Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

As a college student and a nutrition major I have internships and jobs that take up much of my time, not to mention the homework. Mark Bittman's column and other books have helped me to make time to cook simple and healthier foods, staying away from processed foods or unhealthy meal plan options. I have always been health conscious but because of scheduling I was not following what I would have liked to or did when I had my mom to help me cook healthy simple options. He has inspired me and my roommate to take our nutrition into our own hands, and now I am not a hypocritical nutrition student.

I'd say the biggest change to my own diet that can be attributed to Mark Bittman is the lowered importance of meat, and meat-products, in my diet.

Far from making it the center piece of my diet, it is now acts to complement to exciting new grains and vegetable dishes from around the world. Something to highlight other flavors, and to be used sparingly. Meat is expensive, both in terms of health and environmental damage. Increasing the vegetable and grain quotient in my diet, and decreasing the amount of meat, is a dietary change attributable to Mark Bittman.

Indeed, for other cultures, this is the norm in the daily diet. We in the United States have taken things too far with meat, and the consequences for our health and our environment are now manifold and manifest.

He's convinced me to try the savory oatmeal. I'm not entirely sold on the concept, but it definitely wasn't as weird as I thought it would be. As a result, I eat breakfast more and lunch less. Not a bad trade.

I've learned that replacing refined flours and grains with whole grains and incorporating more vegetables into my diet doesn't have to result in bland dishes. After I revised my pantry based partly on his recommendations, I found I didn't have to shop as often because I can stretch many of the foods and ingredients. Finally, my grocery bill is much less than before, in spite of the fact that I am buying more expensive items--processed foods cost more.

meat as a condiment/side as opposed to the main event.

less meat

cutting back on meat and finding more healthy sources of protein to include into my diet. I've also cut out all processed foods and cook at home.

Quit eating processed snacks and grab healthy on-the-go snacks instead. A meal made with a few wholesome plant-based ingredients can be the most nourishing and healthful...like brown rice with quick sauteed veggies...

That simple, local, and seasonal are best. Great food doesn't mean many ingredients, and you can prepare great tasting, healthy meals, without spending the day in the kitchen.

I'm eating vegan for Lent, and while Bittman didn't inspire it, he certainly makes a case for why eating less animal products can be better for the earth, and for us.

I now serve my family 2 or 3 vegetarian meals each week-- a real improvement for us!

He started my addiction to steel-cut oats. I've been eating oatmeal with some sort of addition (either savory or sweet) just about every morning since he talked about his soy sauce and scallion oatmeal.

I've learned about keeping lots of staples in the pantry that allow me to create a tasty and healthy meal with very little advance preparation -- it doesn't take a trip to the market to make dinner!

I don't know yet, that's why I need the book!

He taught me to hook up with two beautiful women and a top notch chef before traveling through Spain.

Less meat = more health

Whole grains and less complicated food.

Eating simply.

that food doesn't have to be super fancy shmancy complicated to be good and healthy

by taking the pretense out of cooking; makes you realize just how easy it is to feel yourself supremely well

Less meat and more rice and beans.

I have seriously increased the percentage of vegetables in my diet. This means I've also naturally begun eating a wider variety of vegetables on a regular basis. When I want a snack now, I crave raw red pepper strips instead of pretzels!

I like that there is an emphasis on using a little of something to enhance taste.

I've used lots of his salad recipes.

I use recipes from "How To Cook Everything Vegetarian" all the time. There are so many interesting and tasty ideas in that book that cooking a big piece of meat for dinner almost seems like a cheat to me now.

I'm a big fan of his recipes and videos, his sweet potato stir fry was a big hit with my friends. Recently I've tried to cook with a lot less meat, and now I only have meat once a day (which is a big change).

I've been trying to eat more fish... and a little less meat. I have Bittman's recent halibut recipe bookmarked and hope to make it this week!

definitely to eat more plants and less meat, as well as to generally be conscious of what impact my food has not only on my health but on the environment.

less meat

simple healthy and delicious adjustments such as lowering the pasta/sauce ratio to get more veggies and eat less carbs.

eating less meat and more veggies isn't only healthier, but it makes a lot more sense in today's crappy economy.

Can I just say how much I love Mark Bittman? So much so that when he posted a comment I sent him on one of his blog posts, I screamed like a little girl. Seriously. I'm flying my geek flag.

