Challenging the “American” Diet with Plant-Based Nutrition:

Challenging the “American” Diet with Plant-Based Nutrition:

  • Submitted By: zhaopc
  • Date Submitted: 11/19/2013 1:12 PM
  • Category: Science
  • Words: 578
  • Page: 3
  • Views: 106

This annotated bibliography was compiled in order to explore the increasingly exigent and controversial topic of plant-based nutrition. My interest in this topic was catalyzed nearly a year ago after watching the documentary “Forks Over Knives”, in which the primary argument was that by replacing the traditional “American” diet—a diet heavy in meat and dairy products—one could decrease one’s risk of chronic illnesses, increase daily cognitive functioning, and in the process, contribute to a healthier planet. This issue is controversial because the health-interests of individuals are often in opposition to those of large corporations and institutions who profit from the mass consumption of animal products. As an increasingly environmentally-conscience person who was raised in a family of hunters and self-proclaimed “meat-eaters”—as well as a long-distance runner who desires to improve and sustain her athletic endeavors--this controversial topic is very pertinent and important to me.
The research question that guided my research is this: Is a plant-based diet healthier and better for the environment than one that incorporates meat, dairy, eggs, and processed-foods? Between the dates of August 12th, 2013 and September 3rd, 2013, I conducted the research that appears in this annotated bibliography. Included here are four sources, two of which are academic articles published in peer-reviewed journals. The two remaining sources include a chapter from a book that explores both positive and negative aspects of vegetarianism and veganism, and the documentary that catalyzed by interest in this topic, “Forks Over Knives.”


Ruby, Matthew B. "Vegetarianism. A Blossoming Field of Study." Appetite 58.1 (2012): 141-150. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Aug. 2013.
This scholarly article was written for other academics and researchers interested in the state of research about vegetarianism in the U.S. The author attempts to “answer several important questions” (142) about...

Similar Essays