Can't believe so much time is spent on tryin to convert to vegan lifestyle. I expected more recipes(naturally, they should be fat free)
Don't spend a dime on this book, unless you want to be converted. Useless !

I have loved every second of reading this book, I cannot put it down. It is soooo accurate and she is such a supportive mentor! I am a super green person, all her eco tips are really sound, and I come from a country where we eat a ton of grass fed beef every day but after watching Food Inc. and the Future of Foods, eating meats is the last thing on my mind! So I did my research and found this wonderful tool, that has given me hope, there is light and a support system should we decide to change, as a matter of fact, my whole family has decided to do it and I only wish more and more people would realize it takes very small steps to achieve big results that benefit us all!

I read about Alicia's book in an issue of Veg Times, I believe and she had me at Vegan Rice Krispy Treats. This book is filled with lots of information, fun little stories, and great recipes. The photos are beautiful too. I feel like I'm a friend in Alicia's own home, the way this book is all laid out. It's very homey and comfortable and I can't wait to cook my way through this. The ingredients are attainable and the recipes are familiar. I see myself buying this book as a gift for my veg*n friends and family, old and new alike.

I've liked Alicia for a long time because of her obvious love for animals. In fact, I've often thought that Alicia and I could be BFFs if time and geography were different. But, I'm pretty frank with my IRL BFF so I will be frank with you too, Alicia.

This book... I wanted to like this book. I really did. I pined for it for a long time until I finally bit the bullet and bought it, sure I would just be enamoured with it. I was sure that it would be the answer to all my food-related prayers.

Yeah... not so much.

I'm glad I have it; I'm glad I read it. There are a few good tips scattered here, yonder and there in it. A couple of good recipes too. As a result of reading about "daikon" in your book, I have it growing in my garden now. So, some positives there.

But, all in all, this diet is not for the average joe (or jane). What all do you limit in this book? A LOT! Tomatoes, potatoes, soy milk, bread, this list goes on. Basically, you eat greens. A lot of them. I love greens but I love them alongside a nice, juicy, heirloom tomato! And I don't want greens for each and every meal.

Now, I realize that there are many kinds of greens and many ways to "shake this up" but I live in a small town and there aren't that many kinds of greens here. Besides, I don't have the time to go out in search of a hundred different kinds of greens just so I'll have something to eat.

Really.

I kind of got the feeling that Alicia was a bit disapproving if you didn't go all out "superhero". That is her ideal, of course. But, that is pretty darn unrealistic for a lot of us. Or, at least it is for me.

And, my last point and perhaps the biggest turn-off for me in this book... Alicia has her DOGS on a vegan diet. It says it right there in the book. This to me is taking it a bit far. I don't want to eat meat but I know that my dogs and cats are instinctually programmed to eat meat. That is how their bodies and digestive systems are made. To deny them their instinct is just wrong, in my opinion.

All in all, I was disappointed. I wanted to love this book and looked so forward to it but... nah, it was a letdown.

Sorry, Alicia... I do still love you though.

I have flirted with the idea of going vegetarian for a long time.
Reading this book and looking at the yummy receipes has given me the extra motivation and support to actually take the next step.
I am on a vegan diet now for the past week and I have lost 3 pounds!!

Love the book. Written in plain terms, so non-vegans can understand. I haven't made oany of the recioes yet, but I plan to really soon.

I absolutely love this book. I had toyed with the idea of becoming a vegan, but this book has now convinced me. I have cooked many of the recipes and they are all delicious. Yes, there are some "exotic" ingredients, but they weren't as hard to find as others are saying. If you have a local Whole Foods store, you can pick up 95% of the unfamiliar ingredients there. Once you get familiar with them they don't seem so "strange" anymore. I am so glad that this book has opened my eyes to this new way of life.

I ordered The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone through Amazon.com and not only did I get a bargain on the price, I got it delivered to my door in under 10 days! I am over-the-moon happy with my purchase, thank you Amazon and thank you to Alicia Silverstone, The Kind Diet is fantastic and my life is changing for the better. I love it!!

