Suggested reading -- animal to plant?

[L Sass]

I am looking for a way to transition my family from primarily animal based food to plant based. We don't really do any of the red meats, but do use chicken, dairy, eggs, cheeses, etc.

We are dealing with possible ADD/ADHD issues with my DD (though SOOOOO minimal or borderline that nobody is willing to catergorize her that way). I have a stimulant script from a doc who totally underwhelmed me, but I am not convinced that I should fill it and let my DD think that she can take a pill and all gets better (if it even would). When I asked this doc about a diet shift he dismissed it out of hand.

I want to do some additional research, but this might be a good time since I've really always wanted to phase out more of the animal products we do eat. I think the biggest thing for them would be the milk. Any books that you all are aware of for transitioning a family to plant based? TIA

Lorrie

www.picturetrail.com/lsass

 

[robin4health]

Hi Lorrie

I know I have personally found some books by Marilu Henner helpful - at least in the giving up dairy part. Your local library probably has some of her books that you can nose through and read the sections that interest you.

I'm sure there are MANY other books out there, this is just one I know I have sitting on my bookshelf and I use every now and again.

I know we have talked about this before, but I can not stress the link between red dye 40 and ADD. I know I have read that at least 80% of people diagnosed with ADD are hypersensitive to this dye. It is in EVERYTHING and you really have to be a good label reader to find all the products it is in. Some of the things I personally was surprised to find it in was hot cocoa mix and nutrigrain cereal bars. I'm sure your family's diet is pretty clean, so this would not come up too much, but sometimes it is hard to control what they eat outside of the home. My oldest daughter is sensitive to red dye 40 and when she consumes a lot of it, she breaks out in hives. That took some major investigative work to figure that one out, but through food journaling, I FINALLY figured that was the trigger.

Good luck with your quest to find helpful books!

 

[kathryn]

Some good places to start:
"Becoming Vegetarian" or "Becoming Vegan" by Vesanto Melina (I think!). Good overall references.

Joel Fuhrman's "Eat to Live"(though you might want to wait, as he's coming out with a newer book --actually two--that walk you through a more gradual transition from and animal- to a plant-based diet).

 

[L Sass]

Thanks Kathryn - any idea when that Fuhrman one is coming out?

Lorrie

www.picturetrail.com/lsass

 

[kathryn]

>Thanks Kathryn - any idea when that Fuhrman one is coming
>out?
>
It's supposed to be out early this year (maybe in the spring)?

Another idea (if you want to splurge!): www.hungry-vegan.com is a weekly home-delivery service of vegan meals. I'm trying them out this month (my birthday month, so I'm treating myself!).

 

[pixie9]

Kathryn - that sounds super interesting to me. Please let us know what you think of the delivery service. I had no idea there was one for vegans!

Carolyn

 

[PhyllisG]

Definitely check out Becoming Vegan or Becoming Vegetarian. They are so helpful because they have lots of information about vitamin and protein sources in plant based food. There are even chapters dealing with diets for teenagers and children. By diets I mean vegetarian balanced meals. The Eat To Live book I did not find as helpful. The Becomning... books have a much larger amount of information. Check out your library to see what you think.