"Eat food, not too much, mostly plants."
Michael Pollan began an important conversation about eating with this statement. This cookbook, Mostly Plants, was created by the mother and sisters of Michael, based on that statement, with the emphasis on the word "mostly." Plants, the four authors tell us, "are Mother Nature's prescription for improved health." The authors remind us that we have long known that plant eaters are more healthy than meat eaters, with a reduced risk for type 2 diabetes as well as many types of cancers and heart disease, improved cholesterol levels, and lower mortality rates from these diseases. Plant eaters have a lower body mass index and lose pounds and keep them off. Plus, eating plants helps our planet. In addition, "The great news is, you don't have to give up meat completely to reap the benefits of a plant-based diet." Whew. Perfect for me.
"Mostly plants" is a pretty good description of the way I naturally cook. My mother and people of her generation organized her meals around a meat; I use meat as a flavoring.
The book is devoted to the answer to this question, "How do I make a nutritious meal that doesn't scream 'healthy' and that will put me on the road to a happier, more balanced lifestyle?"
Here are some recipes that I plan to try.
White Bean and Kale Quesadillas with Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
Caldo Verde with Kale and Chorizo
Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula Salad with Balsamic Glaze
Rainbow Frittata
What do you think?
Do you think you could be a flexitarian?
Are you a "mostly plants" eater?
For more wordless photos, go to Wordless Wednesday.
Weekend Cooking was created by Beth Fish Reads and is now hosted by Marg at The Intrepid Reader (and Baker). It is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.
I am mostly a plant eater. I could easily go without meat but half of my family enjoys meat at the main component. I was vegan for seven years and my daughter was vegetarian for a year but when she was in volleyball her doctor told her she was so low on iron that she needed to eat meat again. So she did. Most days I crave veggies but now and then a good lettuce wrapped burger.
ReplyDeleteI could be a vegetarian, but my husband loves his meat. When I go to give blood, my iron is often a little bit low.
DeleteThis looks like a good one. I'm always looking for good veggie recipes!
ReplyDeleteHi Deb-
ReplyDeleteI'd like to invite you to try our question memes. Our newest is Monday Madness (http://mmwithjudd.blogspot.com) We also host Saturday 9 (http://samanthasaturday9.blogspot.com)
& Sunday Stealing (http://sundaystealing.blogspot.com). Great job here today!
Thanks-
Bud
This looks like a keeper as I am always looking for healthy veggie recipes.
ReplyDeleteI could cut meat out of my diet 99% of the time, as long as I can have fish. My husband wouldn't be on board, though. Looks like a good cookbook!
ReplyDeleteI love vegetables of all kind, I don't eat a lot of meat, at least beef, I like chicken or turkey and fish, I would love to taste the plates you showed here !
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is a vegan and as a result I've gathered together quite a few plant recipes for when he visits. I have to say though, I don't have any that sound as tasty as these!
ReplyDeleteI could live without meat or have it once a week, my husband doesn't think it is dinner unless it contains a meat, veggie and starch. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteIt's how my husband was raised.
DeleteI need this one. Thank you so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI was also raised on meat veg and starch. But I eat everything these days and mix up our menus with lots of international flavours. But I do love my meat, in small portions. And I love fish, vegetables etc.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let you know that Toronto's Word on the Street book festival is online this year.
http://thewordonthestreet.ca/
seems like a good one :)
ReplyDeleteI don't like the chances of going mostly plant in our house!
ReplyDeleteSo many cookbooks, so little time! Other than the Michael Pollan connection, I'm not sure I see what's new in this one. The recipes look good, but not super innovative -- there must be a million frittata recipes (the word frittata gets 12M ghits). I'll be interested to hear your reaction to the quality of recipes when you actually try them!
ReplyDeletebe well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
For me, it's a departure; I've never actually looked at a vegetarian cookbook before this one. I was intrigued by the idea that the authors allow for being a flexitarian, and, again, that's a departure for me.
DeleteI eat mostly plant-based. I do get off track with my Greek yogurt pops! I was a vegetarian for 40 years and last year I stopped eating cheese and eggs- but those yogurt pops..it is my last hold out of a completely plant-based diet.
ReplyDeleteThis look great! We generally alternate dinners one night meat/poultry/fish and then the next dinner I cook is vegetarian. We don't usually eat meat during the day, so I guess we're flexitarians.
ReplyDeleteWe almost always eat meat, but you intrigued me with your question: "How do I make a nutritious meal that doesn't scream 'healthy' and that will put me on the road to a happier, more balanced lifestyle?" I feel like if I could get more of this into our lives, we'd be better off. Right now, we all kind of rebel at the idea of "healthy" food, me included (even though I don't want to---it just doesn't sound appealing to me).
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I LOVE frittatas. Did you try this one yet? Was it good?
ReplyDeleteNot yet. But soon.
Delete