Isn't this just what his Food Matters books are about? I've read both, and they're great...I'm not sure he needs another book on the same concept though.

I've been reading the benefits of a paleo diet and have been considering paleo before 6.

I've tried this, and I just can't find vegan food that keeps me full throughout the workday without eating constantly. It would be easier for me to do vegan after 6!

i don't know that i could make it through the day without dairy---i'm thinking yogurt and cheese more than actual milk---but this is intriguing. i think my biggest "fears" about such a diet (besides the discipline required) is that it will be inconvenient (less "grab and go") and kind of boring (because you don't always have time to make the fruits and veg into something super appetizing ... a lot of the time you'll just be eating raw produce). but maybe those things wouldn't be so bad...

I've considered doing this...I didn't know it was a "thing". I was full-on vegan for two years and it was healthy, but just too mentally consuming and, especially, socially isolating. I hated being the person who couldn't eat anything made by anyone since cooking and eating with friends and family is a big part of my life. This strategy would alleviate that problem because most social eating and entertaining happens in the evening.

I think it depends on why someone chooses vegan diets or hours of the day. There's a misconception that vegan diets are 100 percent guilt-free and perfectly healthy. Not really the case. For health, we simply buy humane certified meat / dairy whenever possible, container grow and we cut out a huge amount of processed food and sugar. For breakfast, hard boiled eggs with a raw salad, yogurt or smoothies. Munch on veggies and nuts for lunch, dinner may be miso soup, sushi or salmon and once a week or so, local beef. We make our own iced tea as well.

Not really feasible for me . . . my boyfriend and I are both pre-diabetic, so we recently went on a diabetic diet and I really find that I do need a small portion of meat with both lunch and dinner in order to feel full. Our diet is very much vegetable-based, with some whole grains, but I seem to need that small amount of meat along with it.

I already do this and it's not at all intentional. I eat a lot of whole grains and legumes and vegetables and nuts during the day. They are so so filling. But at night I want some dairy or meat. I doubt though that if I had come up with a trendy name for it that I would have gotten a book deal out of it.

I'm looking forward to hearing more about his upcoming book! So far it seems that the title says it all!

Ciao,

L

I love this idea! I tried eating full on vegan for a couple weeks and it was doable and I didn't feel limited - but you definitely have to think a lot more about what you're going to eat in order to plan as well as have nutritional balance. I think the idea of vegan before six or even 2 vegan meals and one non-vegan if you want eggs for breakfast every once in a while sounds like a more realistic plan.

I like this idea. I'd be willing to give it a try but like another poster said, I'd rather be a Vegan after 6 ... though that would be difficult too since dinner is usually a social event.

@APK_101 - Let's try to be a little less smug. Yes, eating only plants before 6 PM then reverting to a more 'standard' diet is a thing. Bittman didn't say he invented the idea of veganism.

My worst food indulgences are in the evenings! I've been cutting out any food after 9 pm (FA9 - or fast after 9) and for me, that helps control the ice cream and cookie consumption. I think we all just need to be more conscious of our eating patterns, and adjust.

my daily yogurt parfait is what gets me out of bed in the morning. no way am I giving that up.

To me it just looks like Bittman's running out of ideas for books.

Do people still not realize that meat and dairy are not the only ways to get protein? I'm a pescetarian and by all means try not to be preachy, but I always find it a little ridiculous when the subject of eating meat comes up with others and they immediately throw the defensive, "I have to have protein" as a response. Everyone has to have protein, of course. But dairy and meat are not the only sources. Legumes, nuts, and whole grains are really great sources of protein -- easy to make, affordable, versatile, and healthy! Again, not trying to say that anyone has to consider changing their diets, but if what's stopping them is a fear of protein-deficiency, they need to start broadening their culinary horizons...

I agree with @therascalqueen - even with protein sources like beans and nuts, I still like to have meat during the day - if I don't have a proper breakfast or lunch, I get woozy and crabby and nauseous from hunger until I do have a proper meal.

And really, since most of us burn calories during the day, and not after 6 pm, wouldn't it be better to have your meat or other "guilty" pleasures during the day and be a little more ascetic at night?

I had the same thought as vintagejenta - have more indulgent foods during the day for metabolism purposes. But then, I find it's easier to have a lighter breakfast and lunch vs. dinner. I just enjoy richer dinner foods, even if I eat less to compensate. Seems like Bittman is on to something and his method makes it easy to stick to a certain type of eating. You could do the same thing by saying "only vegan breakfast and dinner" or whatever iteration you want.

I tend to eat a rich, calorie laden late dinner, and I find that it keeps me going for most of the following day. I'm not hungry till 3 in the afternoon, usually.

I think it's a bit of a cop out because he does acknowledge that it is unethical to eat meat/dairy. I understand the stakes for him are incredibly high as a chef, so I do applaud him for that.

I hope that he will place more emphasis on the ethics and use it as a way to cut down on animal suffering if you're not ready to take the full plunge.

Over the last year and a half, we slowly cut down on meat, dairy and anything processed. So much so that now we've eliminated it completely. It wasn't necessarily on purpose, but it was an evolution. It also took that long to gain a wide repertoire of meals that we really love. The biggest side effect is the energy we have now. We never feel like we need a nap after a meal!

Ariellie, yes, I do know all about amino acids and complete proteins and all that. I do know that you can get protein from all sorts of sources other than meat. I just find that there's something about eating meat that keeps me full longer (as in, can wait 4 hours to eat instead of 2). And because I'm on a diabetic diet, I'm watching both calories and carbohydrates, which makes it difficult to include much in the way of legumes and nuts.

Please do not assume that people whose experiences differ from yours are just ignorant.

(I don't think he's a chef.)

I tried this for a bit, and while I felt good about my choices for a while, I got promoted to a job that required a lot of lunches and brunches with clients, and oh, I suffered. Stodgy people (even co-workers) poked fun at my oatmeal and fruit salad when they chomped on French toast and bacon.

And man, that bacon smelled so good.

I've recently started the opposite, though -- when I'm home, I can watch what I eat and carefully prep and cook healthier things.

I find that Bittman (Michael Pollan, you are also guilty here) tends to write the same book over and over again. I believe that Bittman talked about his Vegan Before 6 philosophy in How To Cook Everything Vegetarian, Food Matters, and the Food Matters Cookbook. Don't get me wrong, I think that he has done wonderful things to help make good cooking accessible to many people--and I really applaud his efforts to make food that is healthful (full of nutrients) rather than just lower-calorie. But sometimes he seems to go for volume of recipes (my criticism of the How To Cook Everything series) or number of books written, rather than quality.

Bittman has made a rather major shift in the way he cooks and eats. He is now several years into that shift. Some criticize because he has written three or so books on this topic already. Is it inconceivable that he may still have something to say on the topic? He has had longer to experience this style of eating, and he may very likely have a great deal more to say. I have to say, I treasure the books of his that I already have, and look forward to this one, as well. His recipes are extremely well thought out - they not only work, but he gives additional riffs we can make on each more basic recipe. It is amazing in reading the comments on this post to realize, we are all so very different. Different diets suit each of us, and we are living in a time and a culture where we have great freedom to customize our diets to our own preferences. Although Bittman's recent approach may not be mainstream, it may become more and more so as time goes on (especially if we are lucky enough to have folks like Bittman to continue to offer guidance in this direction). I'm delighted that he continues to share his thoughtul viewpoint.

@STH: Meat doesn't have any fiber, so I'm not sure what it is about it that is making you feel fuller for longer.