Not too crazy about this book. If you are a hard core vegan and live in a city with a lot of resources maybe it is easy to live this way. I have cooked a few things in her book, but find it hard to find many ingredients and she doesn't offer many substiutions.

i was finally able to find this book somewhere and on sale none the less! this book was sold out in every book store imaginable! so when i found it on amazon and on sale i grabbed it! this is a great book for someone just wanting to know the simple facts about eating better and how to start slowly incorporating it in your life. the recipes are great and although eating healthier is more expensive and sometimes hard to find, this book tells you where to go and even what you can substitute when you can't even find it at a specialty store. i'm happy to be a meat eater, but have more knowledge now on trying to eat better things than i did before.

I really thought this was going to be a lot about specific preparation guides and recipes. That's only half the book, frequently using ingredients I don't have a snowball's chance of finding - I'm disappointed.

I bought the book because I had the pleasure of meeting Alicia & spending a evening and enjoying a great vegan meal with her and her husband Christopher!!
I was at the time finding ways to improve my health do to breast cancer.I thank Alicia for this wonderful book
it's more than just a cook book it makes , a great of
sense on ssving the planet,water & air .
I have recommended this book to many of my friends,who are interested in recapturing their health.
Alicia has done a tremendrous amount of research for this book.I haven't put the book down since I got it!!!
The recipes are great & beauitfully picture & colourful
I highly recommend this book for reading learnind & enjoying the way back to better health .

This book is awesome. It introduces new vegans to new and different kinds of foods, and contains nutritional information about these foods. This book contains all the information you need to become a vegan and how you get all your daily nutritional needs (vitamins,minerals, protein, etc.) from plant-based foods. Not only is a vegan diet the best diet to be on for your health and well-being, but its also an inexpensive diet, and it doesn't have a negative impact on the planet like the meat industry does.
Even if you don't want to become a complete vegan, there are many wonderful recipes for those that love vegetable and grain dishes. Its a great book overall, so check it out!

This book is amazing and has so much good information and amazing recipes! I am very excited about learning how to make different choices and cook with different ingredients that I had no idea existed. I have decided to go vegan for my health and for all our animal friends out there too. This book is very kind and compassionate too.

Im sure this is an all right book, but it wasn't one for me. I returned it. Thank you.

I enjoyed reading the book and have used some of the recipes. I did think there would be more recipes and menus, but the information was great.

I ordered this book on 1/30/10 - Got an email it was shipped of 2/3/10 - still do not have it. Contacted Joe twice and filed a claim with Amazon. No money back and NO BOOK ! Someone needs to support their website and help people who buy on it. NOT SATISFIED AT ALL AND WILL NEVER ORDER FROM AMAZON OR JOE DELUSTRO AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEWARE !

This is a great book that made you open your eyes up to what we eat and why.I could not put this book down. She has a down to earth, personal view on the way we eat. Once I finshed the book I was wishing the book had more chapters. I just wish I had a chef to make the receipt.

Hope in reading this book it will help with my health as well. Thanks

I am not done reading the book as of yet, but it has been life changing already. A revolution has begun in my home. The ideas and suggestions are easy to follow and makes much sense. I have already watched what I ate in the past, but with the knowledge I have know I can be even smarter the way I eat and the way I feed my family as well. They have even been eating my new meals and are enjoying them greatly. I will never be a superhero, but as a flirt I am feeling so much healthier already. I highly recomment this book to anyone who is willing to try something new for the sake of their health and living a long productive life.

I am really enjoying this books message & the recipes are really yummy! I am seeing the weight leave, but more than that, I am feeling really Good, balanced, with mental clarity, and, just humming a happy tune. I am so glad there are desserts too that I can enjoy without the guilt. They won't give you the sugar rush either. In fact, I've been on other diet programs before, and this is So Simple..just fresh food & grains. I hope Alicia Silverstone's book gets discovered & enjoyed by many, for human happiness, & a happier planet too. Blessings, Laurel

I became a vegan after reading this book. The recipes are easy and delicious. I have more energy and my skin and hair look great, plus, when I am done with a meal I do not have a heavy feeling of fullness but I am satisfied.

