ABOUT JANE

Jane Esselstyn RN is a fresh and charismatic voice on the whole food, plant-based diet. She brings her perspective and passion as a woman, nurse, researcher, and mother to creating on-ramps to the plant-based way of life. Jane is an avid and inventive designer of plant-based recipes and the co-author of the New York Times Bestseller,  Be a Plant-Based Woman Warrior: Live Fierce, Stay Bold, Eat Delicious, and The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook with her next door neighbor, mom, and human firecracker -Ann Esselstyn. Jane and Ann present their work, research, and high energy demos around the world- and on her YouTube channel.  Jane also created the recipe section of #1 NYTimes bestseller, Plant-Strong, and The Seven Day Rescue, by Rip Esselstyn. And she is co-author of  The Engine 2 Cookbook. 

Women, families and community drive Jane’s work forward. She is the host of the annual conference: Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease for Women, which is focused on the power of plants! Jane claims, “Prevention is the new cure, and the most powerful, relevant, and protective medicine available”. With full enthusiasm, Jane co-founded Well, Now! Camp – an activity -filled, creative escape for plant-based women warriors, because vitality rocks!

Like many in the Esselstyn family, Jane presents her work, research, and high energy food demos across the country and world. Her presentations, food demonstrations, samples and food parties bring clarity, hilarity, and a can-do attitude to the power of plant-based eating. Numerous times a year, together with her husband, Brian Hart—executive director of The Esselstyn Foundation, Jane hosts a one-day, food-focused, hands-on seminars-which are the very embodiment of this plant-based movement: it is all about the food— eating it, tasting it, and making it— all day long! 

Her research with the Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Pediatrics observes the effects of a plant-based diet on pediatric obesity and hypercholesterolemia. The Journal of Pediatrics published one of their studies in February of 2015 where Jane created the classroom curriculum and the kitchen curriculum for the study. The Journal of Pediatrics published a  second research study of theirs in September, 2022.  A tireless champion for kids and their health, Jane brings remarkable clarity, compassion and humor to the table.

When not working on recipes or research, Jane teaches Sexuality Education to middle schoolers. Many of the basic healthy messages around being a sexual being for middle school kids make their way into Jane’s adult presentations in hilarious and educational ways.

Jane met her husband and fellow plant-based educator, Brian Hart, while working as a field instructor for Outward Bound. They have three plant-based children. Jane graduated from the University of Michigan, where she competed nationally as a recruited swimmer and rower, and earned a B.S. in Nursing from Kent State University.

JANE ESSELSTYN QUICK BIO

Jane Esselstyn RN is a fresh, charismatic voice who brings her perspective and passion as a nurse, researcher, mother, and teacher to the forefront of the plant-based movement. She presents her work, research, and high energy demos around the world- and on her new YouTube channel with her firecracker mom, Ann Esselstyn.  Women, families and community drive Jane’s work forward. She is the host of the annual conference, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease for Women, which is focused on the power of plants! Jane claims, “Prevention is the new cure, and the most powerful, relevant, and protective medicine available”. With full enthusiasm, Jane co-founded Well, Now! Camp – an activity -filled, creative escape for Plant-Based Women Warriors – because vitality rocks!

Jane is an avid and inventive designer of plant-strong recipes and the co-author of  the NY Times Bestseller Be a Plant-Based Woman Warrior: Live Fierce, Stay Bold, Eat Delicious, and The Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease Cookbook. She created the recipe sections of #1 NY Times Bestseller, Plant-Strong and The Engine 2 Seven Day Rescue, by Rip Esselstyn. And she is a co-author of The Engine 2 Cookbook. Jane brings her infectious energy and straight forward message to her presentations, cooking demonstrations, and cookbooks with clarity, hilarity, and a can-do attitude.

BRIAN HART QUICK BIO

Brian Hart M.Ed., MSW, is the founder and executive director of The Esselstyn Foundation, a non-profit with the mission to “Eradicate lifestyle related diseases through whole food, plant-based nutrition.” Brian’s works with communities in extensive ways: as a therapist in behavioral health, as well as advocating for plant-based nutrition wherever the message may be carried. Brian has vast experience as an educator with over twenty-five years in the field as a teacher, administrator, and advocate for school change in both the public and private sectors. Brian specializes in collaborating with organizations to help them create immersive, hands-on, experiential programs designed to transform thinking and build problem-solving skills. As well, he and his wife, Jane, travel the country educating people of all ages on the benefits of whole food, plant-based eating. He is a former Outward Bound instructor, wilderness EMT, plant-based chef, teacher, middle school principal, and carpenter.

When not advocating for plant-based causes, he is a highly average ultra- endurance athlete with four Ironman finishes to his name, among other run, bike, and ski events. Brian graduated from Dickinson College with a BA in History. He earned his M.Ed. in teaching and curriculum design from Ursuline College and his MSW from Ohio University. He also holds a Montessori Adolescent Endorsement and plant-based chef certificate from Rouxbe.

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