Plant-Based Eating With Joie de Vivre

When my husband was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes (which affects 9 out of 10 people with this disease) in the late summer of 2022, I immediately knew that we had to do everything in our power to keep him from going on the dizzying carousel of medication to deprivation.

Research led us to try a plant-based diet, which meant eliminating animal products and focusing on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes. But what about Friday night apéros? Charcuterie boards? Sunday beef stews? Steak-frites with creamy pepper sauce? Cheese and fruit for dessert? Or even just going out for a meal? What about our travels to France? Was that the end of sitting at a sweet, little brasserie to enjoy a menu du jour? And, what about my career as a food writer? Especially one who writes about French cuisine!

More than one year down the road and nearly 30 kilos lighter (we lost about 15 kilos each), I am happy to report that not only did my husband manage to reverse his diabetes, but that nothing has been sacrificed. Our lifestyle is still as delicious as ever. Through plenty of experimentation and finding out what works for us, we have discovered a new way to eat. In our case, we still use minimal amounts of oils (for example, when making special weekend meals) and enjoy good wine.

But there’s more. According to the UN, roughly one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions is linked to the way we eat. Our food choices not only affect our health, but also that of the planet. From unprecedented heatwaves to water shortages and the extinction of species – we’ve all seen the devastating effects of climate change in recent years. If we want to mitigate global warming, taking drastic action is imperative. In fact, we can start to change the world simply by changing the way we eat. Pair that with concerns about the immense cruelty of intensive animal agriculture and it’s easy to see why eliminating or reducing the consumption of animal products is a sensible choice.

With the mini-cookbook, Plant-Based Eating with Joie de Vivre, my main goal is to share some of the beautiful recipes that have become a part of our life. Recipes made with fresh, healthy and vibrant ingredients. 

The beautifully laid-out PDF features 12 delicious plant-based recipes inspired by French and Italian cuisine. You’ll find a decadent gâteau moelleux aux fraises (moist strawberry cake), my version of pesto alla Trapanese, a creamy courgette and rice gratin, plant-based mayonnaise (you wouldn’t believe how easy it is to make!), plant-based ‘Parmesan’ and more!

Light some candles, pour some wine, bring out the vintage records and let me show you the beauty of plant-based eating ... with joie de vivre!

NOTE: Please download the PDF file (sent directly to your email) on your desktop first before transferring to other devices. If you have any questions, please contact me at pwestbeek@gmail.com.