The recipes are very good. I was suspicious at first that the actual food would fall short of the hype given the celebrity attachment but I was pleasantly surprised at the thoughtfulness that comes thru in the quality and simplicity of the food. The Japanese influence flavors help veggies shine in a way that I was not familiar with. These flavors/ingredients have opened up a whole new flavor pallet for me and some will become staples in my house as a result. As a California transplant originally from the south I knew of greens being flavored with things other than ham hocks but until trying some of these recipes I really had no clue how to get my veggies to a savory state without the meat. And yes, you do have to buy some exotic (or at least exotic until you familiarize yourself with them) ingredients and some are hard to find and expensive but, I would argue that these ingredients do go a long way and thru consumer demand they will become more available and easy to find. It's definitely worth that first frustrating trip to your local co-op or health food store (or 5 trips in my case) but once you get your pantry stocked with some of the Alicia's staples they go a long way and suddenly you have many brand new satisfying standards.

I've been flirting with vegetarianism for years, but always kept in the eggs and cheese. I just plain don't like "flesh" and never really have. Now with all the cruelty to animals in the name of farm factories, I've decided to never go back to eating beef, chicken, fish, etc and now not eat even the eggs and cheese. For someone wanting a vegan eating regime, this book is awesome. There are many choices. You just have to introduce yourself to all the new foods. AND she has a sweet tooth and includes sweets, very healthy sweets. I hope you enjoy!!!

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical about the content and quality of this book. But I am impressed. Alicia makes a strong argument in favor of a plant-based diet. The first part of the book is more of an introspective. She details her lifelong love of animals and explains how she adopted a vegan lifestyle over time. She then breaks the chapters into roughly three styles: "Flirts," for those who want to dabble with vegan/microbiotic foods; "Vegan" and "Superhero." I was impressed with the writing. She also provides authorities for the facts she presents in support of her claims in favor of a plant-based diet.

The recipes are, in a word, awesome. I started by making simple vegetable and bean dishes. This book has encouraged me to think outside the (processed foods) box and become familiar with some delicious whole grains (wheatberries, brown rice, bulgur and barley are my current favorites). The recipes in the Superhero section have wonderful Japanese ingredients, including miso and sea vegetables. If you're thinking, "Hey, sounds too exotic for me," don't! Give these recipes a chance. Some have really grown on me, like the Adzuki bean casserole with kabocha squash. I have yet to make her Miso Soup, but I have all the ingredients for it and I am looking forward to the finished result.

I guess this book was a good choice for me because I am looking to improve my and my family's diet. If nothing else, we're eating much more fresh food and whole grains. I think of this book as a springboard, actually. It helps you explore your food. What are you really eating? Are you nourishing yourself with the kinds of food your body was made for?

Well worth a look!

I have never enjoyed cooking until I purchased this book! I am not a Vegan, but am trying really hard to become one and with this book, I believe I will accomplish my goal. The recipes in this book are so incredibly good. I never thought I would fall in love with so many different types of veggies and I love cooking! I even bought an expensive set of cookware, because I am that serious about eating and cooking the food. This cookbook WILL make you feel healthier, lighter and just make you feel good about yourself. Even if you're not interested in becoming a Vegan or Vegetarian, I would suggest this book for side dish options!!! These recipes are "De.....(wait for it)......lish"!!!!! *quote from: Barney from How I Met Your Mother"

I like this book alot. The recipes seem easy enough,that is if you can find the products she listed on her pantry list. I think this book should have some information about,where to buy options. Although there are a few e-mail listings in the book,they are not very helpful. I don't won't to join and or buy something else to find out where to purchase some of the food items that are listed in her book.

The book is an easy read with very updated information. This is not to mention quality recipes..

I liked that it talks about her journey. She has some good recipes but some my family would never eat. Overall worth the money.

This is the very best vegan recipe book on the market--a rather bold statement, I agree. There are two reasons for this. First, there are in-depth explanations of everything the informed vegan, or vegetarian thinking about becoming a vegan, should know. Okay, I don't go for cute tags such as "flirts," and "superheroes," and if I ever hear the word "yummy" again, I might just shriek (the copy editor should have encouraged the author to check a thesaurus). However, since we buy recipe books for the recipes, there's every reason to buy this one--that is, the recipes are absolutely wonderful. I've fed hardcore carnivores with recipes from her book, and they are in gastronomic heaven. I also like the fact that her recipes do not call for white flour or refined sugars. In sum, this is a wonderful vegan cookbook whose recipes will delight vegans, vegetarians, and everyone else who tastes them.

