The Engine 2 Store on Amazon.com

By now you know I'm a huge fan of all things Esselstyn, both Rip Esselstyn and his father, Caldwell, author of this book, which was a real game-changer for me :)

The Engine 2 Diet is a book about eating "Plant Strong" which is a term I LOVE because "vegan" doesn't necessarily mean HEALTHY. For instance, you can eat a lot of sugary processed foods that just so happen to be vegan and be a rather unhealthy person. However, to eat plant strong, you're eating a balanced diet of plant-based foods (beans, soy, nuts, fruits, vegetables, grains) with a focus on REAL food :) That's what I try to teach here at veganmama.

The Engine 2 people now have a "store" at Amazon, where you can purchase Engine 2 approved products. I don't know how I didn't know about this! How easy to shop, especially if you have Amazon Prime which gives you free shipping.


They link to Books and DVDs; Plant Strong Food; Kitchen Essentials; Plant-Strong Kids; Plant-Strong Workouts

I love their recommended books, many of which I have read, but a few I now NEED! :) Check it out!

Engine 2 Video

If you've followed me for a while, you know I'm a huge fan of all things Engine 2. Rip and this father, Caldwell Esselstyn are helping to change the face of veganism, a.k.a. "Plant Strong" eating. I love the term "Plant Strong" because that's really what I strive for in my diet. You can be a really unhealthy vegan, eating lots of vegan desserts and processed foods...that is NOT what we're about here :) This video features a lot of guys, which I love because plant strong is not a female thing, it's a people thing! Plus, who doesn't love firefighters?

Click right here to watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kItn6Tn16rw&feature=player_embedded#!

Rip Esselstyn on Good Morning America

I love a few different things about this video. First off, Rip reminds us of the amount of protein in plant-based foods, since a lot of non-vegetarians get fixated on that. Also, so great to see Rip's Big Bowl on national tv! My family loves it and eats it (without the grapefruit and not as huge!) almost every day, so it's a favorite. Have you tried it? What I recommend is measuring about a week's worth all at once and storing it in a sealed container. Lastly, Rip reminds us of the importance of knowing our numbers. If you don't know your cholesterol, now's the time! It's a simple blood test that could really give you a wake up call. Don't be scared...know your body and what it needs!

Super simple Kale Avocado Lime salad

We all know by now that kale is one of THE most nutritious leafy greens on the planet, but might also agree we need new ways to serve it if we're supposed to be eating it weekly :) You remember my recent post about meeting Rip Esselstyn of the Engine 2 Diet?


I made this recipe right after watching Rip's Engine 2 Diet video and I love it. The one thing I added, simply because I already had some peeled and cut was some jicama. Otherwise, it's very similar to Rip's recipe:

My version:
Chopped kale
One avocado
One lime (Rip uses lemon)
Peeled and chopped jicama
Sprinkle of sea salt

Put the chopped kale in a bowl. Then, add one ripe avocado and the lime juice and (with clean hands!) smash it all up together until the kale starts to relax and the avocado and lime make an awesome dressing! That's pretty much all there is to it. Any recipe this easy needs attention drawn to it, so have fun with it and spread the word!

Meeting firefighter Rip of "Engine 2 Diet" fame!

If you've been following me here on veganmama for some time you know I'm a fan of Rip Esselstyn, the ex-firefighter, triathlete who wrote "The Engine 2 Diet." I first learned about Rip when I had just finished reading his father's book, "Prevent and Reserve Heart Disease." (note: you actually CAN do both by following a strict plant-based diet! I was skeptical, but after reading the book know it's possible) I saw Rip's book at my local Whole Foods and recognized his last name. I now couldn't imagine a morning without eating his cereal concoction, "Rip's Big Bowl!"

Rip's Big Bowl

oats (raw, old-fashioned) - 2 ounces grape nuts (or Ezekiel brand equivalent) - 2 ounces shredded wheat (bite-size) - 2 ounces uncle sam's - 2 ounces flaxseed meal (ground) - 1 ounces raisins - 1 ounces walnuts - 2 ounces grapefruit - 1 whole (veganmama uses red grapes cut in half instead) milk substitute (of choice) - 6 ounces banana - 8 ounces kiwi - 4 ounces

DIRECTIONS

Toss all ingredients except the grapefruit and milk substitute into a bowl. After cutting the grapefruit in half, use a small, sharp knife to remove the segments. Add the segments to the top of the bowl and squeeze in the juice. Top the bowl with milk substitute.

Rip recently came to Providence to give a talk about his lifestyle (our lifestyle :) and my father and I were lucky enough to attend.

Rip spoke to a full room, some of whom had taken his "28-day" challenge from his book, which spells out exactly how to jump into a plant-strong way of life. One of my favorite parts of the night was when people walked to the front of the room to share their proud stories. Stories not only weight loss, but of a new approach to food. THAT is really what it's all about, right? Feeling good about yourself and good about your choices. That goodness is contagious and exciting to see. And that's exactly what I try to do here at veganmama.



Go Veganmama go? I love this guy.



Rip stuck around for a book signing and shared some of his chocolate chip cookies with the group, baked by one of the women from the local Whole Foods. What an informative and inspiring night. Thank you, Rip!