Review by Jlblawrence -- We Don't Just Eat Lettuce!
Posted: 16 Jun 2020, 01:21
[Following is a volunteer review of "We Don't Just Eat Lettuce!" by Allyn Raifstanger.]
Like the vast majority of the world’s population, I struggle with my diet and exercise. We Don’t Just Eat Lettuce!: Vegan Recipes for Carnivores by Allyn Raifstanger is here to help. This vegan recipe book is so much more than just serving recommendations to get you started on a vegan lifestyle. Chef Raifstanger’s permeating theme throughout the book is learning to treat your body with the respect and the nutrition that it deserves. As he states in his book, “I no longer live to eat, I eat to live.”
While nutrition would normally be the backbone of a book of recipes, the author also gives us insight into his life and how he came to call himself a vegan. As the owner of an iconic restaurant in Cincinnati, OH, he is very knowledgable in the food industry, especially the vegan niche. He speaks about his health issues and how they were remedied by his change in lifestyle. By taking courses with the Institute for Integrated Nutrition (IIN) he became a better, well rounded person versed in the fields of yoga, meditation, and the social factors that affect our overall health way more than we’d like to think. So while on the surface this seems to be a simple vegan cookbook, once the pages are cracked, Mr. Raifstanger’s book is much more.
While reading this recipe and self improvement book, I was actually inspired to try cooking with tofu for the first time. I tried to implement some of the tips Mr. Raifstanger gave us in his recipe for Allyn’s Cowboy Breakfast. I had never purchased tofu before, and was gently guided towards the firm tofu at his suggestion. I am happy to have had this book in my arsenal, because previously I did not know that tofu had different levels of firmness. The recipe turned out fantastic and I would recommend my meat eating family members give it a try.
Overall, this book has twenty-one vegan recipes that look like they shouldn’t be too difficult to make. The recipes range from pastas to soups to tacos, so there should be something to please almost any palate in this book. There are even two dessert options. But aside from the food, the tone of this book is serious. As Americans, we need to look at ourselves. We need to look at our gluttonous, lazy, dangerous lifestyles and really decide if that is the way we want to proceed. This book does a good job to encourage self reflection and then gives you a way you make changes. It personally struck a chord for me.
I will rate this book a 4 out of 4. I did not see any spelling or punctuation errors. The look of the pages was simple and pleasing. As you would expect in a cookbook, there was no graphic content. I would recommend this book to both men and women, young and old. I would especially recommend it to people who are tired and sick and ready for a change. Maybe this book could save someone’s life.
******
We Don't Just Eat Lettuce!
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like the vast majority of the world’s population, I struggle with my diet and exercise. We Don’t Just Eat Lettuce!: Vegan Recipes for Carnivores by Allyn Raifstanger is here to help. This vegan recipe book is so much more than just serving recommendations to get you started on a vegan lifestyle. Chef Raifstanger’s permeating theme throughout the book is learning to treat your body with the respect and the nutrition that it deserves. As he states in his book, “I no longer live to eat, I eat to live.”
While nutrition would normally be the backbone of a book of recipes, the author also gives us insight into his life and how he came to call himself a vegan. As the owner of an iconic restaurant in Cincinnati, OH, he is very knowledgable in the food industry, especially the vegan niche. He speaks about his health issues and how they were remedied by his change in lifestyle. By taking courses with the Institute for Integrated Nutrition (IIN) he became a better, well rounded person versed in the fields of yoga, meditation, and the social factors that affect our overall health way more than we’d like to think. So while on the surface this seems to be a simple vegan cookbook, once the pages are cracked, Mr. Raifstanger’s book is much more.
While reading this recipe and self improvement book, I was actually inspired to try cooking with tofu for the first time. I tried to implement some of the tips Mr. Raifstanger gave us in his recipe for Allyn’s Cowboy Breakfast. I had never purchased tofu before, and was gently guided towards the firm tofu at his suggestion. I am happy to have had this book in my arsenal, because previously I did not know that tofu had different levels of firmness. The recipe turned out fantastic and I would recommend my meat eating family members give it a try.
Overall, this book has twenty-one vegan recipes that look like they shouldn’t be too difficult to make. The recipes range from pastas to soups to tacos, so there should be something to please almost any palate in this book. There are even two dessert options. But aside from the food, the tone of this book is serious. As Americans, we need to look at ourselves. We need to look at our gluttonous, lazy, dangerous lifestyles and really decide if that is the way we want to proceed. This book does a good job to encourage self reflection and then gives you a way you make changes. It personally struck a chord for me.
I will rate this book a 4 out of 4. I did not see any spelling or punctuation errors. The look of the pages was simple and pleasing. As you would expect in a cookbook, there was no graphic content. I would recommend this book to both men and women, young and old. I would especially recommend it to people who are tired and sick and ready for a change. Maybe this book could save someone’s life.
******
We Don't Just Eat Lettuce!
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Thank you for a great review!