Plant-Based Recipes to Fuel Your Workouts―and the Rest of Your Life

I listen to the podcast, so I had pre-ordered the book. It has some really great information about plant based diets, especially for athletes. I haven't tried the recipes yet but I'm sure that I will. They are pretty straight forward, not too many crazy ingredients. The thing that bugs me is the "no oil" option. I know that it's not just a No Meat Athlete thing, but I view it as extremely extreme. They don't preach it, but they include options. So I guess I can shut up and do the version of the recipe that suits me.

This is the first cookbook I've ever sat down and read like a book. So far I enjoy it.

I don't consider myself and athlete, and I'm not a vegetarian yet -- flirting with it. The copy in the book is very interesting and thought provoking, and so far the recipes are really good.

The only reason that I didn't give it a full 5 stars is because the book has some physical flaws. Namely, the pages were not all 100% separated properly. As they tore apart (literally), the edges frayed, and some of the awesome photography is less awesome now.

The recipes in this cookbook are pretty good, but being an 'athlete' cookbook I didn't find enough information on protein. I am very active between running and weight lifting and when I quit eating animal products my protein intake went WAY down. After a couple of months I gained weight, started to get dizzy headaches and wasn't recovering from a calf injury the way I should. So I focused more on how much protein I was taking in and within a few days my dizzy headaches went away, my weight dropped and my calf is finally starting to feel better! Unfortunately I will no longer continue on a completely plant-based diet. I'm switching to a vegetarian diet that will include eggs and some dairy. If you are an active athlete don't buy into the "too much protein" push. You NEED more protein when you live an active lifestyle!

For someone who has never tried a "no-meat" diet, I was highly skeptical. I like my meat! But when my husband started running with someone who uses a vegan lifestyle, it got him, and me curious as to what it was, and how to best go about trying it out.

Enter the opportunity by Net Galley to review the No Meat Athlete cookbook. I was really impressed! Matt and Stepfanie break down what "no meat" is and isn't. Most of the books I had looked at were very scientific in their explanations, and honestly, I just wanted simple, but concise explanations. That is what you'll get in this cookbook.

The recipes are the jewel of this book. Lots of great, savory (and sweet) ways to eat, from Oatmeal, salad dressings to a healthier version of turtles candy. :)

My only issue wasn't with the book, just how difficult (and initially expensive) gathering a good supply of the ingredients would be. Overall, we are looking forward to trying some of these recipes out (the salad dressings, especially)

If you are interested in eating healthier, and maybe trying to go meatless more often, I would recommend this book.

Net Galley gave me a complimentary copy of this book to review.

I was really excited about this cookbook and expected to find lots of plant-based recipes my whole family (2 active adults and 4 small kids) could enjoy. I don't like to be negative, but want to share my thoughts for others who might be in the same boat. My main complaint is that the majority of the recipes are not family-friendly -- at least not for my family. If you are feeding plant-based enthusiast adults or very open-minded kids, then yes, this book might work for you. But I don't feel that this book will make a convert out of any tofu skeptics. My secondary criticism is that for the handful of recipes that did catch my eye, I have similar recipes in other cookbooks I already own. I am returning this book.

Pros: First of all, there is some really good info in the introduction which educates, dispels, and otherwise promotes the benefits of a veggie/vegan diet. I learned a lot from it, such as the over-the-top push that food industry places on consuming protein, the knowledge that you can get all your nutrients from a plant based diet, the fact that protein IS in plant food, the introduction of the whole health - nutrients / calories equation (which has brought me to this way of eating as I learn that putting good nutrients in my body is really the end all/be all of how I should eat), reducing inflammation as much as possible (dairy, meat, etc., is highly inflammatory), etc.

Cons: having said all that, the recipes themselves leave much to be desired imo. In other ways, there are inconsistencies in the book. For example, they introduce the concept in the intro that oil is way more calorie dense than nutrient dense, and they list most recipes containing oil as able to use broth instead. However, both authors explicitly state in the intro that they don’t plan to eliminate oil from their cooking habit themselves (???). As I’ve flipped through, some the recipes use ingredients that I think any nutrition-focused chef would stay far away from, such as protein powder (despite saying how protein isn’t that important and you can get all your protein needs from whole plant foods), sugar, orange juice, etc. Finally, the biggest inconsistency I’ve found, and why I rated it so low: THERE ARE NO RECIPES USING BROCCOLI OR CAULIFLOWER, NO INDEX OF THEM EITHER! This is a plant-based book and they leave out some of the healthiest veggies you can consume??? I for one love broccoli, so you can imagine this was a major let down. Only reason I didn’t rate this book 1-star was the good info at the front of the book.

I love this book...starches and all! Nutrition and athletics are the forte of the authors and they show how well plant-based eating can and will help you in those departments! Great recipies and a wealth of information.

I was really excited about this cookbook and expected to find lots of plant-based recipes my whole family (2 active adults and 4 small kids) could enjoy. I don't like to be negative, but want to share my thoughts for others who might be in the same boat. My main complaint is that the majority of the recipes are not family-friendly -- at least not for my family. If you are feeding plant-based enthusiast adults or very open-minded kids, then yes, this book might work for you. But I don't feel that this book will make a convert out of any tofu skeptics. My secondary criticism is that for the handful of recipes that did catch my eye, I have similar recipes in other cookbooks I already own. I am returning this book.