Great book by Alicia! Love the recipes in this book and the info on being Vegan. MAkes me want to try to be a vegan again.
Macrobiotic foods are so delicious and comforting.

Author's personal reflections on being vegan insightful but not about to partake as heavily. The foundation of most of these recipes is Asian inspired.If you do not care for shoyu you are out of luck. Far too limiting in that regard. Wish I had know that in advance probably would not have purchased and could have forgone the entire read. I did however like the information and nutritional references to the foods used throughout the recipes. The author stopped short of sounding like an activist. Personal thoughts on the universe were kept in check just in enough to push through the read.

This book is great, its not a diet its really a way of life. It really opens your eyes to just how important it is to pay attention to ourselves and the world around us thru our diet, while never getting bored she keeps it interesting all the way to the recipes. I've purchased a many diet books but this one is diffently a keeper.

I am a hunter and I am a meat eater. I have always viewed Alicia Silverstone as one of them, a PETA freak that stood on the opposite side of everything I loved. However, when I had the opportunity to review The Kind Diet, I was intrigued. Despite her and I only being a year apart in age, she is thin, beautiful, and still has a youthful appearance. I am fat, not bad looking, but I can tell the years are starting to add up. I opted to read her book to see what the difference between her and I, the vegan and the hunter.

The book is basically divided into three parts. The first portion of the book is basically devoted to discussing what is wrong with the American food supply. The second portion of the book discusses the transition to beginning a vegetarian or vegan diet. The third and largest portion of the book is dedicated to recipes.

I found the first portion of the book to be quite intriguing. The author discusses various foods and food group typical in the American diet and then proceeds to say why we should not eat it. Reasons provided range from descriptions on how animals in a corporate farm environment are treated to how the foods have an effect on your body. In the going vegan section, the author discusses the transition to veganism. Ms. Silverstone discusses potential substitutes to foods that you use now. She also discusses how to maintain your new way of life outside the home, such as at parties, restaurants, while traveling, etc. The final chapter is recipes. Not much to say about those.

Ms. Silverstone does an admirable job discussing the topic of the dangers and negative aspects of the food supply as we know it. While I am not a nutritionalist, much of the discussion of why certain foods are bad seems to be based on sound theory. The book does an admirable job discussing substitutes for current food items, but I think the transition discussion could have been much better. Many of the foods listed in this book maybe known to current, experienced vegans, but I did not have the slightest clue what they are. I think the book could have benefited highly if an additional chapter on "grocery store veganism" were added. I think it would have been helpful to discuss a way to start the vegan diet with items found in any Albertson's, Safeway, or any major supermarket. I think this would help people ease into the transition and develop confidence to explore new items, such as the items listed in the book that are foreign to many people.

The book did not inspire me to kick meat all together, but the book did inspire me to make some significant changes in my diet. I am making it a point to eat more plant-based foods and eliminate a significant portion of the meat I used to eat. Overall, I thought the book was good, but I would not call it great. If you are interested in a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, I think the book would be worth reading.

I work in a bookstore & I simply will not carry this book - I think it is unethical for me to do so. Alicia Silverstone knows nothing of nutrition - not once does she mention the proper fermentation of grains or the harmful chemicals in soy. Nowhere does she speak of the beautiful prairies and forests destroyed for Monsanto crops. Nowhere does she talk about the connection between carbohydrates, insulin and diabetes. Oh, no - she has a recipe for 'black soy bean chilli' - my sweet lord! - it should be called 'anti-nutrient soup'!

For those interested in the sickness of modern food - two books, one 'eating animals' about factory farms, and two - 'vegetarian myth' which deals with the vast wasteland awaiting us with the abuse of our precious soil.