Anyway, the lesson I took is that you don't have to have a complex recipe, and will often end up with a better meal by using a simpler recipe, letting really fresh or quality ingredients shine through.

Mark Bittman has helped change the way I look at food. His vegetarian cookbook helped me view recipes as flexible - sub this ingredient for that, mix in these spices, experiment a little.

to eat more veggies and fruits as snacks and main staples of my meal. that cooking is simple, creative, and fun. to be more responsible with what i eat and how it affects the environment.

fingers crossed, i really want this book!

I'm trying to eat more whole grains and really limit the amount of meat i eat. im practically a vegetarian at this point. his how to cook everything has helped me out with basic preparations for many dishes.

adding vegetarian or vegan meals to the week. not as extreme as his daily portion.. but its a start

I don't know if this makes me any healthier, but I now make my own bread with his no-knead recipe. It's simply amazing. Please give me this book so Mark can make me healthier instead of just getting me to eat more carbs.

Fresh fish.. I've been in the habit of eating fruits and vegetables according to season, but never thought about it at the fish counter.. after reading Bitty's column (thanks to Mario, Gwyneth, and Claudia he is no longer known by any other name in my house) and his books, I make sure to buy fresh, wild fish.. stay away from the frozen farm-raised stuff, if possible.. as hard as it is, i go to the fish monger without a set recipe now, and see what looks good. i'm such a planner, it's a huge step!

I've only recently started reading and appreciating Bittman (initially, when I first saw his PBS series, he annoyed me). So, no great influence yet, but I'm enjoying cooking his simply delicious recipes, and am aiming to reduce my meat intake.

I've cut way down on my consumption of poultry (really the only meat I was eating before) and have increased the number of meals I eat featuring tofu or beans.

Mark Bittman is wonderful. He has taught me so much over the years, between his articles in the NY Times, his books and his appearances on The Today Show, aside from his time on PBS.

I have learned that it doesn't take a lot of ingredients or a lot of time to make fabulous food. He is the ultimate in Minimalist even when he is thinking Green!

Less meat in my diet and I've started sneaking a variety of veggies into everything.

After reading the Omnivore's dilemma I think more about the political, economic, and environmental implications of what I eat. That means I eat less meat and more locally produced food.

I am trying to get away from such a heavily meat-centric diet.

I've really been trying to eat less meat, all thanks to Mr. Bittman. Plus I've seriously reduced my use of boxed chicken stock. I still think it has a place, but I've been taking his suggestion of using water and it has saved money and resources!

Eating more veggies and fruits, less meat. I also want to try some veggies and fruits that I've never tried before!

Definitely adding new vegetables - more vegetables - to my repertoire. I also don't feel compelled to drown everything in margarine or bacon fat, and learned that heavy tomato sauces are not the only things you can top pasta with. I've been cooking with my first Mark Bittman book for two weeks straight - his recipes and only his recipes - and it has been delicious every time.

I've been doing the less meat thing, using stickers and calendars to mark my progress. Fortunately, I really love tofu and many dishes that are already vegetarian!

More grains, helps you stay regular ;)

His recipes with few ingredients and quick prep allow me to have a nice meal at home after a hard day's work as opposed to picking up take-out. My wallet thanks you, Mark!

I take advantage of my local farmers market to get the freshest produce and I make that the centerpoint of my meals.

He has inspired me to cook dried beans more often (rather than using canned).

Thanks to Bittman's influence (as well as that of other food writers and chefs), I've tried to take more of an ingredient-driven approach to my cooking. Now, I'm much more capable of improvising a weeknight meal and crafting my diet around what vegetables are in season (or on sale!)

Believe it or not, to eat more meat. I was a true vegetarian for a long time, but now I'm starting to eat small amounts of meat occasionally, and without (much) guilt. I was a vegetarian for environmental reasons, and he really made a compelling argument that I can still indulge while being responsible. Thanks to Michael Pollan, for that, too.

His approach to eating vegan until 6 pm "then anything goes" is a great way to have a more plant oriented diet, and still be able to enjoy a reasonable and healthier quantity of meat and animal products.

His plan is basically 25% meat 25% bread, and 50% frutis and veggies, which makes it so much easier to shop - just check out the contents of your basket to make sure it falls into those categories before you check out! Easy.

i had already cut down significantly on my meat consumption, but he convinced me that i should reduce all animal products too. i eat so much less dairy and eggs now as well.

