by Nadia Haider

Created on: July 01, 2010

Alicia Silverstone is an actress and an acitivist. She was made famous for her role in the movie Clueless and in several Aerosmith videos that she starred in.  

In her book, The Kind diet, she helps the reader understand why she stopped eating meat and dairy. She demonstrates the benefits of a diet that is based on plants alone. She explains how weight loss, energy levels and smooth skin can be achieved following her diet. She does not appreciate meat, fish and cheese and highlights them as the causes of disease to our bodies and the planet.

Rather than being all about denial and starvation, the book also shows how food can be made without these ingredients, from main meals to desserts. She also writes about the nutrition that has to be balanced with her diet.

Silverstone understands that we are not all ready for a vegan diet. Her diet is made up of three levels; Flirting to Going Vegan to Superhero. She realizes that diet changes have to be done step by step and cannot be introduced suddenly.

In the Flirting stage, the person is introduced to what life will be like as a vegan, with ways on how to substitute meat eating for plant eating instead. The diet circulates around grains, vegetables, fruits and even many convenience foods. The author explains how to go to vegetarian restaurant and order, buy some vegan products from her "Transitional food chart" and how to start adding vegan meals to our diets.  

In Going vegan, she presents a plan on how to build a meal using only vegan ingredients.

The last stage is the Superhero stage that details further on diet modifications and the introduction of even more plant based diet variety. It is loosely based on the macrobiotic diet.

She also explains some useful tips on how to eat, our attitudes towards eating and some of the behaviors we associate with food. There is another chapter on what to do when eating out or travelling.  

The book also includes recipes with pictures. Even if you are not committed to eating vegan, this book is a great resource for anyone who is interested in what happens to our health and energy levels when we incorporate more plant based foods in our diets. For those who are determined to go the vegan way, this book not only helps you step by step but also gives you wonderful ideas and inspiration on how to make the transition easier and more effective. Read the book whatever you choose to eat in your dieat and who knows where it might take you!

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