Rip Esselstyn

Rip Esselstyn is a former professional triathlete and Austin firefighter, and the son of Caldwell Esselstyn. He helped his fire station change how it ate, told the story in The Engine 2 Diet, and founded PLANTSTRONG, which runs events, a podcast and a food line.

Best known for

The Engine 2 Diet (2009), the story of a Texas firehouse that switched to plant based eating, and the PLANTSTRONG brand.

Approach

Whole plant foods with no oil, little salt and little added sugar, framed as plant strong rather than plant perfect. He is more relaxed than his father about nuts, seeds, avocado and whole grain flour products.

Main talking points

• Plant strong, not plant perfect.
• Do not drink your calories.
• Eat generous amounts of unprocessed food without counting calories.
• Read labels for added fat, salt and sugar.

Books

• The Engine 2 Cookbook The Engine 2 Cookbook2017
• The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet The Engine 2 Seven-Day Rescue Diet2017
• Plant-Strong Plant-Strong2015
• My Beef with Meat My Beef with Meat2013
• The Engine 2 Diet2009