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The China Study Cookbook Review + Giveaway

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china study bookI received this bad boy in the mail a few weeks ago for review, and let me just say…I was just a wee bit excited about it!  Pretty much any cookbook that is focused on easy vegan recipes excites me, but this one had me especially intrigued since it is a companion to The China Study.

This cookbook includes a background on the vegan diet, advice on how to choose plant-based foods, tips for raising plant-based children, meal planning tips, meal preparation and storage tips, advice on how to transition to a plant-based diet, and TONS of amazing bread/muffin, breakfast, appetizer, salad, soup, sandwich, entrée, side dish and dessert recipes.  Yes, all of that is included in this one book.

But before we get to my review of the recipes I have cooked so far, I want to share a short description of the book that was provided to me by the publisher:

“The China Study, with 850,000 copies sold, has been hailed as one of the most important health and nutrition books ever published.  It revealed that the traditional Western diet has led to our modern health crisis and the widespread growth of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.  Based on the most comprehensive nutrition study ever conducted, the book reveals that a plant-based diet leads to optimal health with the power to halt or reverse many diseases.

The China Study Cookbook takes these scientific findings and puts them to action.  Written by LeAnne Campbell, daughter of The China Study author T. Colin Campbell, PhD, and mother of two hungry teenagers, The China Study Cookbook features delicious, easily prepared plant-based recipes with not added fat and minimal sugar and salt to promote optimal health.”

This description is absolutely true.  The recipes within this cookbook are delicious and can be prepared quickly and easily.

As soon as I received the cookbook, I sat down on my couch and eagerly thumbed through it.  I “bookmarked” an insane amount of recipes that had me intrigued, and I have already made a dent in my “to make” list.  So far, I have cooked up the following recipes:

china study african vegetablesAfrican Vegetables (pg. 163)

This was so delicious!  It is packed full of a variety of veggies (green peppers, sweet potatoes, spinach, corn, tomatoes, zucchini, and onions), and packs protein with the peanut butter sauce and whole brown rice as an accompaniment.  The flavors in this dish are spot-on, and it reheats beautifully as leftovers, too!

china study german soupI also made the German Sauerkraut Soup (pg. 125)

The fact that this recipe instantly caught my attention makes me laugh since I used to hate sauerkraut.  But it is safe to say that I definitely love it now, and I love it in this soup!  The sauerkraut taste is beyond flavorful (you must like sauerkraut to like this one!) and the carrots, celery, mushrooms, and potatoes make this an extra hearty soup.  One problem that I ran into with this recipe, though, is that I could not find vegan cream of mushroom soup.  As an alternative, I subbed in Amy’s Rustin Italian Vegetable soup.  It was definitely a tasty alternative, though I still would love to try the soup with the cream of mushroom soup.

china study german soup 2The final recipe that I have tried out (so far!) were the Twice-Baked Southwestern Potatoes (pg. 238).

china study southwestern potatoes 2The cookbook also provides a homemade salsa recipe, but I just used a jarred variety.

china study southwestern potatoesThese are so easy to make, creamy, perfectly seasoned, and absolutely delicious.  I served my potato as a main meal instead of a side dish, and I paired it alongside a salad.  These are definitely something that I will be making again.

Trust me, there is a WHOLE lot more where all of this goodness came from.  Some of the other recipes that have caught my eye that I cannot wait to try include: Lemon Poppy Muffins, Fiesta Corn Bread, Breakfast Home-Fry Hash, Cucumber Dill Dip, Green Garden Mayonnaise, Tomato Tortilla Soup, Thai Wraps, Corn and Tomatillo Stew, Pumpkin Gnocchi, Vegetable Dumpling Stew, No-Baked Peanut Butter Bars, and Vegan Chocolate Cake…to name a few (or a lot! ;)).

The Giveaway

Are you hungry yet?  Do you want to start cooking up some delicious plant-based recipes that are super simple to make?  Well now is your chance because I have one copy of The China Study Cookbook to give away to one of you!  To enter this giveaway, please do one (or all) of the following:

1. Leave a comment telling me why you would like to win this cookbook.
2. Tweet about the giveaway.
3. Follow @BenBellaBooks on Twitter.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.  The giveaway will be open until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 13th.  The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: I was provided with this cookbook for free for review, but all opinions are my own.

