Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

This is the perfect book for both those starting out at plant-based eating as well as those of us who are more experienced at it. I have been eating this way for the past 3-1/2 years, losing over 150 pounds in the process and coming off of all of my prescription medications (which is remarkable for me at the ripe old age of 70 now). What I like about this book is she shows others how they too can easily obtain such results. And she does it in a way that is humble and not pushy. For so many authors of diet and cooking books, it's all about their way or no way. But Kim is not like that. She starts out showing what kinds of foods to have in the pantry and refrigerator of a beginning plant-based food eater. Her list is very comprehensive, although I will say that as a person finds a few good recipes, they may pare down the amount of food items in their pantries. Then she moves into some different foods that many people may not be familiar with. A favorite of mine that she mentions is jackfruit. I've had jackfruit as a substitute for pork in pulled pork and pork barbecue sandwiches and I swear you can't tell the difference. In fact, I've known pork eaters to be secretly given jackfruit without realizing that they weren't eating pork. She also talks about miso (I love miso soup and eat it almost daily myself), nutritional yeast (a great healthy substitute for cheese), tamari, seitan, tempeh (another favorite meat substitute of mine) and tofu. Kim also shows us the things we should have in our kitchen to make some great plant-based meals. This section is invaluable because it is so easy to overbuy on kitchen gadgets and toys. The problem, at least for me, is not only does that become expensive, but where do you store everything? There are only a few essential items that you need and Kim describes what those are. Everything else is just a toy, which may be okay if you have the money and a really big kitchen. She also talks about substitutions. What to substitute in place of an egg in a recipe for example. Or what to use in place of oil. How to substitute for gluten (for those who are gluten intolerant). I could go on and on about what she covers. I particularly like the section on meal planning and organization. But you get the idea. There are sections on storing fruits and vegetables, moneysaving tips while shopping, how to decode food labels and even an essay about nuts by her father-in-law, Dr. T Colin Campbell (who says yes, eat nuts). And then the recipes: Breakfast recipes, breads, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, dressings and sauces, salads, appetizers, dips, spreads, soups and stews, entrees, side dishes and desserts. It's a very comprehensive book. Even after 3-1/2 years of eating this way, I learned some things from reading this book. And I got some great new recipes to boot. Well worth the money in my humble opinion!