These films provide great food for thought (pun intended), and can be a great motivators for making changes in the way we eat and live! All of these films are available streaming on Amazon; most are $2.99 to rent, though a few are free to Amazon Prime members. A few are also available streaming on Netflix.
DOCUMENTARIES
COOKBOOKS
PLANT-BASED BLOGS
FREE ONLINE PROGRAMS
Change can be daunting at first, but both of these free online programs offer the tools to ensure your efforts are a success!
HEALTHFUL RESOURCES
Rip Esselstyn, Firefighter, former world-class professional tri-athlete and the son of renowned physician, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. created this 28-day program that will transform the way eat and the way you feel. The E2 Ebook and videos will guide you every step of the way!
Join PCRM’s 21-Day Vegan Kickstart to begin receiving tips and recipes. Based on research by Neal Barnard, M.D., one of America’s leading health advocates, this program is designed for anyone wanting to explore the health benefits of a vegan diet.
There are lots of great plant-based blogs out there that can serve as valuable resources for the latest in nutrition research, recipes and even few laughs along the way. Here's a short list to get you started:
Eating Vibrantly by Nikki
Engine 2: The Daily Beet by Rip Esselstyn
Gluten-Free-Vegan-Girl by Solveig Berg Vollan
JL Goes Vegan by JL Fields
Low Fat Vegan Chef by Veronica Grace
No Meat Athlete by Matt Frazier
NutritionFacts.org by Dr. Michael Greger
T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies - Blog
The Happy Herbivore by Lindsay Nixon
The Fat Free Vegan by Susan Voisin
Vegangela by Angela
FYI: Keep in mind that not all vegan recipes are healthy by default--especially the desserts, so use your best judgment and avoid recipes that are high in salt, sugar or fat. I know, I'm no fun... :-)
There are many whole food plant-based recipes available for free online, so cookbooks may not be essential nowadays, but I still think these books (among numerous others) have a lot to offer!
Everyday Happy Herbivore: Over 175 Quick-and-Easy Fat-Free and Low-Fat Vegan Recipes by Lindsay Dixon
Forks Over Knives: The Cookbook by Del Sroufe with desserts by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
Plant-Powered Families by Dreena Burton
The China Study All-Star Collection: Whole Food, Plant-Based Recipes from Your Favorite Vegan Chefs compiled by LeAnne Campbell
The China Study Cookbook by LeAnne Campbell
The China Study: Quick & Easy Cookbook by Del Sroufe
The Forks Over Knives Plan: A 4-Week Meal-By-Meal Makeover by Alona Pulde and Matthew Lederman
The McDougall Quick and Easy Cookbook by John and Mary McDougall
The Plant Pure Nation Cookbook by Kim Campbell
The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook by Ann Crile Esselstyn and Jane Esselstyn
While most of the recipes in these books are incredibly healthy, some of the dessert recipes are quite high in sugar (whether in the form of agave, maple syrup, dates, etc.), so I'd suggest skipping these or limiting them to special occasions.
FREE MOBILE APPS
Below are free apps that can help you to start living better!
Lighter (Plant-based Recipes/Meal Planner) ←MUST HAVE
MyFitnessPal (Food & Exercise Tracker)
Dosecast (Medication Management)
WebMD Pain Coach (Pain Management)
Glucose Buddy (Diabetes Management)
Blood Pressure Watch (Vitals Tracker) [Android only]
Blood Pressure Monitor - Family Lite (Vitals Tracker) [iPhone only]
Here are some books that you may find valuable, though there are many more for those who are interested! All of them are available on Amazon and other online retailers, however many may be available in paper and/or electronic form at your local library to check out for free.
21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart by Neal Barnard
Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes by Neal Barnard
How Not to Die by Michael Greger
Rethink Food compiled by Shushana Caste and Amy-Lee Goodman ← If you're going to read just one book on the impact of nutrition on all facets of health, let it be this one!
The Campbell Plan by Thomas Campbell
The China Study by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II
The Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn
The Holistic Heart Book by Joel Kahn
The McDougall Program for Maximum Weight Loss by John McDougall
The Pleasure Trap by Douglas Lisle and Alan Goldhamer
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Caldwell B. Esselstyn
The Starch Solution by John McDougall
Proteinaholic by Garth Davis
Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life by Brendan Brazier
Whole: Rethinking the Science of Nutrition by T. Colin Campbell
RECOMMENDED READING
Do you want to change the way you eat each day, but are more comfortable with carry-out menus than a cutting board? Or are you a whiz in the kitchen but would like to make healthier versions of your go-to dishes? Either way, one of these fantastic online cooking classes may be for you!
Forks Over Knives Cooking Class
This 90-day immersive online cooking course specializes in Forks Over Knives-style, whole-food, plant-based meal creation where you’ll learn not only what to cook, but how exactly to cook it. World-renowned chefs and educators Chad Sarno and Ken Rubin will serve as your lead instructors and introduce you to a whole new level of cooking. Bringing plant-based foods and flavor principles from all around the world, this course will teach you everything from cutting and prepping to using herbs and spices and all of the amazing things you can do without animal products or oils.
This online instructional cooking and nutrition course is often prescribed by healthcare professionals for their patients for prevention, treatment, and lifestyle health. The goal of the course is to empower patients through their transition to a healthier, whole food, plant-based way of living.
This ground-breaking plant-based certification course will focus on the application of core techniques and allow you to explore and practice a variety of recipes and flavors from around the world. Advanced raw techniques are also included and address health supportive cooking with no oil, low sodium and gluten-free options. The program is self-paced, meaning you submit assignments and learn the curriculum on your own schedule – the only limitation is that you must complete the course within six months to become certified.
ONLINE COOKING CLASSES