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{ 61 comments… add one }
  • Lisa C. October 6, 2013, 12:18 pm
    I want this cookbook because I love trying new plant-based recipes for my family!
  • Eating 4 Balance October 6, 2013, 12:19 pm
    I have a review of this cookbook coming up soon too! :D Just made the vegan chocolate cake and am looking to make the Dominican Beans. Good to know about the African Vegetables. Those were the first to catch my eye actually :)
  • The Healthy Apple October 6, 2013, 12:34 pm
    This cookbook sounds awesome! Loving your posts and your yummy veggie recipes!!
  • Ani October 6, 2013, 12:37 pm
    I would love to win this cookbook to introduce my family to more vegan recipes that aren't filled with unfamiliar ingredients!
  • Katherine October 6, 2013, 12:53 pm
    Ah that cookbook looks amazing! I'm pretty sure a good family friend has that cookbook. She recently made a chocolate cake from it that tasted amazing!
  • Casey (@saltedplates) October 6, 2013, 12:57 pm
    I adore simple vegan cooking and I think those potatoes look amazing!
  • Amanda G October 6, 2013, 1:37 pm
    I've bought a few vegan cookbooks, and I even read the china study which is what turned us on to it but thus far it's been very hit or miss. We're very comfortable in the vegetarian zone, but we haven't had a ton of luck with vegan recipes thus far; i'd love to change that!
  • Becky @ Olives n Wine October 6, 2013, 1:39 pm
    I just started reading The China Study again (yes, I am AWFUL at starting and reading a book all of the way though ;) ) last night! I'd love to pair the books together and try some of these recipes!
  • Becky @ Olives n Wine October 6, 2013, 1:41 pm
    I tweeted!
  • Becky @ Olives n Wine October 6, 2013, 1:41 pm
    I am following BenBellaBooks on Twitter :)
  • Amanda October 6, 2013, 3:04 pm
    I would love to win! I also need to check out The China Study . . sounds interesting!
  • sarah October 6, 2013, 7:40 pm
    I just love reading cookbooks!
  • Kelly @ Hidden Fruits and Veggies October 6, 2013, 7:52 pm
    I love eating vegan and these recipes all sound delicious! I'm obsessed with sauerkraut, so that soup sounds like pretty much the best thing in the world.
  • karinacocina17 October 6, 2013, 7:58 pm
    I read the china study but never knew there was a cookbook too! I would love to try the vegan recipes in it to share with all the skeptics out there :)
  • Danica October 6, 2013, 8:10 pm
    oooh my gosh - I just finished writing a blog post (it'll be published tomorrow) about how much inspiration I find from cookbooks! I would LOVE to have a vegan cookbook - crossing my fingers! : )
  • Danica October 6, 2013, 8:12 pm
    just tweeted about the giveaway!
  • Danica October 6, 2013, 8:13 pm
    and I'm now following BenBellaBooks on Twitter :)
  • Kari Buccambuso October 6, 2013, 8:17 pm
    I would love to win this cookbook. My family has recently started trying to eat Vegan after watching a few documentaries about it (that always refer to the China Study) so a cookbook based on this would be awesome to own! Especially the tips for kids because we have two kids and one on the way and I would love some help getting them to eat more Vegan foods.
  • jessielovestorun October 6, 2013, 10:50 pm
    What an awesome cookbook. I'd love to win, because who doesn't enjoy trying new recipes? :)
  • Liza October 6, 2013, 11:01 pm
    I would love this cookbook to help my family and I along into a gluten free and plant based lifestyle.
  • Niki T. October 7, 2013, 2:04 am
    I'd really like to win this cookbook because I'm new to the whole foods diet and good recipes would really help me stay on track. Thank you for the giveaway!
  • Niki T. October 7, 2013, 2:07 am
    I followed BenBellaBooks on Twitter: @NikiTurley1
  • Niki T. October 7, 2013, 2:07 am
    I tweeted about the giveaway: https://twitter.com/NikiTurley1/status/387111206969823232
  • Jan @ Sprouts n Squats October 7, 2013, 4:17 am
    Looks like such a great cookbook! Such a shame I don't live closer as otherwise I would enter for sure ;)
  • Cee October 7, 2013, 8:36 am
    I found the China Study through Engine 2/Forks Over Knives, and would LOVE to have the cookbook! Thank you for this giveaway.
  • Cee October 7, 2013, 8:38 am
    I follow @BenBellaBooks on Twitter (@ceevegnashville).
  • Cee October 7, 2013, 8:39 am
    I tweeted! https://twitter.com/CeeVegNashville/status/387210557800980481
  • Kim @ Hungry Healthy Girl October 7, 2013, 8:47 am
    I would love to win the cookbook.... looks like tons of great recipes!
  • Lisa October 7, 2013, 11:15 am
    Ohh, I've always wanted to read this book! Looks awesome!
  • Tara October 7, 2013, 12:06 pm
