Emily von Euw - The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook

THE ULTIMATE Vegan COOKBOOK The Must-Have Resource for Plant-Based Eaters Emily von Euw, Kathy Hester, Linda and Alex Meyer, Marie Reginato, Celine Steen, Amber St. Peter The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you for your personal use only. You may not make this e-book publicly available in any way. Copyright infringement is against the law. If you believe the copy of this e-book you are reading infringes on the authors copyright, please notify the publisher at: http://us.macmillanusa.com/piracy. If you were daydreaming of a massive collection of irresistible vegan recipes, todays your lucky day.

You are holding in your hands The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook. Written by seven accomplished authors from various backgrounds, the goal of this book is to make your everyday vegan cooking life a breeze. Whether you are a seasoned vegan or entirely new to this ethical and healthy plant-based lifestyle, you will find herein all the recipes your dreams are made of, and possibly more. With recipes ranging from weekday meals, to ethnic feasts, to raw desserts, and with gluten-free, soy-free and low-fat options, this cookbook is ideal for virtually all occasions. Whether on super-busy weekday nights when you need a quick meal with minimal preparation time, or for fancier occasions when you want to show off your vegan cooking skills to friends and family, the recipes in this book will have you and your guests walking away from the table feeling replenished and satisfied. That is, until you notice the dishes need to be washed. We are honored to be both guides and traveling companions on your vegan journey, and we hope that this book will become a permanent fixture in your kitchen, always at the ready for delicious adventures! Celine Steen

Whether you are already a pro at all things vegan or have just taken the first steps into making the switch to a vegan lifestyle, The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook is here to help.

Following a vegan lifestyle means that a person chooses not to use and wear animal by-products or eat foods that come from an animal. A vegan diet, also known as a plant-based diet, focuses on eating foods made from plants. These foods have the advantage of being naturally free from cholesterol. They are also usually plentiful in dietary fiber and nutrients. But is a vegan diet going to make you lose weight automatically? Not always. Truth be told, there is such a thing as vegan junk food.

Not that theres anything wrong with that, but not all store-bought vegan foods are healthy foods. After all, it is a fact that some of us are vegan for ethical reasons first and foremost, and love diving into the occasional bag of vegan cookies or chipsmea culpa and all. Indeed, there are several reasons why an individual decides to follow a vegan lifestyle. One can become vegan for ethical reasons, health reasons, environmental reasons or all of the above. One of the go-to questions a person is asked upon going vegan is, But what about protein? You can tell your concerned mom or nosy coworker that they have no reason to fret over your well-being: protein doesnt solely come from eating animals. You arent going to systematically become malnourished when ditching meat and other animal products, as long as you eat a well-thought-out, balanced plant-based diet.

Beans, nuts, tofu, whole grains and so many more cruelty-free foods are amazing sources of protein, too! Keep reading for more information on how to get acquainted with the lifestyle that is very likely to become the best decision youve ever made.

Focus on serving raw and cooked vegetables and fruits, and in general foods that arent overly processed. Less packaging usually implies that the food is mostly unprocessed, which allows us to reap all or most of the healthy benefits from said food. Its always best to purchase and serve foods that are organic in order to avoid consuming pesticides and other unwanted additions, but please dont let it worry you too much if the cost is too high for your budget. Also, Fair Trade is always a great social movement to support, as freedom from cruelty is a label that should apply to humans just as much as to animals. The vegan movement seems to constantly be getting more mainstream, which means a lot of manufacturers are making it easier to know whether a food is vegan by including a label to that effect on food items and health products.

Look for the Certified Vegan label. Thoroughly scan labels for ingredient lists, and contact food manufacturers in case extra information is needed. Keep a list of the most common non-vegan ingredients handy. This will make shopping trips easier, as you can scan items for non-vegan ingredients. There are great resources online that will allow you to print out lists of the most common offenders, such as whey, lanolin and many more. Finally, try to focus on purchasing foods that have rather succinct ingredient lists.

Not only does it mean your reading session wont be endless, but also foods that contain fewer ingredients are usually better for you anyway. Remember that where and what you spend your hard-earned money on speaks volumes.

Found a bit of cheese in the supposedly vegan tacos you ordered? Forgot your glasses, misread a label and belatedly noticed there was whey in the yogurt you could have sworn was plant-based? Its quite an unpleasant feeling, but thats okayalmost all of us have been there at some point. Dont waste too much time worrying about accidental ingestions of non-vegan foods. Things happen, and this doesnt make you a bad vegan at all. Theres no rush. Theres no rush.

Rome wasnt built in one day. Insert more platitudes here. But seriously, take your time to find the right way for you to do this for yourself. You dont have to tell everyone youre going vegan if you feel you wont have the proper kind of support from relatives and friends. You can also choose to only switch to one or a few vegan meals per week before going full throttle. Some people prefer going for it cold turkey, so to speak, but it doesnt mean everyone has to transition to a vegan lifestyle in a one-size-fits-all manner.

Do it all at your own pace.

With the advent of social media, its easier than ever to have access to the wisdom of fellow vegans from all walks of life. Dont be afraid to reach out and ask questions: chances are, most of them will be more than eager to help out. Finding plant-based milks, cheeses and other new vegan favorites is likely to take a few taste tests. Dont be afraid to try several brands and flavors until you meet your perfect match. Vegan dietitians recommend supplementing with B12 in order to avoid deficiencies, as this vitamin is harder to come by in vegan foods.

Other supplements, such as vitamin D, iron and calcium, may be warranted for some vegans. The correct way to find out whats best for you is to have a blood test done to check your levels, and then talk with your doctor or dietitian. REMEMBER WHY YOU MADE THE SWITCH It is possible to feel burned out with pretty much anything on occasion. Focus back on what your reason was for going vegan in the first place. Visit a farm sanctuary to hang out with formerly abused animals, if you went vegan for ethical reasons.