Whole Foods Diet

The Whole Foods Diet is a good book for some beginners who want to move to a whole food plant based diet (WFPB). There's a recommendation that 10% of calories can come from animal-based products although I think that's just to get people started into the WFPB diet and weaned off a high animal protein diet. It's probably expected that you'll potentially move out of the animal-based foods and into WFPB diet only. The book is full of testimonials from those who have lost weight and basically gotten healthier on a WFPB diet. The book is a bit repetitive if you've read any of Dr. Esselstyn's "preventing and reversing heart disease" work or The China Study book itself. That's ok though because it was a refresher for me.I bought this book partially because I have a number of "vegan" friends who eat a lot of processed junk or tend to overeat and wonder why they haven't lost weight. Also bought the book because I'm moving to eating less animal protein and thought that this book and its basics would be a great way to start. You can't eat as much food as you want on a WFPB diet because it's still "calories in and calories out" even if that's not what is stated. Stay away from the processed sugar such as sodas and candy and stick with fresh fruit -- in moderation, of course. I never thought that there are "hidden" calories in oils so not using them for cooking will help with weight loss. And you do need some exercise. You won't lose weight or get healthier by sitting around all day. Even if you just walk around your house or yard, that's better than planting yourself on the couch.Unlike some other reviewers, I didn't think that the recipes are "bland." First of all, once you start cutting out lots of processed foods which generally have too much salt and sugar anyway, your palate will eventually change and you won't miss the salt or sugar. I did that 15 years ago when I cut refined sugar, white flour products, and processed and fast foods out of my diet. In about three months, anything with the "usual" amount of salt or sugar just didn't taste good to me. I also didn't lose a lot of weight (I wasn't overweight) however my weight did shift around, I felt better, and slept better. I was cooking from scratch and didn't even buy premade marinara sauces or soups. Of course, now, I still have a diet that, in my opinion, still is high in animal protein and I want to move away from it.I already make the breakfast bowl with oatmeal, berries and nuts. For dinner and subsequently leftovers for lunch, I made the cream of cauliflower and white bean soup with garlic croutons. I didn't have "onion granules" or "garlic granules" so I just added more fresh onion and garlic to the soup and used fresh minced onion and garlic on the croutons. I'm sure that people who are starting out on this WFPB way of eating would think that the soup was very bland. I added some flavorful sauteed shiitake mushrooms and the soup was superb. Also I think the brand of vegetable broth that you use might play a role in the final flavoring. The soup tasted better when it sat in the fridge a day or two.I already make a version of the no-oil marinara sauce. This specific no-oil marinara recipe is very tasty (almost as good as mine) and I do recommend to use the fresh herbs. This recipe also freezes well.The garden-stuffed potato cacciatore was very tasty. I'm a big fan of stuffed potatoes already. The cashew sour cream recipe is pretty tasty. And again, no cheese sauce or dairy sour cream and that was just fine with me.Additionally, I tried the Austin Taco Bowl with Red Pepper Pico recipe with Avocado-Jalapeno Creme. It's pretty much like a taco or burrito bowl that you can get at popular Mexican restaurants but you control what ingredients are used. I'm not a fan of the vegan or faux cheeses and I didn't miss real cheese one bit in this recipe.The BEST part of the book for me: I like the pages showing how/what you can eat for meals in order to make breakfast/lunch/dinner bowls, wraps, salads, and smoothies. The LEAST FAVORITE part of the book for me: There were a few "preachy" areas about not eating animal protein when other parts of the book suggest some animal protein is okThe only reason I didn't give 5 stars was the confusing "don't eat animal protein" vs. "it's ok to eat some animal protein" views. I say pick one and push that one view next time.

As a strong supporter of Whole Foods Market through years of stock ownership and a uniquely wonderful shopping experience, I have admired John Mackey's emphasis on whole foods. His book explains (along with others of the same opinion) that this is the best diet for optimum health. There is so much evidence in the book why we should adopt this way of eating that my husband and I have asked and received our primary care physician's endorsement of choosing this route (our physician is now going vegan). Although my husband (now age 82) had a serious heart issue 7 years ago, he recovered quickly and we both exercise regularly. I remain healthy at age 72 and plan to keep it that way. This book is life-changing and we refer to it often. Thanks to Amazon and John Mackey for this great guide to optimum health!

I just started reading this book. I saw that some reviews are a little angry that the author doesn't discourage all animal products. In my reading I found that while he personally doesn't condone eating animal products, he states clearly there is no science based evidence to say that a 100% whole foods, plant-based diet is any healthier than a whole foods. 90+% plant-based diet. I like the candidness and that this is not an all or nothing approach. While I am just starting on my vegetarian/vegan journey, it was comforting to know that I could still reach an optimal healthy diet and still include some dairy.This is not a comment on the book itself but it would have been nice to include the Kindle version or Audible version for a few extra dollars. I see publishers doing this more and more. It is handy to have the book in multiple formats.

One of the very best books in the whole foods plant-based diet revolution. I have read most of them, and can say that John Mackeygives a very lucid, entertaining and fairly complete picture of the arguments for adopting this lifestyle. Many of the detractors making negative comments in these reviews state things that are not true, such as that Mr. Mackay does not practice what he preaches. He clearly states in the book that he lives a vegan lifestyle, even though his company, Whole Foods Market, does sell animal food products. Contrary to the comments of detractors, numerous references are provided, both to scientific and popular literature, interviews and other sources of information, including books written by, and web sites operated by other pioneers in this field. This is an excellent, well written and well documented exposition of an extremely important topic.

This is a excellent book! I really like that it gave opinions and credit to the great doctors and research that I have already been following. I read it, and I have sent copies to my loved ones. I have a library of books on this subject and I would put this at the top. Read it and get healthy!

Good read but nothing new here. I think we're beginning to see the Whole Foods Plant Based eating movement move into mainstream - or at least it's on it's way. Anything or anyone that motivates people to move to a plant based diet gets two thumbs up in my book. Read and shares with your family and friends...

I am fighting a serious disease and this book is very helpful for choosing a healthy whole plant based food plan. Easy to read and you don't need to shop at Whole Foods for what you need. Very happy with this book

So good.... so important and backed with study after study. I listened to the audio and bought the book for a family member. If you want to significantly lower your risk of most diseases, this book will tell you how. As a by-product, everyone I know of naturally looses weight if they need to. The weight can go with a sustainable eating change and without starving ourselves! Truly a must read!!!

excellent

El concepto de comidas enteras es muy bueno. Pero en aras de su ideología vegana, el autor sataniza demasiado la comida de origen animal, y las grasas sanas, como el aceite de oliva y hasta el aguacate. Me quedo con Jason Fung y David Perlmutter.

I cannot rate this book more highly, although I wish I could. It is a very fair analysis of the whole food movement and the first book, amongst a vast collection, that has made me really determined to go 90% whole food. I particularly like the fact that although the authors are 100% vegan themselves they show from scientific data of long lived populations around the world that 90% is probably the way to go. Ranks as highly as Dan Buettner's "Blue Zones" and is a fountain of fair, unbiased information.

I like that it promotes healthy living

Gran libro