Although I call Bittman's "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian" my green bible, it was an article in his blog which has made the biggest impact on me.

He was traveling on the Northwest coast and attempting to keep a food diary. There was one line that got me and it was something close to this; "I know this day is going to end in a hamburger". And it did, and not a good one evidently. His human side really came through.

Bittman's humanity is what I think of when I open the green bible. It makes this battle to live and eat well seem like more of a collective attempt now.

As someone on the younger side of the food world (21), Marc Bittman's How to Cook Everything is actually one of the first cookbooks I remember being in my mom's cookbook stand. When I started getting interested in cooking, it was the go-to book for how to make chocolate chip cookies and pancakes from scratch. I got my very own copy this Valentine's Day from my boyfriend to celebrate us moving in together. I love Bittman's NYT blog and can't wait to get a copy of How to Cook Everything Vegetarian. One of my New Year's resolutions is to make a point to eat less meat and more locally sourced produce. This book would be a great way to help with achieving that goal.

just cooking all those veggies- and the most recent beets without goat cheese on the nyt blog!! :)

but mostly the vegetables and how easy he makes everything look! :) :)

Less is more. Less meat, less processed food, less ingredients in any given recipe, less time spent preparing the recipe.... Go back to nature, keep it simple, and don't completely deprive yourself of everything.

I haven't read the book yet, but I really want to. I think he would help me make filling whole meals of veggies and make me not miss the meat.

I pretty much have already been doing what he suggests. But I have cut way back on meat, especially factory farmed. He's also piqued my interest for savory oatmela dishes.

eat less, but higher quality meat

More Oatmeal

Eat more vegetables, less meat.

My youngest daughter is a vegetarian and has been trying to convert me for years. While I can't quite give up a good steak on occasion, I've been trying to cut way back on my meat intake. Mr. Bitman's recipes will help me do this without sacrificing the taste of the food.

To eat simply, which usually means healthy.

Eat more beans and eggs along with much less meat

vegetarian can be very creative (and much healthier!)

Mark Bittman has taught me that I can become satiated at dinner without having meat.

Mark Bittman taught me that the way to eat healthier is to travel around Spain with a vegetarian babe!

Mark Bittman has taught me to eat buckwheat blueberry pancakes on a much MUCH more regular basis!

Honestly, nothing. Mark Bittman has simply popularized and politicized a way of eating that my family has been pursuing for generations. I am ethnically Chinese, and I have always cooked my own no-fuss mostly vegetarian meals with occasional strips of pork thrown in for flavor. I use fresh vegetables I have on hand, I do not obsess over measuring out ingredients, and meat only comprises 10% of my diet.

less meat!

I can't even count the amount of changes. I received HtCEVegetarian when I was dating a, natch, vegetarian, and its influence has continued LONG after the relationship ended.

Er, not necessarily due to Bittman in particular, but I've been paying more attention to what I eat and eating less meat for a while now.

more veg and fruit
less meat
mostly fresh stuff
whole grains
smaller portions
lots of intense flavors so it TASTES good

keep foods simple and seasonal, whole grains to start off the day

I loved his NYT article about pantry staples a few weeks back. I've been using dry beans instead of scratch lately and they're so much better than canned. Healthy and cheap!

less meat, more vegetables

Eat more whole grains.

less meat...before it was 50/50 on a plate, now it's more like 20/80.

I love the vegetarian before 6 PM idea. It may take me awhile to get there though. I'm starting off by doing ATLEAST one vegetarian dinner a week. Also, I think I might try my hand at planting some tomato plants this year.

Less meat, more whole grains.

The most basic is simplifying one's approach to food- an easy rule like vegetarian before 6 p.m. just puts one on rails and (if you go with it) automatically eliminates a lot of decision-making that defaults to a happier place. Like how if you do South Beach, about 80% of the grocery store just goes away. Really simplifies things.

Mark's philosophy and teachings underscored my family commitment to less meat. For example....tonight I am feeding my family Tortilla Soup from my slow cooker. I used 2 chicken breast boneless halves in the soup, and many types of beans. You don't need to constantly consume meat. And I won't even start on my anti-animal-cruelty stance. Suffice it to say I eat a minimal amount of meat.

He started my oatmeal addiction!

While I have always done only a couple of meat-based meals a week, he gave me lots of good ideas and tips on how to maximize each cooking experience. I like how he can even use the stuff I would normally throw away, like pasta water, to help make a delicious sauce.

