**Book Overview:**
– “Diet for a Small Planet” by Frances Moore Lappé
– Published in 1971
– Argues for soy as a superior protein source
– Discusses environmental impact of meat production
– Emphasizes vegetarianism for environmental reasons
**Protein Combining:**
– Method introduced in the book for optimal protein utilization
– Recommends combining dairy, grains, legumes, and seeds
– Variety of plant foods throughout the day provides all essential amino acids
– Protein deficiency risk only in diets heavily reliant on specific foods
– Traditional cuisines show balance of grains and legumes
**Impact and Influence:**
– Sold over three million copies
– Challenged the myth of meat being the only high-quality protein source
– Highlighted that world hunger is due to ineffective food policies
– Provided simple rules for a healthy diet and meat-free recipes
– Demonstrated the ease of obtaining sufficient protein from a plant-based diet
**Related Books:**
– “Great Meatless Meals” by Frances Moore Lappé and Ellen Ewald
– “Hopes Edge: The Next Diet for a Small Planet” by Anna Lappé
– “Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do about It” by Anna Lappé
– Discusses the connection between food production and climate change
**References and Resources:**
– “Appetite for Change: how the counterculture took on the food industry 1966 — 1988” by Warren Belasco
– Mention of protein complementarity myth by Jeff Novick
– Acknowledgment by Frances Moore Lappé in the 1981 edition regarding protein sources
– Film distribution of Lappé’s message by Bullfrog Films
– Mention of traditional cuisines combining grains and legumes in various regions