What angers me most is her attitude to - wait for it! - animals! She says 'face it, your pet is a couch potato', oh really? I, when a got a dog, knew I'd be able to take care of it properly - and we play, go for hikes, walks around the neighborhood, etc. What - does she not do that!? Her main 'beef' is to justify abusing your poor dependent pet by feeding it, too, vegan! This is animal abuse & is disgusting. YUCK! All the bloody way around on this foul tome.

And, to boot, she's wasting away! She looks like she needs a good twenty pounds....ugh.

I got this book right as I was transitioning to being a vegetarian. It is very readable and made going vegetarian and then vegan a pursuit for my own health and well being and for the environment. It also got me really excited about real food and cooking. The ingredients actually aren't that weird once you just trust and make a few things. Also, I have heard people say a lot of stuff about how its all japanese or something, but that is just really wrong. There are boritos, lots of british american influence, morrocan, cuban, italian, and they are soooooo good.
Ceasar salad
seitan piccata
rustic pasta
sweet potato lentil stew
cure all and menstrual tea
moroccan couscous
it is so good. You can tell that she loves food!
I got other well established cooks cookbooks, but I end up cooking from this so often and falling in love with the food. This is not someone who is trying to come up with fancy cooking feats, just someone who will give you recipes to use in life as a vegan and showcase a lot of healthy food. Of all the vegetarian resources I have come across this was the most positive and helpful. What she says happened to her, I had been experiencing while transitioning to whole vegan food. My skin cleared up, my allergies and asthma went away. I have lost weight and have so much energy and feel more in tune with my body and the earth. It sounds out there until you experience it for yourself.

Excellent book; thorough and fun to read, I didn't want to put it down. I've tried to go vegan in the past and ended up eating only soy everything and stopped after a week. This time, I had the information and tools to make informed eating choices. Alicia's recipes are varied and extensive, and include lots of chocolate desserts which I love : ) Recommend to anyone!

Full disclosure: I did not read the whole book. I couldn't stand to read any more. The parts I read were all about trying to guilt one into becoming a vegan. Talking about some animals are raised and killed inhumanely, even why eating eggs and milk are contributing to animal cruelty. With the industrialization of agriculture, this is true all to often. However, buying milk from grass-fed cows and eggs from free range chickens is a viable alternative. We also buy grass-fed beef and I hunt, so we get meat with far fewer pollutants and we own up to the fact that we are killing animals. My kids have a greater appreciation for the meat we eat because of it. For a better view on the industrialization of our food, I recommend Food Inc. and works by Michael Poullan.

My wife bought this because it was on Oprah and she thought it would have good, vegan recipes. Seems like she was duped by the Oprah marketing machine. This book is just a way for famous people to make more money.

I bought "The Kind Diet" to assist me in a three-week "vegan" experiment. I began this for many reasons - health being the primary reason. In late 2009, my health was terrible. I was not sleeping, my blood pressure and stress were through the roof, and my energy was just about gone. I had read In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto which got me thinking and more aware of just what I was eating and how it contributed to my diminished health.

To support me through what I thought would be 3 weeks of pure torture, I purchased a series of books to help me keep on track in my vegan experiment. These books ranged from The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health and am currently reading Breaking the Food Seduction: The Hidden Reasons Behind Food Cravings---And 7 Steps to End Them Naturally. I also chose "The Kind Diet" just to give myself some "vegan lite" reading. It is not hard hitting but more conversational, a good resource, and, sometimes, just makes me chuckle. This is a book I will keep on my shelf, open it every so often, and smile. And, due to many factors -- my improving health and all types of support - I am still maintain a vegan regimen and have included many areas I never ever thought I'd do! I flip through until something caught my attention and then read. I did not expect a statistical manifesto nor did I expect hundreds of easy recipes. This book met my expectations so I do give it high marks.

If you are a fast food's eating, dairy drinking carnivore who is feeling poorly and you think that what your eating just might be a factor, this book just may be for you. It is "vegan-lite," and full of easy to read statistics, Alicia's experiences, views on things vegan, and some favorite recipes. I think the title really sums it up..."The Kind Diet" -- be kinder to yourself, your body, your planet, and those around you...without judgment or opinion of other's behavior. And, due to many factors -- my improving health and all types of support like "The Kind Diet" - I am still maintaining a vegan regimen and plan to forever.

