Become a vegan, you know you want to. All the cool kids are doing it—maybe cool kids is the wrong term, but vegans and vegetarians will probably live longer than those on a less strenuous, meat and dairy based diet. The health benefits of a plant based diet seem to be endless. From lowering your risk of cancer to helping you lose weight, Veganism is a fad that will have a sustained shelf life. People are scared away because it isn’t the most pragmatic or convenient diet to execute. It’s tough to chuck meat and dairy out the window, but it could be the best decision you’ll ever make.
Renowned author and food journalist Mark Bittman has written a book full of crucial guidance for those on the vegan fence. His book—which arrives at the peak of veganism’s popularity—is called VB6, or “Vegan Before Six,” and is meant to ease people into a plant based diet gently and confidently. Bittman encourages dieters to eat vegan before 6:00 p.m. while being free to enjoy meat and dairy in the evening. Choosing 6:00 p.m. as the cutoff time had no scientific basis, explained Bittman. “The point of VB6 is to eat more plant food and fewer animal products. You can adjust the time to fit your lifestyle,” he said.
Experts have long argued that going vegan cold turkey is nearly impossible and probably bad for your mental health, and VB6 preaches that same message. It’s a cautionary tale meant to wean people off the processed junk the food industry peddles and lead them toward eating food with pronounceable ingredients. In regards to the processed food industry, Bittman warns, “They want us to overconsume junk, and we comply.” And with so many misconceptions about vegan food, Bittman had his work cut out for him. “People sometimes think vegan food is rabbit food. But this is real food,” he said. “Fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes—you have plenty of options.”
With 60 vegan recipes any novice chef could prepare and loads of scientific background on the subject from a trusted source, this is the ideal guidebook for adopting a healthier lifestyle. Veganism is a tough change, and the book eases the pain by educating the reader about key nutrients and vegan ingredients to replace the dairy and meat you’re used to. So while the literature in VB6 isn’t revolutionary, it never hurts to have a proverbial chaperone lead the way.
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