The Vegetarian Athlete's Cookbook

December 1, 2016

Bean is no novice when it comes to athletes and nutrition. One of her other works, The Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition, is a sourcebook for all aspects of diet in relation to physical performance. Her latest combines athletic nutrition with the growing interest in a plant-based diet. Vegetarianism as an ethical as well as a nutritional choice is addressed in chapter one. Ethics aside, the author speaks authoritatively about alternative sources of nutrients, such as B12, calcium, and vitamin D. The 100-plus recipes use vegetarian staples of legumes, nuts, whole grains, fruits/vegetables, and dairy/eggs. Standard nutritional information is provided along with whether the dish is pre- or postworkout fuel. Mindful of the singular "athlete" in the title, servings are generally for one or two, with only burgers and few desserts accommodating more. The limited servings also use only half cans of some ingredients and parts of some vegetables. VERDICT There are other athlete-targeted cookbooks addressing vegetarianism (e.g., Matt Frazier's No Meat Athlete) and other diets that are more about transitioning to the diet itself. Bean speaks more broadly about nutrition than the process of becoming vegetarian, with quick, simple recipes for an athlete or two.--Jeanette McVeigh, Univ. of the Sciences, Philadelphia

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