I really enjoyed the recipes in this book, But be careful a lot of the recipe call for Ingredients that have MSG, So look for products without the MSG if you have high blood pressure. Also there are recipes which call for Molasses, and other products which have high sugar content. But if your in good health, then these are great recipes.

My family has benefited by this book in so many ways!
Well written, funny, honest and helpful.

Great foods, yummy recipes and information to help you along the way.

After hearing about this on the Oprah show, the food sounded delicious. However, once I finally got the book, after a back-logged delay with delivery, I have to say, I was very disappointed. I was mostly interested in the recipes, only to find that the vast, vast majority require the use of ingredients which I have never heard of, and to top it off, are not readily available in stores - that says a lot, considering I live in a metropolitan area, and shop regularly at a huge grocery chain that has an extensive selection of organic foods. You also have to be a fan of oriental cuisine as almost all the recipes are based on oriental food traditions. It may be a book for vegans, but I wouldn't necessarily classify it as a book for proponents of slow-food or buying local. I like oriental cuisine, but I was looking for easy-to-make recipes that obviously would include easy to find, preferably local, ingredients. I wish the author well, I think she is on the right track. Some of her concepts about food, farming, digestion and the like are bit narrow and perhaps questionable, but her main goal, to get us to re-evaluate how we eat and what we eat were achieved. Unfortunately the recipes are not something that the average American could easily make without a lot of searching for many of the ingredients. Perhaps with her next book, she could work with a variety of chefs that could create recipes that utilize ingredients that can easily be found from local sources, and, be in line with American cuisine. This would certainly make it easier for the average person to change their dietary habits in a direction she was aiming for. Borrow it from a friend or view it in the library first; if you then find it works for you, then buy it.

I have two eyes on the front of my head and pointy teeth in my mouth. Just like all carnivorous predators. If you have two eyes on the sides of your head and flat teeth in your mouth then this book is for you. Otherwise check out Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats

Love this book! Super easy. Couldn't help but hear "Cher" from Clueless narrating - she writes in a very easy going way. Which helps it from seeming as much like a diet book than ideas for lifestyle changes. I'm partial to Silverstone (I'm a nineties girl) and I got a LOT of rolled eyes from others when I mentioned I was reading her book. Neither here nor there. If you're thinking maybe you could open up to a healthier lifestyle but don't want to starve/seem like a food nazi/don't know how to cook/don't want to start working for GreenPeace anytime soon - this could be an easy transition. If this says anything, I've already bought a copy for my friend who just went vegan, and my other friend is currently borrowing mine..and I want it back! :) Cheers, just have fun with it!
Only con: Some of the products/produce she mentions might be harder to find. For instance, I cannot find Daikon for the life of me. But Tofutti (sp?) is amazing!! I love dairy, love cream cheese on bagels, I was skeptical, but now I'm sold. Living in Austin, we have tons of "hippie" stores so it may be easier for me. I'm hoping once it warms up to start hitting the farmers market(s) again.

I first read about this book in a magazine and was skeptical so I obtained the book from the library first. I was hooked and ordered it through Amazon. I am "flirting" vegetarian however Silverstone makes a compelling argument to drop dairy and meat - and provides wonderful recipes to help. I am a big fan and find the more recipes I try, the more I love it.

I am not vegan, but was looking to improve my cooking a little more and this helped me a lot. I have celiac disease so I do have to adjust some of the recipes, but overall I have had a lot of fun creating new and healthy meals for my family with this book. Thank you!

I've enjoyed what I've made so far and besides the food being tasty and healthy, the recipes are easy to follow. This book has all the main ingredients that appeal to me: healthy, simple and tasty! Also, there is no shame in making strides or the effort to be vegan because The Kind Diet is understanding of the challenges and makes great provisions for improving one's commitment to being a full-time vegan. Thanks Alicia for being so "kind."

It may sound like hyperbole, but this book has really been life-changing.

I've been a vegetarian, for ethical reasons, for several years. Additionally, I am a staunch believer in animal rights and try to always buy from PETA approved, cruelty-free manufacturers. So I've known for a long while that, despite my love of cheese, ice cream and eggs, I would have to give up dairy in order for my lifestyle to align fully with my principles.

