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Plant Chat: Gene Stone, Editor of Forks Over Knives

Sharon Palmer

Gene  Stone  is   the author of the international bestseller   The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick   and the coauthor, with Rip Esselstyn, of   The Engine 2 Diet. He is also editor of the #1 New York Times Bestseller, Forks Over Knives. Stone, who has written or ghostwritten more than thirty books and numerous magazine articles, lives in New York and follows a plant-based diet.

Were you surprised by the success of FOK?  Why do you think it resonated with so many people?  

Much of FOK’s success was due to the fact that the documentary and the book helped people who were curious about a plant-based diet, but who knew little about it, gain the knowledge they needed to consider a better diet. It’s one thing to hear vague comments about veganism and plants, it’s another to sit and watch a 90 minute movie or read a short book—the number of people who changed their diets after their FOK experience is startling. And it just keeps going, and going, and going.

Do you believe that the plant-based movement continues to pick up steam?  Why?  

Interest in a plant-based diet has been growing phenomenally over the last decade. Ten years ago it was hard to avoid animal products in food, but today plant-based foods are ubiquitous in stores and restaurants in most urban areas, and on the way to becoming so elsewhere. There are three reasons: the first is health—many doctors are finally realizing that eating a plant-based diet is the best way to avoid serious diseases such as stroke, diabetes, heart attacks, etc. Secondly, there’s a growing awareness in this country about the abject horrors of factory farming, and increasingly people don’t want to contribute to the pain and torture that animals endure in order to serve as food. Finally, environmentalists are making a strong case that eating a plant-based diet isn’t just better for you, and animals, but for the world itself.

It seems that there are two contradictory diet movements going on—the Paleo vs. Plant-based.  What are your observations regarding these trends?

I think the Paleo movement is one of those odd fads that are always appearing and disappearing. I’d be very surprised if it were still around in a decade. The Paleo diet is not supported by science or medicine, it advocates the abuse of animals, and it’s terrible for the environment. It’s hard to take it seriously.

I see on the FOK website that people can get involved with FOK in many ways, such as by hosting a screening or house party.  Can you share a couple of other ideas of how people can get involved by spreading the good news on plant-based diets?

Those are two good ideas right there: invite people over to your house and show the movie—it’s hard to argue with the evidence presented. Even better, after the movie ends, present your friends with a terrific plant-based meal. A lot of people are put off by the idea of a plant-based diet until they actually start eating it and discover that eating healthy fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes is delicious, inexpensive, and, of course, really good for you.

Can you share two of your favorite tips for moving to a plant-based diet?

The first tip is simply to try it. Seriously. A lot of people are interested, but they just don’t give it a go. You don’t have to change everything overnight. Consider gradual steps. Maybe avoid animal products during the week, then eat whatever you want over the weekend. Or try the Vegan Before 6 plan, where you avoid animal products until dinner time. Or simply add so many plant-based foods to your diet that you start to push the animal ones off your plate because you don’t have room for them. Second, try to do it with someone else—a family member, a friend, or just someone you meet on the Internet. Even though it’s an easy shift to make, it’s often even easier, and more fun, if you’re sharing the experience with someone else.

What other plant-based projects are you working on now?

At the moment I’m writing a book with Gene Baur, the co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, that’s part lifestyle and part cookbook. I’m also about to start a new book with Rip Esselstyn, with whom I wrote   The Engine 2 Diet and   My Beef with Meat. I’m also hoping to do a book with Kathy Freston, who wrote   The Veganist, among other bestselling titles. But right now I’m very excited about my first novel, which I wrote with my friend Jon Doyle, which is going to be published March 18th. It’s called   The Awareness, and it’s about what happens when all the mammals on earth suddenly get human consciousness and go to war against humans—specifically, it’s about the first few days of this war, and centers on a dog, a pig, a bear, and an elephant. Please buy it on Amazon!

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