Resources

Here are some of my favourite UltraVeggie resources. If you have been plant powered for a while you will most likely be familiar with many of them. I am not affiliated with any of the authors nor do I take responsibility for any of the presented content. Check your local library for some of the recommended titles and decide what you would like to add to your own shelf.


The best sources to get started. In case you need more convincing to become plant-powered:

The Happy Herbivore Guide to plant-based living
This is a great book for people looking for concrete hands-on ideas and strategies to get started and thrive on a plant-based lifestyle. It is an excellent book to recommend to your friends and family that are thinking about making a lifestyle change, but are unsure about how to go about it. It does not focus on recipes, but rather on how to navigate everyday situations while being committed to remaining plant-powered.

Whole Foods to Thrive by Brendan Brazier
This is a great source of information about the ethical, environmental and health benefits of a plant based diet and also offers plenty of recipes.

Forks Over Knives
This is a great movie on the benefits and healing capacities of a whole food plant based diet. And it has none of the slaughter house gruesomeness to it.


The best resource on the environmental effects of a plant-based diet:

Cowspiracy
This documentary deals with the vast environmental effects of raising livestock. It is simply mind boggling how this information is not being shared more through the mainstream media or even environmental organizations.


My favourite recipe books:

Vegan Secret Supper by Mérida Anderson
 I know there are lots of amazing vegan recipes and websites out there. We bought this book and we love trying out more and more of the (not so endurance specific) recipes. I know it's a cheesy (pun intended) thing to say, but you won't believe the recipes are vegan if you eat some of the food. Especially great cake and desert recipes too. Do I need to say more? Follow the link to see some pictures and find out the story behind the book.

Plant-powered families by Dreena Burton
I can't believe how we didn't stumble upon Dreena Burton's cookbooks sooner. This one has lots of great pictures and phenomenal recipes. The book also contains an awesome section on making vegan nutrition a family affair as well as general nutrition information and kitchen tips.

Memoir / recipe book hybrids:

Finding Ultra by Rich Roll
The authors journey from an overweight couch potato to ultra distance triathlete. Includes a wealth of nutritional information and recipes.

Eat & Run by Scott Jurek
Part memoir. Part recipe book by vegan ultra marathon legend Scott Jurek. What else could you wish for?

Exercise and nutrition information resources to satisfy the science geek in you:

Science of Ultra Podcast by Dr Shawn Bearden
In his own words "THE knowledge resource for achieving your ultra endurance best". Shawn is analytical, to the point and always makes sure the interviews stay relevant and applicable. They cover all topics pertaining to Ultra running like nutrition, recovery, fatigue, foot care, you name it. The guests are either scientists, coaches or athletes.

Feed Zone Portables by Biju Thomas and Allen Lim
This is not a strictly plant based source for recipes, but the first part of the book has a great wealth of information on nutritional science and many of the recipes are already plant based or can easily be made vegan. The book has been designed with cyclists in mind, but a lot of the recipes are equally suitable for other active pursuits.

nutritionfacts.org by Michael Greger M.D.
Free daily videos and articles about health and nutrition. Based on scientific research yet presented in a way that makes it easy to understand.

Thrive Fitness by Brendan Brazier
Although this book contains a few of the same recipes as Whole Foods to Thrive it is geared a lot more towards sport nutrition and has plenty of additional information on strength and cross training for endurance athletes.

Here are a couple of my favourite online resources:

Veggie Guide
UK based vegetarian and vegan lifestyle site. Well written articles.
Self proclaimed "One-stop guide for vegetarians, vegans and the veggie curious".

No Meat Athlete
Plant based inspiration, gear, podcast, community and of course even more resources.

Vegan Em Facebook page
This page offers great information on vegan recipes and lifestyle. Emma does a great job of filtering out useful info from other pages and sharing her own experiences and insights.


Pure Inspiration:

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
You have read this one already, right? It's a real life adventure story about why we are all born to run.
Arguably the best source of endurance running inspiration you'll ever find. After reading the book I also found this one as a downloadable audio book through my local library.

Meru
Technically a climbing movie and although I am not much of a climber myself I loved every minute of this documentary. It's a movie about passion, redemption and the human spirit. Watch it!

Runner by Lizzy Hawker
Hands down one of the best running books I have read to date and I have read a lot of running books, so you can take my word for it. Lizzy Hawker captures the mental, physical and emotional challenges of a runner on the edge of human endurance better than anyone. It's as much a book about the human spirit as it is a running memoir.