I received a copy of Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet for my birthday this past November and have never looked back. Reading the text, written in an approachable, no-nonsense style, made the decision seem so obvious and the recipes made the change effortless. While I have many vegan cookbooks (and I love them all), it was Silverstone's "Superhero" (aka macrobiotic) recipes that truly changed the way I relate to food. At first, it's hard to believe her superlatives (everything is "yummy" or "nourishing" or "energizing") but, once you start cooking - darn, if she isn't right every time.

Believe me, I was skeptical when I purchased my first pack of mochi (pg 236), a hard, plastic-like block of cooked sweet brown rice, but once I sliced and pan-fried it as instructed, it was sticky, sweet and delish. Drizzled with a bit of the recommended brown rice syrup, this stuff is better than French toast. I swear! And when I was slicing the burdock root for stew called Kinpira (pg 272) the strange astringent smell it gave off actually scared me a bit, but once it had been sauteed in the sesame oil with the carrots, it was truly amazing. There's so much here to love. I've enjoyed the simple steamed baby bok choy (with ume plum vinaigrette), the azuki bean stew, Sicilian collard greens and sweet brown rice porridge. And I've only just begun!

The reason this is such a revelation to me is that I own an older macrobiotic cookbook by Lima Ohsawa and it isn't particularly user friendly. The ingredients seemed very foreign and the recipes weren't made to be appetizing, but more like a medicinal prescription. The Kind Diet, with its gorgeous photography and the author's friendly, colloquial encouragement, make macrobiotics, and many of the same recipes, incidentally, much more appealing for a Western audience.

This book made going vegan (not to mention giving up nearly all pre-packaged foods and white sugar/flour), for both me and my hithertofore omnivore spouse, a breeze. Not only do we feel good that we are no longer supporting factory farming, but we feel healthier and more energetic. As an added bonus, his borderline cholesterol dropped 25 points in three months! It's true.

For anyone looking to improve their health (or the health of the planet) through dietary changes, any ethical vegetarian seeking to make the leap to veganism or any fan of the lovely, adorable [and kindly] Ms. Silverstone...this book is a must.

I was skeptical of buying a vegetarian/vegan 'cookbook' or 'diet book' simply because it was written by a famous person who happens to be vegan. I kept passing the book and reading the title "the KIND diet" and feeling really guilty that I'd gone back to eating meat, and realized I felt very UNkind, and unhappy with my diet and myself. Then, I'd been reading Jillian Michael's "master your metabolism" and it spurred me into thinking about what I was putting into my mouth, which naturally led me back to vegetarianism (just an FYI, Jillian is not vegetarian and "M.Y.M." is not veggie either), and VOILA! I was finally ready to give this book a chance. I'm so glad that I have because it is such a breath of fresh air among the hundreds of vegetarian/vegan cookbooks that are filled with sooo many ingredients that are just torture on our bodies (processed, processed, processed). Alicia (like Jillian) suggests eating REAL food, and LOTS of it! She gives a lot of great information about WHY this lifestyle is better for you AND our planet, and the claims she makes in this book are very real. In short, I absolutely recommend this book.

I have researched diet and health for years. I found books that gave the perfect solution for health problems, but the program was difficult to maintain. The Kind Diet is user friendly as there are cookies, cake, etc. so that one would not feel deprived. Sugar is addictive but once away from the sugar, you don't have the same cravings. Consequently sugar recipes aren't necessary, but it is an option. When you are denied any food, that is when you start craving.
What Alicia states about eating animals is very credible. Anyone doubting this should see the DVD - Foods, Inc. When going cross country, I've seen the cattle standing in their own sludge and if you would see the way that chickens are processed, you'd never eat another one. The choice is up to the reader. The Point Alicia makes is that the housing and slaughter is not humane. Consequently we do not get a healthy food product.
What Alicia states about the spiritual aspect of the diet is very credible.
I haven't been on the program that long, but the results are amazing. I'd recommend it for anyone with a health concern or who just wants to be healthier.
Kaye Loraine, BSN, RN, LNC