Q&A with Rip Esselstyn on His New Book, "My Beef with Meat"

By Forks Over Knives May 08 2013

How is it different from Engine 2?

The Engine 2 Diet tells the story of how I was able to Rip Esselstyn, the former firefighter featured in Forks help a bunch of Texas firefighters morph themselves Over Knives and bestselling author of The Engine 2 Diet, from medical time bombs to healthy superheroes. It then has written a new book, My Beef with Meat. The book challenges readers to eat plant-strong for 28 days by arrives in stores on May 14. We had a chance to catch up choosing one of two paths that will open their eyes and with Rip to discuss his new book and more. palates to the power of plant based nutrition.

Why did you choose the title "My Beef with Meat"? One of the most popular chapters in the book was “Crazy Myths About Food” -- and people I wanted a title that would shake things up a bit, didn’t enthusiastically expressed how much they loved it. So take itself too seriously, and was representative of the in My Beef with Meat, I’ve taken the “Crazy Myths ethos of the book. I could have easily made the title About Food” concept to the next level by giving the Engine 2.0, Plant-Strong Nation, or Why Plants Rule, reader 36 fun, informative, short and sassy myth-busting but I wanted the book to have a larger reach than chapters that contain all the facts you’ll need to combat vegetarians and vegans. the silly claims and misguided tales you’ll hear from the naysayers. So if the first book challenged you to learn Why did you write this book? about plant-based eating, this second book provides you with all the facts you need to stay on the diet, as well as I’ve discovered that there is a huge disconnect between convince others to join you! what people think is healthy and what medical science knows to be healthy. For example, people have been How have you seen the movement change and evolve bamboozled into thinking olive oil, Greek yogurt, since Engine 2 and Forks Over Knives? chicken, and fish are healthy. Many people think the diet of the day is salmon, low fat dairy, and olive oil, washed Man, oh, man, have I seen it change. I’ve seen this down with a glass of red wine and a Lipitor pill for good movement grow from being considered a fringe or measure. We are confused, distracted, and off course. extreme diet to one that is highly regarded by the public and medical professionals alike. This book explains to plant eaters and meat eaters alike why a whole-food, plant-strong diet rocks on a jillion The need to educate America on this movement is so different levels. The primary driving force behind the important that four years ago I retired from firefighting book was to delve deeper into the major myths that keep to partner with Whole Foods Market so I could spread surfacing about eating plants, such as “you won’t get the word. One of my roles has been traveling around the enough protein,” “you won’t get enough calcium,” country speaking with customers and team members “eating plants is too expensive,” “real men (and women) about the benefits of eating a plant-strong diet. The first eat meat,” “olive oil is heart-healthy,” and “moderation two years I was lucky to get 10 to 20 people to show up in everything.” for an event. Over the last two years, every event has been packed with 100 to 300 people who are eager to The book shows how these myths are so far away from learn the benefits of getting off the standard American reality. It gives the reader real science, not fad diet talk. diet and jumping on the plant-strong bandwagon. And once you armed with the knowledge to improve your health (or to win an argument with a meat eater!), I can honestly say that between FOK and E2, we have you can start cooking up any one of the 140 lip- helped hundreds of thousands of people regain their lost smacking, rib-sticking, outrageously good recipes to health and lose weight. I believe that within ten years we prove that a plant-strong diet is the best way to go. will reach a tipping point where more people than not will understand that a plant-based diet is the best diet in

1 O F 2 (continued) Q&A with Rip Esselstyn on His New Book, "My Beef with Meat"

By Forks Over Knives May 08 2013

the world!

What are you planning next?

More books, more events, more food products exclusive to Whole Foods Market, and more living large and saying yes to life and yes to plants!

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