I've used his recipes to tweak my own, and makes them even more healthy. We've been following strict diets, and have lost a good bit of weight. the recipes he provides are both healthy and filling.

He has reminded me that fresh, simple food really is the best.

Bittman recipes have never failed me, and (in addition to profiling great, easy recipes), his 'Minimalist' video segments on the Times website are hilarious!

I think Mark Bittman opens our eyes to healthier way of eating without being extreme which is why so many people have adopted it.

He inspired me to try eating more vegetables even though I always believed that I wouldn't like them.

Mark Bittman has helped me to create simpilar meals with more flavor, less meat, and more grains. I'm looking forward to trying the roasted beets with garlic and walnut sauce that was just featured in the NY Times soon!

I watch him all the time on TV-like the today show. He has shown me that cooking with and eating greens, grains and seeds can be easy and tasty so I have increased my consumption of these healthier foods.

he's inspired me to eat less meat.

His drug-pusher-esque endorsement of No-Knead bread has brought homemade bread back to the masses. For this, I am eternally grateful.

No processed foods, less meat & simplier ingredients!

meat as a supporting player, not the star and to eat seasonally.

Well, I am trying to do the daylight Vegan thing, but breakfast is a problem. I hate oatmeal, even steel cut. Grits taste nasty without butter or cheese. I really don't have a problem with vegtan lunches, but breakfast without dairy is a serious problem for me. Maybe the new book will give me some ideas.

This the standard answer, but like everyone else I am working on cutting down my meat consumption and uping vegetables and fruits. I've been getting more protein from eggs and nuts. Its been very interesting thinking about how what I eat impacts the environment. This feels very different from the original environmental ideas about recycling and driving less.

As far as I can tell, he's saying the same thing Michael Pollan has been saying: "Eat less meat. Eat more plants." This is good advice, and not hard to do.

I find it increasingly easy to eat less meat these days and when I do, I get it from a local source.

avoid processed foods as much as possible.

I like the lentils

He had convinced me to eat less meat! I love his recipes they are delicious!

he reminded me that vegetables are great, they are extremely versatile. vegetables at breakfast are okay!

Mark has made me aware to be more careful in buying (where does my food come from/how organic, etc). Also, I have over time substituted more whole grains into our diet (I never even cooked a lentil before.)

I tend to eat more vegetarian meals, but there is a lot more to healthy eating that Mar brings to the table. I would love to have this book.

More veggies at every meal

I'm already pretty health conscious but I like Bittman's idea re: eating like a vegan before 6 pm. I also love his savory oatmeal!

Mark makes quick cooking easy and accessible so I am less tempted to eat out or pick up some processed food to eat quickly. After following Mark Bittman's column closely and reading some of Michael Pollan's work I am so inspired to cook everything myself starting from whole ingredients rather than eating processed/pre-cooked food.

Because of Mark, we're mostly vegetarian now. My husband doesn't ever realize this! He still eats meat out and when he cooks every now and then.

I didn't read his book, but I like to. It's nice that you'll post his receipts.

I'm trying to eat whole grains all the time.

portioning meat as a condiment rather than the main entree

eating green is more than losing weight, but it's good for the environment as well.

"How to Cook Everything Vegetarian" is the backbone of my cookbook collection. It's made cooking simply, healthfully, and quickly more than just an idle desire but a daily possibility! My favorites are the sections on eggs and cabbage. Mark Bittman has given me a love for cabbage that I would NEVER have anticipated. Wow! That in itself is quite a gift :-)

I've planted my own vegetable/fruit garden to encourage eating more produce and less meat.

to quit complaining about it being to difficult to make healthy and tasteful meals and realize that you can make a satisfying delicious meal in less than a half hour

He made me like oatmeal, a true miracle.

oatmeal

spending more time thinking about your food. it helps in a ll ways.

I do spend more time thinking about my food, what's a healthy choice for me. One of my favorite recipes is his chickpea/cumin/garlic/small amount of ground beef stew-type dish, topped with a bit of olive oil and cilantro. It's on the menu this week!

his books provide easy-to -prepare, simple vegetarian dishes......inspires me to keep on with my own NO MEAT diet!

i try to eat less meat sometimes this is no possible

He's new to me but I'd like to read the book and learn something! :)

I am eating way more popcorn with his recipe.

