Skip to main content

Member Reviews

It's almost a new year, which means I'm back to convincing myself that I need to eat healthy and make some lifestyle changes. I'm so excited to find this book, because the recipes are actually easy and delicious. The author uses science and research to prove that plant based lifestyles can make a difference, and as someone who struggles with eating not enough plant-based protein, this is exactly what I was looking for.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC digital copy. I have not been compensated for my opinion and this is an honest review.

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish reading this ARC digital copy before needing to switch to other books that were being archived. The book is no longer on my Goodreads "want to read" list, but I will update my review to reflect an updated opinion if I decide to finish at a later date.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

CW/TW: Food, Eating Disorders, Dieting, Weight Loss

Like other reviewers, I got this book thinking it was a cookbook and was quite surprised. This book is more like a textbook that makes the case for moving to plant-based diet, and provides specific evidence and examples for how to do this with children.

I'll start with what I think others will not enjoy. This book is very dense. It is written by an MD and reads like a scientific journal. I have a background in health science, so I appreciated this. I can definitely see why others would not and would prefer to simply talk with a dietician about the specifics.

Now for the good parts! I love that the author does not advocate for people to be 100% plant-based or vegan! Instead she advocates for making simple changes that work with your lifestyle. She points out that if everyone had 2 plant-based meals a week instead of just a fraction of the population being vegan, the impact would be far greater. Next, I love the holistic approach as to why being plant-based is a good idea. She highlights the positive impact on health, the ethics around positive impact on the environment and animals, an increase in joy and connection. This book has a ton of information and you will leave feeling confident about increasing plant-based meals. It debunks many of the myths around plant-based diets while highlighting specific nutrients that are difficult to get and providing ideas for how to remedy this. I really loved how the author encouraged parents to help their children develop a positive relationship with reading. Specifically, the reminder to not use food as a punishment or a reward was revelational for me.

One criticism I do want to highlight is the focus on weight and BMI in this book. You really see how fatphobia is deeply ingrained into Western medicine. While 99% of this book is well-researched, I was shocked at how the author accepted BMI as a measure of health. She pointed out BMI is often inaccurate, but simply said the alternatives are too expensive and too much effort 🙄 Not only is BMI inaccurate, it is also based off the average body type off a single race of people: white people. This means BMI is also not equitable and will be even more inaccurate as a measure of health for people of color. I wish the chapter on weight would have been left out of the book.

Was this review helpful?

I was expecting more of a cookbook but this reads more as a health guide. It did have very interesting in-depth information about macro and micronutrients and all the different types of vegans out there. This is not a casual guide. This is for someone who has been living a plant-based life for awhile and is looking to step it up even more. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I was looking to slowly incorporate more and more vegetables while not committing to a vegetarian lifestyle.

This review was for free from Netgalley. I will post my review to Goodreads and any retailer websites.

Was this review helpful?

I was thinking this would be a vegetarian cookbook. Instead, it was a very thorough nutritional breakdown of macronutrients and micronutrients. Nutritional deficiency can be a problem in any diet. This book details nutritional requirements for all age groups, including pregnancy and lactation. I would suggest reading this book before embarking on a purely plant-based diet in order to avoid dietary deficiencies, especially in children. Otherwise, this is a great resource on plant-based diets. The recipes included are fairly basic and easy to follow. I do wish Nutritional information had been included with the recipes. Ironic they were not included considering the previous chapters.

Was this review helpful?

This is the guide for anyone who is considering switching to a plant-based diet. It provides nutrition recommendations for the vitamins and minerals people should be getting daily, by age, as well as meal ideas, recipes, and shopping lists to stock up on all the ingredients you need to maintain a plant-based lifestyle. There is a heavy focus on the nutrition of infants and children, which seems to be a concern for so many when it comes to vegan or vegetarian diets. There is a section that goes into some detail about animal farming and slaughterhouses that might be a lot for someone who is sensitive to that particular subject, so read with care. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Nourish is a book full of information. If you are looking for a traditional vegan cookbook with lots of recipes, this is not the book for you. There are recipes, for sure, but you should work your way to them through the plethora of facts that comprise most of the book.

The idea of Nourish is that the family table, the kitchen, the cooking and eating, are the heart of a home. That by facilitating plant based family meals to our family we nourish not only their bodies, but their lives too. The authors won't try to convince you, they will simply state the facts and back them up with clinical/university studies. The reference chapter is VERY comprehensive, and it gives you an idea of how much research the two authors put into this book. There is a chapter about just anything that you could ask when thinking about going vegan, from the effect on lactation, on children's growth, to how carbohydrates, fibre, fats and protein interact.

What I loved about this book is that the authors try to transmit the idea of "don't try to be perfect, learn the facts and do what works for you". And even though is maybe written with parents and children in mind, the information given is valuable too anyone asking "Is a vegan diet good for me?"

Was this review helpful?