    I actually have the book and need to get around to it. The cookbook would be the perfect match!
  • Alexis @ Hummusapien October 7, 2013, 12:25 pm
    I'd like to win this book because HELLO....I'ma veggieholic!! :) All of the recipes look fab and I'm a huge fan of the China Study so this is FABULOUS.
  • Emily @Sinful Nutrition October 7, 2013, 3:41 pm
    I LOVE the china study! Forks over knives changed how I look at food even more than I thought was possible. All of those dishes you made sound as good as they look, too. Thank you for the giveaway!
  • downtherabbithole6 October 7, 2013, 5:17 pm
    I would love to win this cookbook because I am trying to incorporate more vegetarian meals into my diet for health reasons.
  • foodiecology October 7, 2013, 7:05 pm
    I've read Forks Over Knives, but haven't checked out The China Study. I'd love to win so I could expand my repertoire of plant-based recipes. I tend to cook the same go-to meals, so this cookbook would be perfect.
  • foodiecology October 7, 2013, 7:06 pm
    Also, I'm now following @BenBellaBooks on Twitter.
  • Kim October 8, 2013, 9:42 am
    I loved the China Study book, it has greatly influenced my eating habits. I'd love to try out recipes from this book!
  • Kim October 8, 2013, 9:43 am
    I'm also following @BenBellaBooks on Twitter (as @ohmyomaha)
  • Kim October 8, 2013, 9:47 am
    And I just tweeted about enterting the contest. Thanks!
  • Erin October 8, 2013, 10:02 am
    I'd love to win because I'm looking for new & exciting plant-based recipes to try.
  • Erin October 8, 2013, 10:02 am
    I'd love to win this cookbook because I'm looking for new plant-based recipes to try!
  • Amy October 8, 2013, 10:27 am
    I would love to own a copy of this cookbook because my husband and I are transitioning to a whole foods, plant-based diet, and we could definitely use some more delicious recipes! Thanks so much for this chance to win! :)
  • Jamie October 8, 2013, 10:28 am
    I'm a new vegan so I'm looking for all the recipes I can get!
  • gaiantlc October 8, 2013, 11:25 am
    I've been vegan about 18 months, and working on going no-oil, whole foods, plant-based. This cookbook would definitely help me lose the last 50 pounds! BTW, those who are looking for family friendly vegan recipes should check out Dreena Burton: http://plantpoweredkitchen.com/
  • Joanna @Makingmine October 8, 2013, 12:55 pm
    I'd love to win this cookbook because I've heard so much about the China Study and would like to start making changes to my family's diet!
  • Jennifer K October 8, 2013, 2:50 pm
    I would love to win a copy of this book because too many vegan recipes I have rely on processed foods as ingredients and I want to move towards more whole foods
  • Jennifer K October 8, 2013, 2:54 pm
    I follow on Twitter ( (at)Jenny_Vegan )
  • Jennifer K October 8, 2013, 2:56 pm
    My Tweet is here: https://twitter.com/Jenny_Vegan/status/387667585547767809
  • Chelsea October 8, 2013, 10:21 pm
    I want to win this cookbook because I'm really interested in cooking low-fat/oil-free...I've been trying to do this for awhile now and its getting easier :)
  • Deborah D. @ Its All About Me Fitness October 9, 2013, 7:00 am
    This book has been on my wish list for sometime. It would be amazing to actually check it off my list of Good Reads!
  • Deborah D. @ Its All About Me Fitness October 9, 2013, 7:03 am
    https://twitter.com/ItsAAMeFitness/status/387911161363968000 I Tweeted! :)
  • thepeacepatch October 9, 2013, 8:33 pm
    I'd like to gift this to my brother. He is vegan-curious and I think this might help push him a little more over the line to the vegan side. :)
  • Lydia Claire October 9, 2013, 10:02 pm
    I've had this book on my Amazon wishlist since before it was released and I'd love to add it to my newish collection of vegan cookbooks.
  • Lydia Claire October 9, 2013, 10:02 pm
    I Follow @BenBellaBooks on Twitter.
  • Corrine G October 10, 2013, 3:00 am
    My daughter and I are transitioning to a healthy vegan diet and away from the vegan junk food.
  • Christina @ Pinch of Healthy October 10, 2013, 7:54 am
    I loved the book and was so excited to see the cookbook, I had no idea!
  • Churro Tom (@ChurroTom) October 10, 2013, 9:53 pm
    I want to win because I just decided to go Vegan on Sept 1 and would love a cookbook full of great recipes including what you mentioned it included about being vegan, meal planning, etc.
  • Samantha Plotkin July 2, 2014, 1:01 pm
    I loved The China Study and would love to try some delicious vegan recipes from the cookbook!
  • Eleanor May 11, 2023, 11:10 pm
    I appreciate the sincerity of this write-up of yours. Can’t wait to see more!
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