Greatly helpful book for someone that wanted to start the journey to being a vegetarian. One step at a time vegetarian to vegan. Well written and informative.

Dr. Neal Barnard is one of the visionary doctors in the whole food, plant-based/vegan world. I studied Dr. Barnard's material in the T. Colin Campbell's Center for Nutrition Studies online certificate in plant-based nutrition course . I was impressed by his knowledge and passion to help people live healthier lives. "The Vegan Starter Kit" is an outstanding guide to gently ease people into this way of life. It's the perfect book to give a skeptic! I can't recommend it highly enough. If I could only purchase a handful of vegan-focused books, this would be one of my top three.

I've been a carnivore most of my life and hadn't considered becoming vegetarian much less vegan. However, my doctor and my husband's doctor suggested that we reduce our meat intake and spoke of how undertaking a plant based diet can make a huge difference in our cholesterol levels, reduce hypertension, and help lose weight.

There is a pilot program at Bellevue Hospital in NYC that we were fortunate enough to enter last week, so I read The Vegan Starter Kit with this new perspective and desire to understand plant based diets.

Dr Neal Barnard presents strong health based arguments for a plant based diet which helped my resolve. The book is straightforward, logical and not overly complicated. I finished it in an evening but spent more time over the various recipes. If you are considering making a change, reducing your meat and dairy intake, The Vegan Starter Kit is a good way to begin.

I received this book in exchange for a honest review from NetGalley.
Very easy to read. Excellent primer on living a vegan lifestyle but also just as good for people who are just looking to make their diet more plant based. This book also has some great recipes to get you started on your journey to eating a more plant based diet.

While I have read much about veganism, there really wasn't anything new for me. However, there is a large interest in my library about switching to a plant-based diet. I think this will be a tremendous addition to the growing collection, particularly for those who haven't read as much about it.

This is a good book to introduce people to the whole food plant based diet. It would be helpful to someone who doesn't know anything about the diet. because it's mostly an overview. I didn't learn anything knew since I've already read a dozen other books on the topic.

I was eager to review this book as I feel strongly we could all benefit from eating more plant-based foods in our diet, even if one chooses not to be vegan or vegetarian, and I am always excited to look over recipes. However, I felt very disappointed in this book. It seemed hastily thrown together and I imagine would not be very helpful for someone new to a vegan diet. I knew that I would not support Dr. Barnards health claims regarding a vegan diet (I am familiar with PCRM and am aware that they "cherry-pick" data to support their views) but I was also surprised to find the recipe section to be small and uninspiring. I was also disappointed by some of the ingredients used in the recipes (2 examples being all-purpose flour instead of whole grain and granulated sugar). I believe there are better books already on the market for a new vegan interested in resources and recipes.

Contains helpful recipes, checklists, meal planning assistance, and medical information for starting a vegan diet.

I have a number of vegan friends, so I was interested in checking out this book. This book is beneficial for someone wanting to know more about a plant-based diet. It’s great for people just starting out with a vegan diet. Barnard is a doctor, and he’s able to explain things in a way that’s easy to understand, as well as provide various ways to adapt things. Simple recipes are included. The author also mentions how beneficial this lifestyle/diet could be to people with various health issues (such as diabetes and high cholesterol).

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

Even though I almost exclusively review fiction on this site, I've been wanting to branch out and find some non-fiction titles that tickle my fancy. As a vegetarian who consumes a limited amount of dairy (mostly traces amounts when I splurge on processed foods), I've toed the line of veganism for years, yet somehow never fully committed. This book was perfect for the curious mind who wants to learn a bit more about a plant based diet from a health perspective without the preachy pressure that some advocates can unknowingly give off.

The title is spot on-this is a fantastic starter kit for those intrigued by and maybe wanting to test drive the vegan diet. As a medical doctor, Barnard easily breaks down the basics of what exactly a plant based diet consists of, how to easily adapt to it (even if you eat out, aren't into cooking, and travel frequently), and simple, staple recipes for every time of day. He also discusses the benefits for improving various medical diseases and disorders, such as Type 2 Diabetes, High Cholesterol, and Alzheimers/Dementia. Pregnant, nursing, or wanting to raise your kids on a vegan diet? That's all included here too.

Overall, I was very pleased and impressed by how relatable the author made a plant based diet seem. My only reservation in giving this one 5 stars was that a few topics seemed highly repeptitive, to the point that they were mentioned in the same manner 12-15 times. While I'm not sure if I will continue to dabble in veganism or whether I'll fully change my diet, I haven't decided, but I do feel informed and empowered to make a logical decision now. I know this won't be a review that everyone needs, but I'm hoping by placing in some non=fiction titles here that even one other person my find them helpful. <3

I don't give many 5 out of 5 star ratings, but this was definitely a FIVE STAR.  Neal D. Barnard is a physician and he recommends a vegan diet.  I have been looking for someone in the medical field who would look at a vegan diet from the perspective of traditional medicine and Dr. Barnard does that in a way that is easy to read and understand.

This book is great for anyone who is considering a vegan diet or someone who is already vegan.  Dr. Barnard presents things in an easy to read format.  The book starts by explaining what veganism is and then all of the health benefits: heart disease reverses, cholesterol levels improve, cancer risk falls, diabetes and high blood pressure improve, painful conditions improve because of less inflammation in the body and you reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.  Since Dr. Barnard has gone to medical school, he is able to really explain why these things happen on a vegan diet.

I absolutely love the way this book is written.  It is so easy to understand.  Dr. Barnard gives suggestions for eating a vegan diet while pregnant and he gives information on raising vegan children.  He also explores the myths surrounding veganism.  One thing that Dr. Barnard stresses throughout the book is the importance for vegans to take a B12 and a D vitamin supplement.  I thought this was one of the best books I have read on veganism.