Kale, Collards, and leafy yumms!!!

He encouraged everyone to eat less meat and I took that message to heart. I now eat a lot less chicken and pork and I've cut all beef out of my diet.

simple and pure is best, and not to be afraid of grains

More veggies!

Can't quite credit Bittman entirely for my elimination of processed foods, but his idea that you can cook simply and still have great results is an inspiration to me quite often. He's kind of the middle ground in cooking. He's not into recipes with a billion recipes and a billion steps in a gruelling 3-day marathon, but he's not opening bags and boxes and cans as a shortcut.

Thanks to Bittman's easy recipes (often with pantry staples), I cook more on weeknights, rather than grazing or getting take out.

Eating a lot more fresh produce is number one on my list. More fish, less red meat (but I won't give up my daily ice cream)

I love Mark Bittman - have two of his cookbooks, fabulous ideas. I like the way he has a basic recipe and variations.

I've only just heard of him .... on the Colbert Report. I liked what he was saying though and was glad to hear someone talking about lowering our impact on the environment and resources etc. on mainstream tv.
I will try this bread recipe.... reminds me of a naan recipe I tried once awhile back.

Eating more produce and less processed foods.

I'm eating whole grains, fruits and vegetables for health reasons and eliminating red meats. My health has improved tremendously from the changes I've made.

Reading Bittman--in the paper, his books, & now the blogs--has been a big part of my shift from following recipes to improvising & experimenting more. I often cast about for ideas & enjoy both the creativity involved in his writing & also the sense of kinship one derives from such reading, and then, thus fortified, go play refrigerator roulette. With the exception of a handful of favorites, my family no longer expects the food around here to have names, and they greet "its an experiment" with anticipation instead of raised eyebrows.

fruits and vegetables,bough locally at our farmers market

To add more whole grains to my breakfast, in fact just to rethink breakfast

eat more sweet potatoes!

Water as an ingredient in its own right.

Cutting out some of the animal products, and eating more beans for protein.

I am inspired to eat more vegetables. I can't wait til our local Farmer's Market opens up again!

I m trying to eat more fruits, vegetables and grains and less sugar and meat.

I eat a lot of veggies and less meat.

I cut out meat and eat very little fish and mostly whole fruits and veggies.

Mark Bittman has taught me never to buy granola again and to very simply, eat simply. I also love his routine of eating vegan until dinner time. I'm the same way -- the night time is truly the right time.

Can't wait to see this book!

Mark Bittman's no-nonsense style has inspired the very way I conceive food. Food's natural form is the most nutritious; so I intend to leave it that way as much as possible. Mr. Bittman had also inpired my Pescetarianism phase--

but what inpires me most about the man is the fact that he is not a trained chef--yet the best of the best refer to his wisdom daily.

I currently have this book checked out from the library, but I'd love to own it! He has some fabulous ideas for quick lunches and breakfasts.

One suggestion of his that's been helpful and easy for me is to avoid animal products until dinner. My husband is a confirmed carnivore, not to mention a picky eater. While I could easily forego meat most days of the week, he just can't. So I can stick to the fruits and vegs early in the day--the sooner I get them in, the more likely I'm actually going to anyway.

I enjoy Bittman's books--I often refer to his How to Cook Everything when looking for a basic technique or recipe.

Keep it simple, keep it fresh, make it attractive. Food does not need to be over the top to be delicious!

The most important thing he has taught me is to stock a healthy pantry and fridge. The more healthy foods you have on hand, the healthier the meals you make. Eat from the earth as much as possible and as little meat as possible. When you eat healthy you feel healthy. You know that what you are putting into your body is only making you better.

To eat a lot less meat.

Eat food, not too much, mostly plants - ok, that is Michael Pollan, but Pollan is the reason I found Bittman, and the reason I eat v. little meat these days. I wish I could say more, but I'd need to read the book first ;)

I am a vegetarian already, but he has instilled a consciousness of eating more locally - that's why next week i am starting to participate in the 1st CSA farm project in Puerto Rico... Siembra Tres Vidas. I am super excited!!!

And I love him in the Spain on the Road again series... his Spanish is too cute!!

I found this statement of his very interesting: if a lot of people eat less meat, it can make a big difference even without being complete vegans.

More and better fish.