Pros: First of all, there is some really good info in the introduction which educates, dispels, and otherwise promotes the benefits of a veggie/vegan diet. I learned a lot from it, such as the over-the-top push that food industry places on consuming protein, the knowledge that you can get all your nutrients from a plant based diet, the fact that protein IS in plant food, the introduction of the whole health - nutrients / calories equation (which has brought me to this way of eating as I learn that putting good nutrients in my body is really the end all/be all of how I should eat), reducing inflammation as much as possible (dairy, meat, etc., is highly inflammatory), etc.

Cons: having said all that, the recipes themselves leave much to be desired imo. In other ways, there are inconsistencies in the book. For example, they introduce the concept in the intro that oil is way more calorie dense than nutrient dense, and they list most recipes containing oil as able to use broth instead. However, both authors explicitly state in the intro that they don’t plan to eliminate oil from their cooking habit themselves (???). As I’ve flipped through, some the recipes use ingredients that I think any nutrition-focused chef would stay far away from, such as protein powder (despite saying how protein isn’t that important and you can get all your protein needs from whole plant foods), sugar, orange juice, etc. Finally, the biggest inconsistency I’ve found, and why I rated it so low: THERE ARE NO RECIPES USING BROCCOLI OR CAULIFLOWER, NO INDEX OF THEM EITHER! This is a plant-based book and they leave out some of the healthiest veggies you can consume??? I for one love broccoli, so you can imagine this was a major let down. Only reason I didn’t rate this book 1-star was the good info at the front of the book.

I love this book...starches and all! Nutrition and athletics are the forte of the authors and they show how well plant-based eating can and will help you in those departments! Great recipies and a wealth of information.

i really wanted to love this book. I am a vegetarian that is soy-free, grain-free and gluten-free. Many of the recipes rely on soy and soy-based products which I don't believe are particularly healthy from what I have researched. Other recipes use prepacked noodles and breads. There is nothing 'whole' about these products. There is also no nutritional information listed for the recipes, which is helpful if you are trying to ensure you are getting enough protein. I wish I had seen the book before I bought it--I was so disappointed.

I had been thinking about moving toward a vegan diet for a while. My parents became vegans after my father suffered 4 heart attacks in quick succession. I've been a competitive cyclist for most of my life and had always had the impression that I was doing what I needed to to not suffer the same issues as my father. However, I began thinking that a plant-based diet was an additional way for me to protect myself and ensure a longer lifespan. This book has provided me with the perfect introduction to a plant-based diet. Every recipe has been delicious and my family is quickly discovering favorites among the recipes. The clear writing and focus on the dietary needs of endurance athletes has proven to be a great way to make the switch to being a plant-powered athlete!

Not worth the money. This is the 3rd time I have tried to leave feedback - it's never posted. Seems there are lots of 5 stars when someone has a negative review.........
Very disappointed in the cookbook. As stated in my earlier posts, the main reason I purchased this book was for a recipe called "The Ultimate Energy Bar". This recipe wasn't included in this book regardless of a posting of the recipe next to the book.
The nutritional information isn't included in the book either. I would think this should be a basic requirement.
Let's see if this time my product review is posted. I'm returning the book.

This is a fantastic vegetarian cookbook. However this is NOT a cookbook for athletes.

As an athlete transitioning over to a vegetarian diet I need to know how much protein I'm getting in my meals as well as calories and carbs. This book lists none of that nor does it talk about how to supplement the protein an athlete needs without eating meat.

I'm neither an athlete nor a vegan. I bought this book after meeting Stepfanie Romine at a book festival and am glad I did. I made two dishes this weekend: Beet Bourguignon, which is a beet and lentil stew, and Slow Cooker Coconut-Matcha Brown Rice. Both were excellent! The brown rice was especially fun for breakfast and really, really nice. Highly recommended!

The breakfast tofu recipe is delish! Also it's easy to make ahead so you can have it ready to add to your breakfast all week. I sliced it up and added it to my egg burritos for an extra shot of yummy protein.

This is a great cookbook for both those new to eating plant based and those who have been at it for a while and looking for some new ideas. Also has some excellent recipes specifically for athletes. I particularly like the natural electrolyte drinks!

An outstanding vegan recipe book and more! Many ideas for incorporating healthy eating into a busy lifestyle. Designed for athletes but I learned many new techniques too. Several great recipes for unique and healthy dishes. Also information on how to design a healthy diet. One unique aspect of this book is several recipes are called blueprints. They are the skeleton with ideas for variations of the item. I've always said cooking is personal, make each item the way you like it. This book enables that philosophy.

Thank you to Netgalley, The Experiment, Matt Frazier, Stepfanie Romine, and Rich Roll for the gracious offer of an advanced copy to read for a honest-review.

I've been falling in love a lot with cookbooks for athletes, so I jumped hard and fast when I was that this book was available for reviewing. I was incredibly excited to see how it would turn out, and I love the first few chapters, breaking down what you need to eat to feed your body. How to best take care of yourself to be reaching the most important nutrients on this path to better

The recipes were well represented and the pictures are vibrantly, detailed and well positioned.

But.

The dependence on bread/grains/starch-related foods in 95% of the recipes turned my stomach. For those that works for this will be a great resource, but in that field this book was sadly a dud for me and one I won't be able to use at all in my path to embracing healthy living and supported weightlifting.

For those parts I really loved the salads, vegetables, and smoothies, would make some really great lunch help for me in the future. Thank you, again, for the chance to review this newest cookbook for athletes eating clean, healthy and varied diets.