by Mark Bittman (Find this book)
“I live full-time in the world of omnivores, and I’ve never wanted to
leave. But the Standard American Diet (yes, it’s SAD) got to me as it
gets to almost everyone in this country.”
Six years ago, an
overweight, pre-diabetic Mark Bittman faced a medical directive: adopt a
vegan diet or go on medication. He was no fan of a lifelong regimen of
pills, but as a food writer he lived—and worked—to eat. So neither
choice was appealing.
His solution was a deal with himself. He
would become a “flexitarian.” He adopted a diet heavy in vegetables,
fruits, and grains by following a healthy vegan diet (no meat, dairy, or
processed foods) all day. After 6:00 p.m. he’d eat however he wanted,
though mostly in moderation. Beyond that, his plan involved no gimmicks,
scales, calorie counting, or point systems. And there were no so-called
forbidden foods—he ate mostly home-cooked meals that were as varied and
satisfying as they were delicious, but he dealt with the realities of
the office and travel and life on the run as best he could.
He
called this plan Vegan Before 6:00 (VB6 for short), and the results were
swift and impressive. Best of all, they proved to be lasting and
sustainable over the long haul. Bittman lost 35 pounds and saw all of
his blood numbers move in the right direction.
Using extensive
scientific evidence to support his plan, the acclaimed cookbook author
and food policy columnist shows why his VB6 approach succeeds when so
many other regimens not only fail, but can actually lead to unwanted
weight gain.
He then provides all the necessary tools for making
the switch to a flexitarian diet: lists for stocking the pantry,
strategies for eating away from home in a variety of situations,
pointers for making cooking on a daily basis both convenient and
enjoyable, and a complete 28-day eating plan showing VB6 in action.
Finally, Bittman provides more than 60 recipes for vegan breakfasts,
lunches, and snacks, as well as non-vegan dinners that embrace the
spirit of a vegetable- and grain-forward diet.
If you’re one of
the millions who have thought of trying a vegan diet but fear it’s too
monotonous or unfamiliar, or simply don’t want to give up the foods you
love to eat, VB6 will introduce a new, flexible, and quite simply better
way of eating you can really live with . . . for life. -- Publisher Marketing