I have never read (or heard) Bittman but my husband and I want to live a healthier lifestyle and I would love to win a copy of the book and incorporate some of the recipes into our meals.

cook at home more often, eat more brown rice

introduced me to some amazing new grains, including quinoa and lentils

I will let you know once I win the book and read it!

Eat food, real food.

I cook more at home, eat smaller portions of animal proteins, and more plants.

I am on a constant quest to eat less meat. At most, we eat meat once a day with dinner, but often not at all. It's honestly not that difficult, and it definitely saves money. When we do eat meat, we mostly purchase organic, free-range products; since these are more expensive, we buy less. I also think a small amount of meat adds up to a lot of flavor; bacon is a prime example of this (as my husband says, one of the keys to eating less meat is more bacon). Recently, my goal has been to eat more grains than my daily cup of oatmeal in the morning. There are so many great grains out there, which are delicious as well as very nutritious. To this end, we were recently gifted with a pressure cooker, which makes it even easier. I am also a huge fan of eggs, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

EAT REAL FOOD.

I don't know I need to get the book.

mark got me cooking again. i used to not cook unless i had guests, which isn't often. His minimalist cooking approach showed me the ease of cooking without a huge time needed for shopping and prepping.

he inspired me to eat less meat in my meals and use it only as flavoring

I have only just heard about Mark Bittman in the past four months. This is wholly because I came across, "Serious Eats" by accident and joined up to receive newsletters. I have been sufficiently inspired by information I have read about Mr. Bittman on this site, to buy his book, "How to Cook Everything," to celebrate a kitchen renovation. I am Canadian and do not have access to, "New York Times" and am just now digging in to this book which looks very interesting indeed. I would love to win, "Food Matters" as a companion book and try out some of the theories. I need to lose weight and would appreciate his wisdom.

I try to serve at least one vegetable per meal, and I have also tried substituting meats with meaty substitutes such as tofu or portabella mushrooms at least once a week.

I can't say he has changed by 'diet', but he has changed what and how I cook. Simple dishes are sometimes the best dishes is what he often preaches and I agree. I also have adapted his penchant for combining odd ingredients. Ex: Red hots and chicken or steel cut oats and soy sauce.

I joined a CSA! And his meals are a great balance; fresh and healthy, but doable enough for weeknights.

"what healthy changes Mark Bittman has inspired you to make with your own diet."
That's easy: Mark Bittman set the whole foundation for me to become a guy who understands and appreciates well-made home-cooked healthy food, and who values fresh ingredients

I grew up in a household that didn't have a lot of good cooks. I mean, my mom tried, but she was more likely to heat up a frozen lasagna. (My dad just didn't try)

When I first moved away from home ten years ago, my mom gave me a copy of Mark Bittman's How To Cook Everything.

I didn't touch it for the first couple months, but after one too many frozen pizzas, I cracked it open, and within a month or two I was well on my way to becoming a guy who can cook, um, everything. Almost everything.

How to Cook Everything changed the whole way I eat and cook. Because it has a focus on understanding food, not just mixing ingredients together as per the directions. And once I started understanding the food, I started making much better choices about food.

Now, among my family and friends, there is only one person who I would consider to be a better cook; but he has formal training. I just have a tattered copy of How to Cook Everything.

I also have a few disaster stories along the way - my roommates wouldn't speak to me for a week after that first attempt at Green Curry Chicken with Basil.

Anyways, ten years later, a lot of cook books and grocery store recipe rags have come into my house, but really, the big yellow hardcover is the only one I actually use. Well, I also use Crazy Plates, because my wife has some favourites in there, but otherwise, if I can't make it off the top of my head, I check HTCE first.

In my last apartment before i moved in with my wife, I even had a little stand for it, like a bible.

Like many others, I've cut out most meat from my diet. Now I eat mostly vegetarian and add meat every once in a while.

Eating less meat and adding more whole grains to my diet.

to cook for myself rather than eating out-his books make it easy and tasty to do so

sign me up

The biggest lesson he has given me is to purchase a food processor instead of a mixer. I eat a lot more and varied salads because of the ease of preparation (no more hand grating celeriac and beets for me!).

To eat more oatmeal, I did Atkins a number of years ago and gave up all carb and grains.

To be more aware of what I purchase & eat.
You don't always have to have meat at a meal and thats okay!

oatmeal and vegetables. can't eat enough of them.

