Plant Power: Flip Your Plate, Change Your Weight

“Simply put, plants help both prevent and treat numerous illnesses, and they not only increase the length of our lives but the quality as well,” writes physician Smith (Fast Burn!) in his approachable guide to healthy eating. He begins by defining what a “plant-based diet” means to him (one in which plants make up “a greater percentage of a person’s consumption” than animal products), then breaks down the nutritional basics of fruits and vegetables, and offers the idea of a “healthy eating plate” to help illustrate what a typical meal should look like, namely lots of vegetables, some fruit, “healthy protein,” whole grains, oil, and water. To get readers on board with tweaking their diet so that it consists of 70% plants and 30% animal products, Smith offers “eight simple ways to become more plant-based” (start with meatless Mondays, for example), a “plant power plan,” and four weeks’ worth of meal plans and recipes, including ones for Energy Blast Yogurt and a cabbage steak with couscous. Smith keeps things light, flexible, and free of judgment: “Be calm... and most importantly, have fun!” Readers eager to move into a healthier mode of eating will find this a great place to start. (Apr.)