We are not alone in this journey. There are lots of others on the same dietary path, for a multitude or reasons, and this provides a multitude of resources. Here are some of the best resources we have found for those interested in low fat vegan cooking.
First, let’s start with recipes – and, there are lots of great ones! Perhaps the iconic cookbook is from one of the powerhouses in this movement, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. His first cookbook, The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook was written by his wife, Ann, and daughter, Jane. It features over 125 Delicious, Life-Changing, Plant-Based Recipes, all suitable for anyone seeking to stop or reverse the progression of heart disease.
Keeping it in the family, Dr. Esselstyn’s son, Rip, has written a series of cookbooks with more great recipes. All are excellent low-fat vegan dishes, and most fully comply with Dr. Esselstyn’s heart disease reversal guidelines. His original book, The Engine 2 Diet, book to the right is his original, but it was followed by a second edition, and Rip, a former fire-fighter, has become a prolific writer in the field with a number of great resources for those looking to change their health.
Renowned cardiac researcher and bestselling author Dean Ornish, M.D., has inspired millions of people to choose a healthier lifestyle and a low-fat diet. But low-fat cooking can be time-consuming and hard to fit into a busy schedule, so Dr. Ornish has found 150 wonderful ways to make it fast, delicious and fun. Everyday Cooking with Dean Ornish includes 150 easy and extraordinary recipes that are extremely low in fat and cholesterol — and high in flavor.
One of our favorite cookbooks is The McDougall Quick and Easy Cookbook by Dr. John McDougall and his wife, Mary. This book contains over 300 Delicious Low-Fat Recipes You Can Prepare in Fifteen Minutes or Less. This book contains one of our very favorite go-to recipes, Williams Crock Pot Chili! If that is not enough, explore another 300 recipes in their follow-on book, The New McDougall Cookbook.
For the creative, there are lots of possibilities to convert almost oil free recipes to exactly what you want. We love Indian food and are friends with Mridula Baljekar, perhaps the world’s most prolific author of Indian cookbooks. Her most recent cookbook (30th?) is “Indian Vegan & Vegetarian: 200 Traditional plant-based Recipes.” It has lots of great recipes that can be made completely vegan and even oil-free, if desired.
For a general overview of some of the better known programs, please see the links below for other works from Drs. Esselstyn, Ornish and McDougall…
Books and interviews from Dr. Esselstyn and family…
Books and related materials featuring Dr. Dean Ornish…
Resources from Dr. John McDougall…
Other health resources:
Keeping your heart and vision healthy!
Most folks don’t consider the connections between their hearts and their eyes. But in fact, heart health can affect your eye health and vice versa. Learn about signs and symptoms about how heart health affects vision along with for keeping your eyes and heart healthy in this great guide, created by Vision Center in Austin, TX.