Rating: 
Summary: Excellent - A must for the reference shelf
Review: Highly recommended. I am a vegan who continuously looks for good reference books which contain useful information and are based on research rather than speculation.
The Messina's are unbiased in their approach and tackle the information in a clear and concise manner. The book is packed with good information and can easily be read straight through or used as a reference book
Rating:
Summary: If you're planning on going vegetarian or vegan, get this!
Review: I had a hard time finding a book for diabetics going vegetarian or vegan. I found this one, thinking it was going to be mostly recipes and all, and was happy to see it covers a very wide range of topics. Three chapters convinced me this was the book to get: the diabetic vegetarian, losing weight the vegetarian way, and the vegetarian athlete, all applicable to my new lifestyle change. It also convinced me that I want to go vegan, which I never thought would happen. Milk is baby food after all for us mammal types! So give this book a try, has delicious recipes included, and vegan alternatives on menu plans for diabetics.
Rating:
Summary: Ditto!
Review: I would like to echo the positive remarks that other readers have made. The nutrition information alone is a must-read for anyone considering becoming vegetarian or anyone who is concerned about the diets of their loved ones. I was very pleased by the overall honest tone of the book. The authors were never "preachy" and were willing to admit that some claims in the book were not yet fully substantiated. The result is a book that is very balanced and convincing. Bravo!
Rating: 
Summary: Very well referenced and unbiased approach
Review: Of all of the vegetarian books I've read, this one seemed to be the most unbiased and well-referenced. Indeed, for someone who is familiar with the research that they're quoting, this book is actually understated. And this book is also great because they give advice for all age groups, as well as athletes, nursing/pregnant moms, people who want to lose or gain weight, etc... the section on Vitamin B-12 is the most up to date and well-written discussion of this fascinating nutrient. I only have two real misgivings about this book, for one it keeps promoting soy products, which have recently been linked to memory loss and birth defects. If the other primates on this planet don't eat soybeans, well then why should we? My second objection is that they keep pushing the idea that all diets should be grain based. Well, the healthiest people I know base their diets on fruits and salads and eat smaller amounts of grains. Indeed a diet that is based on fruits and salads more easily meets the RDA for calcium since fruits and salads have more calcium per calorie than grains. So, in summary it's not perfect but still it's a great eye-opener in terms of all the problems and diseases linked to meat, eggs, and dairy products. The chart with all the actors and actresses who are vegetarians is also quite surprising! Oh, by the way they also underestimate nuts, which have recently received a lot of great attention for a series of amazing studies that came out about nut consumption right after this book was published. You may also want to read Becoming Vegan or Becoming Vegetarian.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great book.
Review: This book is has taught me so many things. There is tons of in-depth information on vitamins and minerals, with charts showing which foods have what and discussion on how much you need. The subject of protein is discussed in detail from many sides. There is even interesting discussion on the 'chicken-and-fish' vegetarian. This is the first vegetarian book I've come across that includes the above info as well as different types of seaweeds and grains, and how to prepare them. Nutritional info, cooking info, even info on the vegetarian athlete. There is recipes in the back (par for the course) and personally, I don't think the book really needs them. They are an addendum in my mind. The rest of the info in this book is so engrossing, recipes seem redundant though I realize they are there as a companion to chapter in the book about moving gradually towards vegetarianism. Many of the recipes are there to help with the transition, but my biggest gripe on the recipes is that in general they are too high in fat. There are also quite a few baking recipes which use white flour and sugar, and margarine. This only bugs me because the rest of the book is so USEFUL. Anyway, we can all learn the fine art of substitution. All in all, the book covers too many subjects to list. I will keep coming back to this book.
Rating:
Summary: Great hardcore book
Review: This is a book for those who want to know more about the nutrition of being a vegetarian or those who need some reinforcement. I have not read such a well written book on this topic. I think that everyone whether vegan, vegetarian or omnivore should read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Great hardcore book
Review: This is a book for those who want to know more about the nutrition of being a vegetarian or those who need some reinforcement. I have not read such a well written book on this topic. I think that everyone whether vegan, vegetarian or omnivore should read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book!
Review: This is probably the best vegetarian/vegan resource out there. The only problem, though is despite the books aim to be as objective as possible, it has only included about 2 or three examples of the nutrition in meat products. --In other words, if you're a meat eater and want to compare the nutrition in say, a steak against a plate of broccoli and tofu - it's not there. It seems to the authors, meat is just a deadly risky food, and they don't bother to show that it has any nutritional value whatsoever. Former meat-eaters should know what we were leaving behind.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but not for a former meat-eater
Review: This is probably the best vegetarian/vegan resource out there. The only problem, though is despite the books aim to be as objective as possible, it has only included about 2 or three examples of the nutrition in meat products. --In other words, if you're a meat eater and want to compare the nutrition in say, a steak against a plate of broccoli and tofu - it's not there. It seems to the authors, meat is just a deadly risky food, and they don't bother to show that it has any nutritional value whatsoever. Former meat-eaters should know what we were leaving behind.
Rating:
Summary: If you only get one book GET THIS BOOK and read it!!!
Review: This is THE BOOK on vegetarian nutrition, written by experts who are themselves vegetarian. I am a registered dietitian and this is the book I recommend to my clients--vegetarian or not. Great info on all nutrition topics from babies to seniors, from protein to B12. Carol M. Coughlin, RD
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