The person who initially inspired my switch to a vegan diet was Alicia Silverstone and her book, The Kind Diet. What drew me most to her book was Silverstone’s obvious exuberance and enthusiasm for the vegan lifestyle. She writes with humor, honesty, and passion. She leaves science to scientists, nutrition to nutritionists, and medicine to doctors. She provides extensive endnotes referencing such esteemed practitioners as T. Colin Campbell, author of The China Study, Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Neal Barnard, and Dr. Dean Ornish. These men are devoted vegans who have spent their entire lives studying the effects and inevitably the benefits of a diet independent of animal protein. I encourage everyone to check out her websites, particularly Barnard’s, as she hosts a “21 Day Vegan Startup.” Think about it… you could change the way you look and feel in just three weeks!

Silverstone spends the first part of her book tackling the extensive nutritional, ethical, and environmental issues inherent in any discussion of a vegan diet, outlining the difference between the “kind,” i.e., plants, and the “nasty,” or all-products. animals. In a voice that sounds a lot like Cher from Clueless, Silverstone highlights important issues we’ve often ignored and reveals the hypocrisy and deceit inherent in the omnivorous lifestyle. This is not to say that eating animal products requires participating in the cycle of cruelty perpetuated by our current agricultural system. Only not participating in it requires constant vigilance about what’s on your plate and where it’s coming from, which requires countless questions about your food. These questions are obviated when you choose a plant-based diet.

The rest of Silverstone’s book obviously focuses on food. She divides her discussion into three categories. The first, Flirt, is perfect for people who want to test the waters without making a serious commitment. Silverstone advises moving toward vegetarianism, visiting local health food stores, and experimenting with unusual ingredients. She’s supposed to flirt is fun, and flirting with food should be the same! This has been my favorite part of my food adventure; opening my mind and cooking to things I’ve never tried before, even things that scared me irrationally, like seitan. Silverstone even provides photos of cute vegan guys in this section to inspire you. The second category is Vegan, and its finale is Superhero. The Superhero plan is based on the idea of ​​a macrobiotic diet, emphasizing whole grains, vegetables, and minimizing processed foods as much as possible. One of my favorite superhero recipes is Arame with Carrots and Onions. When I first moved home I had a crazy craving for seaweed and this recipe was my first experience cooking with sea vegetables. It’s a gentle way to incorporate these magical greens into your diet.

In honor of Alicia and her book, I made her Moroccan Saffron Couscous loaded with zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes, and cashews along with her Sicilian Kale with Pine Nuts. Topped off with a glass of Rosé, it was a perfect summer meal!