cover image Vegan Reset: The 28-Day Plan to Kickstart Your Healthy Lifestyle

Vegan Reset: The 28-Day Plan to Kickstart Your Healthy Lifestyle

Kim-Julie Hansen. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $24.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-328-45403-4

Blogger Hansen’s 28-day plan is a thoughtfully crafted diet and exercise regimen for those starting a plant-based diet. Hansen explains the logistics behind weight loss or weight gain, and what to expect from one’s body when it transitions to performing on plant-based fuel. Debunking the notion that a vegan diet is expensive to maintain, Hansen offers suggestions for cheap grocery shopping and strategies for saving money, such as buying in bulk and opting for generic brands. What stands out most in Hansen’s book, however, is her concern for optimal health, including an emphasis on meditation, restorative sleep, and the importance of hydration. The 28-day plan itself is meticulously constructed with comprehensive grocery lists, meal-prep schedules, and journaling exercises. Her recipes are no-frills and use a limited number of ingredients—such as a blue medjool smoothie with blueberries and dates; white chocolate nut butter made from macadamia nuts and cacao butter; herbed lentils and white bean dip; a tofu spring roll bowl served with a side of maple pumpkin seeds; and a baked mustard-tofu sandwich. This plant-based reboot is an excellently organized and enlightening resource. (Sept.)