish? I don't know what the word is I'm looking for. It was weird. I ended up skimming most of it. I am already vegetarian, I don't need to be reminded how shittily animals are treated. I was wanting to get to the recipes, anyway. Unfortunately, there's a blurb before each and it actually made me lose my appetite.
~Sigh~ -
I LOVED this book. Honestly, as someone who is overweight and feeling pretty nasty, the idea of an all-plant diet is very appealing (plus if there's even a remote chance that less red meat means fewer kidney stones for us, I'm all over it). Am also having issues with the cute little songs my daughter is singing about her pet turkey, which will end up on the diningroom table at Thanksgiving. Of course it's slanted to make the plant-eating lifestyle more attractive, but it's so like a breath of fresh air that I don't mind being swayed. Some good facts, some great recipes. The photograph of Baby Bok-Choy made me want to lick the book, and when was the last time you could really say that?
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half-liked and half-disliked this book, so am giving it a 2.5/5 .
upon starting this i decided to keep an open mind. being someone who advocates for a plant-based diet (and as a fan of the movie “clueless,”) i was automatically biased to like this book; on the other hand, i was set to not like it as well because i anticipated it to perhaps be “preachy,” and inconsiderate of cultures and classes that are not “rich and white.” (i’ve learned through the years that not considering the contexts of various cultures and classes becomes problematic and also unattractive to the general public if one wishes to promote a plant-based diet).
good half of this book: inspiring and fun to read; full of good ideas, and taught me new things. also has cool recipes i’m excited to try. i’m interested in implementing “the superhero diet” a little more. also does not make a plant-based diet something that means “kale,” and only buying imported food. it actually recommends eating seasonal and local.
bad half of this book: it is not the kind of book to get all your information from. i know alicia based some of her points on studies, but some also seem to be purely conjecture.
i’d say this should book should be more supplementary to someone who’s in or interested in a plant-based lifestyle, but definitely should not be a foundation book. still, i’d recommend it.
(for a good foundation book i’d say check out “the china study,” or for documentaries, “game changers,” “what the health,” and “forks over knives”)
i think what the world knows about health and diet, despite how “woke” or involved the public is regarding them, is another aspect of our lives we need to pay attention to. we’re constantly being fed many myths about what we put in our body and this takes a toll on more than just our health, so i think that having a book like this to get more involved in the discussion is important. -
For a 2020 read its a bit outdated but still has a lot of solid facts and recipes.
This book is certainly in the same vein as
Skinny Bitch: A No-Nonsense, Tough-Love Guide for Savvy Girls Who Want to Stop Eating Crap and Start Looking Fabulous!, with a little bit of shock, and a lot of general background information. Skinny bitch catapulted my vegetarian career and I feel like this book could do the same for many.
Some of it is cheesy and unnecessary by Alicia really tries to emphasize kindness: to others, to yourself, and to the planet. She's not strict in forcing you to be 0 to 100% and respects the balance a person needs. If you read a lot of nutrition books / veg-life books the information here will be nothing new. However, if you're new to it this may be a good starting spot. Half educational and half recipes.
The thing I was most disappointed with was that not all of the recipes had pictures associated and I feel like pictures really help me determine if I want to try a meal. -
This was a good start to motivating me to eat more "plant-based" foods. I only tried about 5% of the recipes though, as many contained bazaar ingredients such as seitan, shoyu, mochi, umeboshi plum paste, ....
I'm not really looking for new foods or for "meat substitutes", but this book did help to motivate me to try creating meals with "plants" as the main dish. -
I am a vegetarian who is looking to transition into becoming a vegan. Considering I am already racked with enough guilt to make me want to transition (baby chickens, you guys!) this book should have been perfect for me. This book, however, is only perfect if you are Alicia Silverstone, and because we didn't all star in the movie Clueless we can't all afford fucking sea vegetables!
Now, don't get me wrong I may not have loved this but I didn't hate it either. Her heart seems to be in the right place and some of her advice I found to be quite helpful (preparing in advance, not being too harsh on yourself, thinking about why you are doing this in the first place) it's just that some of it just comes across as a little....weird. The Superhero diet (where all those pesky sea vegetables appear) seems utterly bonkers! And the section about chewing your food is a little condescending, as if all non-superheroes exhale our food like the fat whales we are! The problem here is that I thought that by becoming vegan I was doing good for the environment, the world on a whole and to myself and Silverstone agrees wholeheartedly but when she gets to the section on Superheroes I suddenly feel inadequate and not worthy and want to eat all the sugar to make myself feel better.
And then there are the recipes which are the main reason that I purchased this, having already made up my mind about becoming vegan I just wanted some healthy and easy vegan recipes. Hmm... I bookmarked a few and I will probably cook those soon enough but the majority of them were disappointing to be honest with a lot relying heavily on substitutions or products that are either very expensive or hard to get. I was also hoping for more tips on the vegan lifestyle as a whole and not just the dietary side of it. A full section on clothing and beauty products would have been more helpful than the fleeting mentions these two things get because after all a vegan lifestyle is much more than just the food you eat.
All In all, I am glad that I read it and it has motivated me a little bit more in terms of starting my vegan diet I just wish that it had so much more! Will I recommend this to others, maybe. Would I read it again? As if!
