Everything about Diet For A Small Planet totally explained
Diet for a Small Planet is a book by
Frances Moore Lappé presenting her theory of "Complementary
Protein" sources in the
human diet. As the eight
essential amino acids making up the "complete proteins" found in
meat are each present to various extents in a range of plant sources, the theory maintained that eating plant foods in "complementary" combinations
combine proteins would be equivalent to those found in meat, to meet human nutritional requirements.
The bestselling first edition, published in
1971 by
Ballantine, was sponsored by the
Friends of the Earth organization. Besides the book's promotion of
vegetarianism, its underlying orientation emphasized a responsible use of the Earth's resources. The book includes recipes based on the complementarity combinations, and was followed by a collection,
Recipes for a Small Planet by Ellen Buchman Ewald, with an introduction written by Lappé.
Some scientists called "protein combining" a myth, particularly the alleged need to consume the complementary proteins in a single meal or within hours or on the same day in order for the digestive process to assimilate them as equivalent to "complete proteins". In a later edition of the book (
1981), the author herself recanted her emphasis on combining proteins from plant sources, consistent with findings that mimicking the composition of animal proteins isn't essential to human nutrition.
Lappé also brings to light the fact that to produce 1 lb. of protein in the form of beef or veal, we must feed 21 lbs. of protein to the animal. Other forms of livestock are slightly less inefficient, but the average ratio in the U.S. is still 1:8. It has been estimated that the amount of protein lost to humans in this way is equivalent to 90% of the annual world protein deficit.
Topics covered in the book
- Part I: Earth's Labor Lost — Protein in United States agribusiness
- Part II: Bringing Protein Theory Down to Earth — Protein in human nutrition
- Part III: Eating From the Earth: Protein Theory Applied — Includes tables of food values, and explanations relating proteins to caloric and economic factors
- Part IV: Combining Non-Meat Foods to Increase Protein Values — Guidelines and recipes
- Appendices, Notes, Index
Bibliography
Frances Moore Lappé, Diet for a Small Planet, illus. by Kathleen Zimmerman and Ralph Iwamoto. New York: Ballantine Books, 1971 ISBN 0345023781
Further Information
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