Vegetarian Cookbook
The Ultimate Plant Based Cookbook
Sofia West
Table of Contents
Introduction
The purpose of this Vegetarian cookbook is to introduce everyone to plant based diet. By seeking to limit the consumption of packaged and processed food items, the book aims to promote a healthy lifestyle.
This Vegetarian cookbook is divided into several sections, which include Vegetarian breakfast recipes, Vegetarian soups and salads, Vegetarian snacks, and Vegetarian main meals. If you have just begun your plant-based diet and are still unsure about what and how to cook, this Vegetarian cookbook will be quite handy for you. The plant based recipes are easy to make and can be created using ingredients which are known to you. Of course, as it is a plant-based diet, every ingredient will come from plants.
In a vegan diet, you are proportionately choosing more items sourced from plants. Along with veggies and fruits, you are choosing different types of nuts, beans, grains, and legumes.
It has been proven that, with a plant-based diet, you are at less risk of health hazards. Many people who have complained about heart ailments or diabetes have found a new lease on life with a plant-based diet.
Remember that with a plant-based diet, you will have all the essential ingredients for a healthy life. You will not miss out on the carbs, proteins, and vitamins required for optimal health.
Check out the recipes in this Vegetarian book and improve your lifestyle. If you have been struggling with weight for a long time, a plant-based diet can be quite effective. Go through the recipes, which are easy to make and not at all time-consuming. Happy cooking and happy eating!
What is a Plant-based Diet?
In simple terms, a plant-based diet means consuming food that comes from plants. A plant-based diet does not include ingredients that come from animals, such as milk, meat, honey, or eggs. With a plant-based diet, it is now possible to meet your nutritional requirements with only natural and minimally processed items.
A plant-based diet includes fruits, vegetables, and tubers. A diet laden with veggies, fruits, tubers, and whole grains will help you diminish the harmful effects of many chronic diseases. For instance, did you know that a diet full of fresh fruits and veggies can lower blood pressure and control Type 2 diabetes?
You need not feel apprehensive about this change, because going for a plant-based diet does not necessarily mean that you will turn vegan. Neither do you have to give up on dairy or meat. It is rather an informed decision to primarily choose food items sourced from plants.
Plant-based diets like the Mediterranean diet have been proven to reduce the risk of certain cancers, metabolic disorders, and even heart disease. In older adults, a plant-based diet has also been effective in reducing the effects of depression and increasing physical and mental function.
Benefits of a Plant-based Diet
Here are a few benefits of a plant-based diet.
- A plant-based diet helps improve your gut health. Items sourced from plants are full of rich fiber, and this improves digestion. Fiber will add bulk to stool and regulate the entire digestive process.
- As plants are rich in minerals and vitamins, they are great energy boosters. You will find them full of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and healthy protein and fat. All these are good for both the body and the brain. Plant-sourced items are easier to digest, which helps the body by giving it some extra energy.
- Plant-based diets are known to reverse the effects of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. People who have shifted to a plant-based diet are at a lower risk for chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and even Alzheimers.
- A plant-based diet can also help give you glowing skin and healthy nails. As the food items are full of minerals and vitamins, they are perfect for your skin.
- If you are trying to lose weight, its time to bring some change with a plant-based diet. These nutrient-dense food items can help you lose weight effectively, as you consume a fewer calories naturally by following a plant-based diet.
- Of course, if you are an animal lover, having a plant-based diet will be awesome. You are getting your nutrition from nature without harming any animals.
What to Eat and What to Avoid
These are the things you should be eating in a plant-based diet:
- Veggies: spinach, potatoes, kale, squash, cauliflower, and tomatoes
- Legumes: lentils, chickpeas, beans, peas, and peanuts
- Nut butters and nuts
- Whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, barley, and oats
- Tempeh or tofu
- Seeds
- Plant-based oils
- Herbs
- Spices
- Fruits
- Any kind of unsweetened beverage like sparkling water, coffee, and tea
These are the things you should avoid in a plant-based diet:
- Packaged food items like sugary cereals, chips, and cookies
- Fast food
- Sweetened beverages and desserts
- Processed meat like sausage and bacon
- Refined grains like refined pasta, white bread, and white rice
You can eat non-vegetarian food in moderation.
Shopping List
Here are a few things that you should be including in your shopping cart:
- Any kind of fresh produce both fruits and veggies. Go for dark, leafy greens. You can avoid avocados if you have a heart condition.
- Go for dried lentils and beans. If you opt for the canned version, it is best to shop for low-salt or low-sodium items. Rinse the beans well if they include salt.
- Look for raw nuts with no extra oil. Nut butters are also good, but they are high in calories, so use them cautiously. Go for flax and chia seeds along with sunflower, sesame, and pumpkin seeds.
- Shop for dried fruits, but use them cautiously, as they are high in calories.
- 100% whole grain bread. Do not fall for wheat flour, enriched wheat flour, organic wheat flour, unbleached wheat flour.
- Any type of whole grain like farro, quinoa, bulgur, rice, hull-less barley, polenta, millet, coarse cornmeal, and oatmeal.
- Rolled oats
- Grape nuts
- Original cheerios
- Shredded wheat
- Bran flakes
- Any unsweetened non-dairy beverage
- Sauce with no animal products
- Salad dressings with no oil
- Citrus juice or zest
- Vinegars like apple cider, white, balsamic, unseasoned rice vinegar, and white wine vinegar
- Hot sauces
- Mustards
- Herbs and spices
Plant Based Breakfast Recipes
Amazing Almond & Banana Granola
Serving size: cup
Servings per Recipe: 16
Calories: 248.9 per serving
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 70 minutes
Ingredients:
2 peeled and chopped ripe bananas
8 cups of rolled oats
1 teaspoon of salt
2 cups of freshly pitted and chopped dates
1 cup of slivered and toasted almonds
1 teaspoon of almond extract
Nutrition Information:
Fat 9.4 g
Carbohydrate 35.9 g
Protein 7.6 g
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 275 o F.
- Line two 13 x 18-inch baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium saucepan, add 1 cup of water and the dates, and bring to a boil. On medium heat, cook them for about 10 minutes. The dates will be soft and pulpy. Keep on adding water to the saucepan so that the dates do not stick to the pan.