I like what he has to say, but I can't say that I have adopted any of his ways yet. I guess i would like to read more to get some ideas that would work with my life style better

jason@allworldautomotive.com

I love his approach to cooking - fresh, non-processed ingredients, and keep it simple!

A month ago, my average friday eating habits included an bagel with lowfat cream cheese from dunkin donuts for breakfast, a turkey sandwich on wheat bread for lunch from my work cafeteria and pasta and chicken sausage from trader joes for dinner. Living in Philadelphia, I felt like a reasonably healthy person in the land of cheesesteaks.

Then, I saw Mark Bittman perform a reading of his new book Food Matters at the free library of Philadelphia. I have seriously changed my eating habits ever since. While he didnt actually read from the book, he talked about the imbalance within the diet of the average American, how easy it was to prepare simple and healthy food, and how our excessive consumption of meat is hurting the planet. He explained that he is now a less-meatitarian, eating a vegan diet until 6pm when all rules go out the window.

Inspired by this talk, I created my own Bittmanesque eating routine. I generally have three meals a day, one of each of the following meal types per day. Type 1: whole grains, legumes, fruit, and veg (I allow yogurt for breakfast). Type 2: Only fruit and veg. Type 3: Anything I want, trying as much as possible to make it myself and to ensure that if its unhealthy, that I really enjoy it.

I've been following it ever since (except one saturday when I had a Spotted Pig cheeseburger for lunch and short ribs for dinner at a wedding, either way it was definitely worth it).

Hopefully, I can win this book and really understand the details behind the impressive Bittman talk that I attended.

Sam

Eat more veggies and grains. Cut down on meat.

Mark Bittman means whole grains,fruits and veggies. Adding more fiber to my diet has helped and I am feeling better

Anytime that I can resist ordering out some soulless, vapid fare and instead turn to "Uncle Mark's" grand tome "How to Cook Everything" is another instance of a Bittman-inspired change for the healthier in my diet. And since I do all the cooking, my S.O. benefits also. We saw his interview on Colbert, and he even managed to get a few (intelligent) words in edgewise. The man is an inspiration, and I would love to get his book for free, 'cause otherwise I'm gonna buy it. I'd much rather spend that money stocking my Bittman-inspired pantry.

This is carrying out the philosophy of Diet for a Small Planet which I read in the 70s--the idea of eating basic foods low on the food chain. Now we can move beyond a mere hippie diet and have nutritious and appetizing meals reflecting great flavors from world cuisines using fresh local fare.

mostly plants.

I'm trying to buy more groceries in their original, unprocessed state. Mark Bittman gives me hope that eating a healthy diet is something I can really do, not just read about.

I find myself using his salad recipes often. He also taught me the importance of cutting down our meat intake. Thanks!

Eating simple with flavorful foods is what I've gotten from him.

To better balance organic/sustainable/local where local and sustainable are usually more important than organic.

I can't make it to the farmer's market but I buy all of the locally produced whole food I can and cook from scratch as often as I can.

less meat, more vegetables

I don't know, politics and food, is no subject sacrosanct. If he cooks with more vegetables, I'll try it. Thanks for a great giveaway!

Simple and quick foods to prepare without having to rely on purchased prepared foods

I'm convinced I need to eat less meat and more veggies, fruits and whole grains.

Mr. Bittman showed me that I can revel in cooking amazing food in my thimble-sized kitchen with apartment-sized oven & refrigerator. He also cured me of my processed food love -- no more canned stock & beans & many more fresh whole foods. My boyfriend & I both thank him heartily for both of these grand gifts!

I eat quinoa!

I like his emphasis on fresh produce because I'm always looking for fast, tasty recipes using produce that are also healthy and not loaded with fat.

I have stuck to simple recipes with healthy ingredients.

He lets us know that you can eat quite healthy with relatively simple recipes

Eat more wild fish

I try to eat more organic food.

He has inspired me to eat less meat and more fruit and vegetables.

I need to eat more veggies.

He's taught me that you don't have to go without the things you love...and since I love bacon, that's precious to me.

Seasonal, simple, meals. Be mindful of meat. His work has been a constant reminder that eating and feeling well doesn't mean re-inventing the wheel.

Quick homecooked meals are better than elaborate pre-processed food

Thank you for participating, and congratulations to our winners:

honeypie411
anyang
ilikecitylights
foobie
bibliothecaire

Winners have been notified by email and also appear on our Contest Winners page.