Power Vegan Meals: High Protein Plant-Based Recipes for a Stronger, Healthier You

“Power Vegan Meals is a well thought out compilation of powerful and energetic plant-based recipes for the active individual.”

Maya Sozer’s latest vegan cookbook, Power Vegan Meals, is all about recipes and stunning photography. Words are not as important since the visuals of the food speak for themselves. Although there is an introduction where she describes how she developed the idea for this book, the author expects the reader to already know the principles of veganism and plant-based eating.

The book is divided into five sections and is aimed at the fitness-oriented reader who eliminates gluten and soy from their eating regime. The 75 recipes are easy to follow and are nutritionally dense.

Sozer leads off with an attention getter of a chapter. Comfort Foods, as chapter one is called, begins with many favorite non-vegan recipes that have been adapted to recipes that are dairy, soy, and meat free. The Cauliflower Mac and Cheese exudes a cheesy flavor without the cheese. Instead she transforms the cauliflower and cashews into a dish that satisfies all the senses. Although the ingredient list is lengthy, these ingredients are readily available at traditional markets. Her recipes require very little cooking skill and would appeal to the novice cook.

Veganism should never be confused with dieting with the intention of losing weight. It is a way of eating, but preparing this food is not always for the calorie-conscious reader. In the last chapter, Sweet Treats, the author reminds us that although these sweets are a “gift” they are also a “burden.”

As a reminder, Sozer offers the calorie count for each enticement. She seduces the reader with recipes for Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudge Bites at 680 calories a serving and a Strawberry-Topped Cheesecake that weighs in with a whopping 875 calories a serving. Unlike other cheesecakes this is made with a pecan and raisin crust filled with cashews, coconut cream and maple syrup. Vegan desserts are traditionally made with highly fattening ingredients. Almonds and cashews. Peanut butter. Maple syrup. Dates. Chocolate. However, Sozer reminds us that these treats consist of wholesome and nutritious ingredients filled with protein and fiber. Does that make a highly caloric dessert guilt-free?

One might feel some confusion and discomfort with the high calorie counts of these recipes. The food represented in this book is intended for the individual who has an active and athletic way of life that requires calorie and nutritionally packed meals. Sozer’s recipes are filled with protein, fiber, and whole foods. Based on her own experience she assesses what a recipe requires to obtain the best results for her readers. Most of the instructions are easy to read and prepare.

As the author increased her own exercise routine and veered toward a diet that would increase her strength and muscle tone, as well as her health, she developed the premise of this book. Athletes depend upon optimal nutrition. Eating a whole food plant-based diet helps them achieve this goal. All calories are not created equal and nourishing our bodies with the right foods, such as whole fruits, vegetables, and whole grain carbohydrates, will make calorie counting obsolete. With the elimination of dairy, meat products and refined sugar pounds usually fall away.

Maya Sozer’s Power Vegan Meals is a well thought out compilation of powerful and energetic plant-based recipes for the active individual.