The Smart Girl's Guide to Going Vegetarian: How to Look Great, Feel Fabulous, and Be a Better You

Treating your body right is a radical act of self-love

The Smart Girl's Guide to Going Vegetarian is an inclusive guide―written by a nutritionist―for young people looking to learn more about what they put in their bodies and how food can be used to practice self-care, mindfulness, sustainability, and body positivity.

These days we're immersed in diet culture―every other celebrity is vegan, influencers push skinny teas, and we all know at least one person who can wax poetic about the benefits of keto. But here's the thing: what you put in your body isn't about labels or a number on a scale, it's about feeling good and living well.

No labels. No fuss. Whether you're going vegan, vegetarian, fish-only, chicken-only, or plant-based (except for the occasional Crunchwrap Supreme from Taco Bell) this book is for you. Because mindful eating is for everyone: if you want to cut down on meat out of curiosity, to boost your energy, to care for the environment, or to better understand what you need to feel your best, here you'll find advice on how to eat well and treat yourself with compassion.

This accessible vegetarian cookbook and guide includes:

• Daily meal ideas and easy vegetarian recipes that everyone will love
• Tips for discussing your food choices with family and friends
• Ideas for finding good food when you're away from home and have less control over what you put in your body
• Getting enough iron, protein, and other vital nutrients to live well

Gr 9 Up—With a friendly tone and a ton of nutritional information, this guide will be easy for teenagers to digest. Warren's explanations of the various ways to go veg is neither preachy nor threatening. In fact, she encourages readers who are considering changing their diet to begin by participating in Meatless Mondays. Chapters include information on nutrients that are crucial to a healthy diet and what foods they can be found in for all types of diets (vegan, lacto-ovo, pescetarian). The book also includes types of restaurants with vegetarian-friendly options and an explanation of how to use the choosemyplate.gov resource to practice planning a healthy meal when cooking at home. As in most cookbooks, some of the recipes call for obscure ingredients. The best parts of this title include the author's philosophy that every person has the right to eat according to her own personal values, a section debunking myths about going vegetarian, and what a young adult should say to her parents if they are questioning her dietary choices. Unfortunately, this great resource will not be picked up by teenage boys simply because of the title.—Lindsay Klemas, JM Rapport School for Career Development, Bronx, NY

A vegetarian herself since age 12, Warren knows the questions that teen girls ask and the arguments their parents raise when kids want to experience vegetarianism or veganism. Here, she offers sound advice for girls who are considering being or have chosen to go vegetarian or vegan and for those who waver about where they stand on the topic. She emphasizes the importance of balanced nutrition and takes girls through ways to include each nutritional element, vitamin, or mineral in their meal plan. Among the questions she addresses: How does a teen girl make wise choices in a school cafeteria? Or should one pack a lunch? When eating out, how can one make sure that no meat is lurking in what appears to be meat-free? She includes tips for finding restaurants when traveling; quality vegetarian organizations and related websites; and simple-to-make, appealing ­veggie recipes. The catchy, accessible text is broken up by generous topic headings and questions. Overall, a sound guide for any teenager, really, and her or his parents. Grades 8-12. --J. B. Petty