Book Reviews
The Vegan Imperative
By David Blatte
Blatte is the former executive director of Vegan Action, an animal law attorney, cofounder of Dharma Voices for Animals, and director of the film Animals and the Buddha. The author states that there's a moral, environmental, and health imperative to becoming a vegan.
The moral imperative comes down to the following: "When you eat meat, animals suffer. Are you okay with that?" Once the author accepted the fact that violence is involved in the production of meat, he could no longer consume animal flesh. To him, "compassion is the key to the vegan moral imperative, the foundation on which it stands." From my own experience, once you visit a slaughterhouse, there's no denying that meat production is violent in so many ways.
The author states, "One statistic encapsulates the vegan environmental imperative: animal agriculture accounts for between 14.5 and 18 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the world—more than the transportation sector." Veganism certainly can be promoted when talking about issues such as hunger, water scarcity, deforestation, and pollution.
As for the health imperative, the author states, "Whether or not veganism is a health imperative is a much more personal determination." Nevertheless, the author believes a vegan diet is healthful.
Other subjects covered in this book include speciesism and animal law, as well as discussing the reasons people give for not becoming vegan. Learning about additional topics such as cognitive dissonance, tension reduction, social animals, and how to make the transition will encourage nonvegans to take a second look at why they continue to eat animal products.
This book is useful to both nonvegans and vegans. Nonvegans will learn about all the reasons to go vegan and perhaps want to explore more by reading other books referred to in an extensive bibliography. Vegans will be able to gather additional knowledge that will allow them to better encourage others to go vegan using compassion.
The Vegan Imperative (ISBN 978-1-7365-7320-4) is a 250-page book from Pythagorean Publishing and retails for $12.95. Order this book online. Debra Wasserman/VRG Co-Coordinator
The Student Vegan Cookbook
By Hannah Kaminsky
As someone who has been an avid baker since early childhood, the transition to living in a college dorm without the comfort of my own kitchen, is one I have been dreading. However, after reading The Student Vegan Cookbook, some of my worries have been eased. Hannah Kaminsky understands the struggles that many vegan college students face, and throughout this cookbook she generously gives out advice from her time as a student for preparing nutritious, delicious, and simple meals in a communal college kitchen.
This book delivers mouth-watering breakfast recipes such as Granola Pancakes and Spring Pea Toast that are whipped up using shelf-stable items and products that can easily be stored in one's dorm. If you are craving cake for breakfast, you must try the Carrot Cake Oatmeal. A spoonful of these hearty oats tastes as if you are eating a bite of cake while offering a dose of healthy fiber and an extra serving of vegetables to your morning. As someone with a sweet tooth, this carrot cake oatmeal recipe has become one of my new morning favorites.
If you're in the mood for snacking, flip through the Incredible Dips, Spreads, and Sprinkles and Snack Attack sections for some tasty inspiration. The Chickpea Flour Hummus is an easy way to indulge in your favorite dip while using dried ingredients that can be stored anywhere in your dorm.
For dorm dinners, choose from recipes like the Elote Pasta Salad, Cauliflower Sloppy Joes, or a favorite of mine, the Cilantro Kale Salad.
Whether you are a college student, a beginner baker, or a cooking enthusiast, The Student Vegan Cookbook is sure to inspire you with its simple yet scrumptious recipes!
The Student Vegan Cookbook (ISBN 978-0-7603-7307-1) is a 176-page book. It is published by Quarto Publishing Group and retails for $19.99. You can purchase this book online or from your local bookstore. Julia Comino;/VRG Intern
Our Animal Neighbors
By Matthew Ricard and Jason Gruhl and illustrated by Becca Hall
This book introduces children ages 4-8 to connections between human and non-human animals. Youngsters will learn that we have more in common with non-human animals than one might think. It also encourages everyone to treat all creatures with empathy and kindness.
In addition to this important message, the artwork in this book is gorgeous! It will capture your child's attention and imagination quickly. You might even want to donate a copy to your local library!
Our Animal Neighbors (ISBN 978-1-61180-723-3) is a 32-page hardcover book. It is published by Bala Kids and retails for $17.95. Debra Wasserman/VRG Co-Coordinator
The Big Book of Plant-Based Baby Food
By Tamika L. Gardner
The Big Book of Plant-Based Baby Food includes 300 plant-based recipes for babies and toddlers. Starting with smooth puré for beginners and moving through semi-smooth purées, chunky purées, and toddler foods, this book is filled with creative ideas that use a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, and tofu. Clear instructions and colorful pictures add to the book's appeal. The youngest eaters may enjoy Peachy Pumpkin Oatmeal and the Green Beans and Quinoa Combo. Southern Lima Bean Purée and Oatmeal with Sautéed Plantains are examples of recipes using less common ingredients. Older eaters can choose from Lemony Zoodles (with spiralized zucchini) and Crispy Tofu Nuggets. Most recipes are vegan; those with honey can be easily modified.
A few statements, including one implying that children should be weaned from breast milk by their first birthday, seemed misleading. Health experts recommend that breastfeeding should continue as long as mutually desired by the mother and infant but at least through the first year. I was concerned that a few recipes for age one year and older included potential choking hazards like pretzels and crisp tortilla chips. Overall, however, this book offers many ideas for introducing babies and toddlers to a variety of plant foods.
The Big Book of Plant-Based Baby Food (ISBN 978-1-5072-1449-7) is published by Adams Media. It has 256 pages and retails for $18.99. Look for this book in your local bookstore. Reed Mangels, PhD, RD/VRG Nutrition Advisor
Vegan Boards
By Kate Kasbee
Creating a social media-worthy food board may feel daunting, but Kate Kasbee's book Vegan Boards is here to help by providing a simple, comprehensive guide to making your own for a variety of meals. The book includes basic instructions for board-building followed by guides for creating themed boards in five sections: breakfast and brunch, grazing at home, meal, seasonal and celebration, and fruit and dessert.
The 50 beautifully-arranged boards are pictured next to instructions for building them. Recipes for making components are included on pages 128-151, but the author acknowledges the convenience of packaged foods, suggesting their use as desired. Kasbee's recipes can stand on their own. I enjoyed trying the chocolate-dipped pretzel sparklers, which make an easy dessert; the Cincinnati-style vegan chili, which is a delicious quick main dish; and the smoky roasted carrots, a tasty side.
Food boards are made for sharing, allowing each diner to customize to their preference, and entertaining is at the heart of the book. Now vegan cooks can easily get in on a trend that's traditionally meat-and-cheese focused, and family members or guests are sure to be wowed by the results.
Vegan Boards (ISBN 978-0-760-37051-3) is a 160-page book. It is published by Harvard Common Press and retails for $24.99. Find this book online or at your local bookstore. Amy Burger/VRG Intern