This book entails a wealth of knowledge regarding plant base diets. It provides extended detail regarding nutrition and how to make the move towards a plant based diet.
Although I could see this amount of information being quite intimidating to some. It does include a fair few recipes towards the end over a range a different meals. The cover of the book was absolutely stunning, therefore I was very disappointed not to find similar photos throughout the book, especially in the recipe section.
Overall a very informative book which would appeal to not just a beginner, but to someone wanting to brush up on their knowledge.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

This book gives incredible knowledge on how to manage healthy lifestyle based on plant based eating habits.

Was this review helpful?

I should have read the blurb properly on this one as I didnt realise it was so geared towards people with children and families of which I don't have. However I really liked the format of the book and found it interesting.

I'm already a vegetarian but it was an interesting read. I loved the book cover but found some of the recommendations inside the book a little dated.

Id recommend it to my friends however.

Thank you for the arc.

Was this review helpful?

Avery detailed guide to nutrition and how to achieve a better relationship with food. It is aimed towards families, but provides very interesting information and the means of achieving a more nutritious, healthier diet to individuals of all ages and family types.

Was this review helpful?

I love book, everything from the cover to the recipes and amazing content. We are all, many of us, seeing the need to take control of our lives, diets and where our food comes from. We all run on a different program and need different things. I think Nourish gives you great information, tidbits and all around great information and food.

Was this review helpful?

It is well-written and well designed. I liked the meal planning advice and various charts included throughout the book. There are also helpful shopping lists and helpful items that are needed in the kitchen. Also included are some ideas of what to cook and sample menus for the entire family as well as details on best ways to cook some items. Overall there will be elements in this book you won't expect.

Was this review helpful?

Whoa - this book has an immense amount of information! I admit to skimming most of it to get to the recipes and then going back to read certain chapters that pertained the most to me. It's a lot to take in, lots of fantastic information about minerals, foods, vitamins, food exposure to children, the importance of a family meal time, etc. I appreciated that it wasn't preachy, but very informative - laying out a path of healthy eating for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC In return for my reivew.

Was this review helpful?

This would be a good introduction to someone interested in plant based eating. As someone more familiar, it didn’t add too much to my knowledge but it was interesting!

Was this review helpful?

Love, love, love Nourish by Reshma Shah and Brenda Davis so much that I will also be ordering a print copy of it! This book provides the information needed to help readers transition to a more plant-based lifestyle ultimately improving our health. Nourish is such a wonderful resource – one that I will return to again and again!

Was this review helpful?

I received this book from Netgalley for review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Gives great details on what our bodies need, why and how to obtain it through a primarily plant based diet. It is full of information. This is not a light book.

It also helps describe why it may or may not be good for children. Don't necessarily go into this expecting all recipes. There is a very thorough explanation, theory, tips, and preparation for the plant based lifestyle.

I would have prefered a little more recipes and little less information.

Was this review helpful?

Nourish, by Reshma Shah and Brenda Davis, advocates for consuming a vegan, plant-based diet. For the first 12 chapters, the writers share the benefits of a plant-based diet for readers and their families. Each chapter is highly sourced and clearly explains the misconceptions readers may have about eschewing meat and other animal products. It ends with suggestions for meal planning and recipes.

The authors describe 4 main tenets for a veg diet: Consideration, Care, Confidence, and Connection. It addresses why families should consider a plant-based diet, not just for the benefits their own family will reap, but also environmental considerations and mitigating animal suffering. The authors also describe how a veg-leaning diet can prevent any number of illnesses and disorders. It reminded me a lot of Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman. As an ovo-vegetarian who raises chickens in her backyard, I always appreciate a book that discusses the benefits of a plant-based diet. The writers address the irritating questions vegetarians always get, like, "But how do you get enough protein?" "Do you have low iron?" "Aren't you always hungry?" And my personal favorite, "Don't you miss meat?" The authors give readers a reasonable and practical approach to going all in on a plant-based diet, or even just starting off with some substitutions and cutting back consumption of animal products.

My one issue with a book like this is that it feels idealistic for the type of society we live in. Sometimes folks eat unhealthy, highly processed foods because they're cheaper and easier to access. Food deserts are an issue throughout the country, including in my own city. Eating solely plant-based meals requires consistent refrigeration and multiple trips to the grocery store or farmer's market. If dinner is a salad with multiple cups of leafy greens and other vegetables, the fridge is full and then empties quickly because of the sheer volume. The authors do address eating plant-based on a budget, but it's a small paragraph and suggested meal prepping or having leftovers. It's a solution, but it's probably not practical for many families who suffer from food insecurity. I'm confident that many people would like to eat well and feel good on the regular, but it isn't an option for everyone, unfortunately.

Nevertheless, I would share this book with anyone who is interested in pursuing a veg-leaning diet. Many of the recipes sound delicious and are easy to follow.

Was this review helpful?

An encyclopedia of information about plant-based diets with an emphasis on meal planning and nutrition for families with children. Rather difficult to plow through.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. I don't want to be a vegan, just incorporate healthy meals into my diet.

Was this review helpful?