Plant protein cookbooks (no, you don’t need meat!)

There’s a real myth that you need meat for protein. As long as you eat a variety of foods, you’ll be fine. The only people really at risk from lack of protein in the west are anorexics.

Pulses (beans, peas, lentils) are your protein best friends, as are a few nuts and seeds. But even other foods (like oats) contain protein. So balance is key!

• Before cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets.
• Before recycling cans, rinse then remove lids (pop ring-pulls over holes). Then step on upper cans to ‘pinch’ inner rims together, to avoid wildlife getting trapped. 
• Unless you have a food waste bin, bin pepper and allium scraps (onion, leeks, garlic, shallots, chives) and citrus/tomato/rhubarb scraps, as acids could harm compost creatures. 

Plant Fuel (healthy recipes by a former footballer)

Plant Fuel is a book of protein-rich and plant-based recipes for anyone wishing to boost their nutrition. Written by a former professional footballer, the recipes are designed to give you energy and build muscle.

Recipes include:

• Berry cheesecake overnight oats
• Super green soup
• Thai peanut tempeh salad
• Spicy seitan and butter bean salad
• Jerk BBQ tofu kebabs
• Tempeh and walnut ragu
• Tofu massamam curry
• Black bean tostadas
• Gochujang tofu stir fry
• Peanut butter-stuffed dates
• Chocolate protein brownies
• Raspberry ripple smoothie

Raised in London to Ghanaian parents, Jeffrey Boadi has a thriving online community, to empower people to explore the power of plant-based lifestyles.

30 in 30 (high-protein plant-based recipes)

30 in 30 is a book of 100 simple plant-based recipes, all ready in 30 minutes and high in protein. It’s important to eat quality protein if you’re vegan, to save living on poor-quality veggie burgers or coconut oil vegan cheeses.

This book includes lots of high-fibre dishes that all have at least 30 grams of protein, proving that healthy doesn’t have to be boring. From pre-workout breakfasts to soups and sandwiches, and from power bowls to salad jars (that you can prep  ahead).

You’ll also find one-pot weekday suppers and snacks, to keep you fuelled through the day.

Recipes include:

• Cacio e Pepe Chickpeas
• Broccoli Bean Bowl
• Tempeh Sweet Potatoes
• Ratatouille Filo Pie
• Shroomy Umami Beans

Sophie Macfie is a plant-based chef and fitness expert, who takes a sustainable approach to healthy living, by not including calorie or other macronutrient counts.

Vegan Wholesome (high-protein tasty recipes)

Vegan Wholesome is a book of 100 high-protein vegan meals and snacks, ideal for people who live an active lifestyle, or who are recovering from illness.

These nourishing recipes are simple to make (usually no more than 8 ingredients) and free from gluten, oil and salt. From power breakfasts and quick lunches to one-pot dinners and sweet treats.

The recipes include:

• Sweet Jalapeño Cornbread Waffles
• Tim’s Greek Salad with Homemade Feta
• Gochujang Chickpeas & Lentils with Poblano
• Teriyaki Orzo Casserole
• Jackfruit Pinto Bean Chilli
• Protein-Packed Mac n Cheese
• Smoky Bean Dip
• Chocolate Pots de Crème

Brandi Doming is a former model, and author of the popular recipe book  The Vegan 8. She began cooking plant-based recipes, to help heal her husband’s painful gout, when medicine could not help.

Plant Protein (easy natural high-nutrition recipes)

Plant Protein is one of a new wave of vegan recipe books that focuses on healthy natural proteins, rather than expensive faux meats and cheeses.

The author (who runs ultra-marathons) merges her love of cooking with knowledge on how to fuel an active lifestyle, powered by plants.

In this book, learn how protein works and how you can easily include it in a vegan lifestyle, without relying on any animal ingredients. Find a handy list of staples for your pantry and fridge, plus tips for batch-cooking on busy weeks. Recipes include:

• Chocolate Brownie Baked Oats
• Corn Fritters with Smoky Beans & Mash
• Harissa Tofu Ciabatta
• Sweet Potato Gochujang Soup with Chickpeas
• ‘Marry Me’ Lentils
• Creamy Harissa Butter Beans
• Smoky Three Bean Chilli-no-Carne
• Sneaky Protein Coffee Chocolate Mousse

Gigi Grassia is a nutrition coach and personal trainer. Raised in an Italian family, she grew up on home-cooked meals and fresh pasta and now lives in London.

Vivo Life vegan protein powders (all 9 amino acids)

Vivo Life Vegan Protein Powders offers protein powders (these are adult nutrition recommendations), that you use in juice or smoothies, or add to recipes. Also naturally high in zinc and iron, these have no fillers, just pure clean protein from plants.

Choose from:

• Unflavoured
• Vanilla
• Chocolate Brownie

Just add 1 scoop to get all 9 essential amino acids with up to 97% digestibility.

These protein powders are made with a blend of fermented yellow pea protein, brown rice and pumpkin protein, along with konjac glucomannan (fibre) and natural flavours. Including Himalayan sea salt (flavoured with stevia).