The Plant Programme is a collection of recipes and dietary advice that follows this approach. To start off, the principles behind the diet are re-explained and a shopping list of ingredients is given. The main body of the book contains recipes for everyday eating --including snacks and meals that will suit kids and the rest of the family. Without exception, these are simple, quite quick to prepare and though there are no illustrations, highly appetising. Those cautious about the absence of dairy needn't feel apprehensive--you really don't notice it. Mediterranean and Asian dishes feature prominently, with recipes such as Couscous with Rocket, Chicken and Pine Nuts, Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup or Stir-Fried Cauliflower, Zucchini and Fennel. Even the more virtuous ingredients such as tofu and lentils are made delicious through liberal use of fresh herbs and spices. And the recipes for smoothies, cookies and desserts (such as Orange and Almond Cake) will have the rest of the family keen to tuck in with you.

In this new book written with a fellow scientist and friend Gill Tidey the able Professor continues to explore the cancer / dairy food link concluding that it may also impact on statistics for testicular and lung cancers. Previously Professor Plant has offered criticism toward some of the various cancer charities, particularly in recognising they are all working toward the same goal, often they can't see the wood for the trees overburdened as they are with administration staff and often blinkered to the fact that others are working in the exact same area of the science. The message needs to be thrust upon health professionals and the charities that Professor Plant has probably at least loosened the nut they are trying to crack.

In The Plant Programme Gill Tidey and Jane Plant offer a clear explanation of how to live not only dairy free but also live with a healthy intake of all the nutrients necessary to sustain healthy life. A large number of interesting and varied menus are offered that can take the reader a long way toward achieving this health goal. A scoring system is laid out indicating just how "anti cancer" various approved foods are thought to be. This scoring system is linked to a particularly helpful suggested daily meal planner section listing how to achieve the 30 plus different food ingredients needed each day and achieve the optimum daily score.

As the son of a retired dairy farmer initially, I found the anti dairy message hard to accept. However, as I am myself allergic to dairy produce not that hard to agree with! As the book is equally critical of additive laden foods it gains my ringing endorsement. It will certainly be a book on my Christmas shopping list for friends and family. Perhaps a format more able to cope with the kitchen environment might be considered for future editions though?