Awards and Reviews by Health Professionals
Reviews by Health Professionals
Registered dietitians Davis and Melina cover every aspect of the vegan life, from its ethical foundation, based on the recognition that animals are sentient beings, to how very nutritious and delicious a well-planned, plant-based diet can be. Their clear, detailed, and practical coverage of the benefits of eating vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds is supported by easy-to-use, remarkably informative charts, and propelled by expertise and enthusiasm. Plant foods are “low in saturated fat, free of cholesterol, and high in fiber” as well as rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. The authors explain how to maximize nutrition via preparation guidelines, meal plans, and menus for all ages and explicate the ways a vegan diet can help prevent and treat cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. This is the go-to book for understanding and practicing healthy and enjoyable veganism.
“Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina do an outstanding job of nutrition research, bringing readers the most accurate and up-to-date information. Their books are a must-read for anyone with an interest in raw food and/or vegan diets.
A raw vegan diet is to average dietary patterns what the summit of Mount Everest is to an average hill-an ascent to potentially exhilarating and life-changing heights, fraught with hazard. The health benefits of a judicious raw diet are apt to be considerable, while a reckless approach could be equally harmful. In typical Davis and Melina fashion, Becoming Raw is thorough, thoughtful, practical, and balanced. It is, in fact, the gold standard on the topic. If the rarefied terrain of a raw vegan diet calls out to you, Davis and Melina are the best Sherpas in the business; don’t make the trek without them!”
Becoming Vegan, adds the tagline “Express Edition” to the title, a nod to today’s faster-paced world, as compared to 2000, when the book was first published. “It is remarkable the amount of new information that has been published over the 13 years since its release,” says co-author Brenda Davis. (A “Comprehensive Edition“ is also in the works; look for it in early 2014). Becoming is an all-stones-turned study of veganism, a cross between CliffsNotes and a Dummies book (without the illustrations), jammed with so much information on vegan history, nutrition, and ethics it would be an antioxidant-rich superfood if it were edible. Davis and Melina deliver as always, providing us with an up-to-date, enjoyable read that can be easily shared with those either new to or just exploring the plant-based lifestyle. Becoming Vegan: Express Edition truly represents veganism in the 21st Century.
David L. Katz, MD, Director, Prevention Research Ctr., Yale University School of Medicine, Nutrition Columnist, O, the “Oprah Magazine”
“Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina do an outstanding job of nutrition research, bringing readers the most accurate and up-to-date information.”
T. Colin Campbell, PHD, Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry, Cornell University, author of “The China Study”
“Becoming Raw is an excellent resource for anyone interested in understanding the relationship between food and health. It is one of few books that covers raw, plant-based nutrition from a peer-reviewed scientific perspective, yet presents the concepts in a manner accessible to the general public. This book will be at the top of our list of suggested readings.”
“Few books on vegetarian nutrition are as comprehensive and accurate as Becoming Vegetarian… It would be a valuable addition to the bookshelf of all dietetics professionals and other health care providers who work with vegetarian or near-vegetarian clients.”
Early chapters on health benefits of vegetarian diets and nutrient information contain terms that may not be familiar to the average layperson. These chapters may be a bit overwhelming for someone new to vegetarianism or nutrition. On the other hand, later chapters which provide practical information, are simply and clearly written. The nutrition sections of Becoming Vegetarian are well researched and accurate.
“Becoming Vegetarian is subtitled The Complete Guide to Adopting a Healthy Vegetarian Diet, which is a good description of this book. The authors – who are all registered dietitians – provide a comprehensive but readable guide to vegetarian nutrition. The first chapters cover the origins of vegetarianism and the health effects of vegetarian diets, while the main part of the book describes human nutrient requirements and explains how these can be met by a vegetarian or vegan diet. The book finishes with 40 pages of recipes, all of which are vegan or have a vegan version described. The advice is sensible and up-to-date and the book is a valuable addition to the literature on vegetarian nutrition. It is reassuring to read clear advice on the necessity for a dietary source of vitamin B12, together with lists of foods that do supply vitamin B12. Other important advice, which is not often found in books on vegetarian nutrition, is the need to include plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids (the class of fats found also in oily fish).”
“Becoming Vegan: Comprehensive Edition is THE go-to book on vegan nutrition. It is meticulously researched, clear and insightful. If you have nutrition questions, this is the book you can trust for the answers.”
“Becoming Vegan: Comprehensive Edition is THE go-to book on vegan nutrition. It is meticulously researched, clear and insightful. If you have nutrition questions, this is the book you can trust for the answers.”
“Over 600 pages of in-depth science on vegan nutrition. This is more than a book about Becoming Vegan; it is a primary and comprehensive text book on nutritional science that should be studied by all health professionals in America.”
“Every so often a book comes along that you feel should be on every vegan’s bookshelf (and probably every vegetarian’s too). ”Becoming Vegan: Express Edition“ is one such book. Written by two Canadian dietitians, “Becoming Vegan: Express Edition” is a comprehensive and authoritative guide to vegan nutrition.”
Though it’s a nutrition book rather than a cookbook, “Becoming Vegan: Express Edition” ranked high in Philly Foods V for Veg Top 10 Vegan Cookbooks for the holiday season, with the comments “Another helpful time-saver is “Becoming Vegan: Express Edition” the guide from Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina that spells out everything about the process. It’s so much more. Anyone into veganism or food should own.”
“Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina do an outstanding job of nutrition research, bringing readers the most accurate and up-to-date information.”
“I suggest you buy Becoming Vegan by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina. It’s a terrific book that will answer all your questions.”
Ryley Jeffs Memorial Lecture Award 2016
The Board of Directors was honoured to announce Vesanto Melina, MS, RD as the 2016 Ryley-Jeffs Memorial Lecture Award recipient.
Vesanto has an extensive and varied dietetics career that spans 5 decades–and she shows no signs of slowing down. She is an internationally recognized speaker; a consultant to individuals, government (B.C. Corrections), and industry; a popular media personality; co-author of award-winning nutrition books; and a writer of peer-reviewed journal articles.
Her work has been and continues to be a source of fulfillment and tremendous personal and professional growth. She knows our profession to be one that promotes a full expression of human potential. Vesanto is a passionate supporter of Dietitians of Canada. She believes in people working in ways that are truly meaningful to them.
A version of Vesanto’s lecture is available in the Fall issue of the Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research.