Plant-strong & healthy living: Rip Esselstyn at TEDxFremont

change your relationship with food. You will always have a different relationship. Find support. This culture, this society does not support

healthy

living

or

healthy

eating right now. That's why you need to find support in family, at work, online. There are all kinds of communities where you can get support. Develop Routines that make this sustainable Whether at breakfast, every morning, same thing. Monday through Friday, whether it's finding a couple of restaurants you can go to, but finding routines! Educate yourself! Read the litany of fantastic books that exist on this topic, because once you have the knowledge, it's a different ball game.

And then surround yourself with healthy foods. We don't want this to be a matter of willpower, okay? So have a nice and sterile environment at home. And then prepare food that you enjoy. Did you see all the fantastic photos we are eating at the fire station. This is not about deprivation, it is about empowerment. If you're a true foodie, you'll want to opt for

plant

-based foods. 99 percent of the planet's food comes from

plant

s, only 1 percent comes from animals and animal byproducts. So, I have a lot of hope in the future that this country can turn things around.

I know that if a small fire station in Austin, Texas can do it, any home in America can do it, and I know that trends are changing. I have seen it with my own eyes for the last six years. I've seen "Forks Over Knives" become the number one watched and selling documentary in America for the last two years. I've seen the president of fast food opt for plant-based products. I've seen media moguls like Oprah and Ellen now pushing plants. I've seen CEOs like John Mackey and Biz Stone of Twitter, and Bill Ford of Ford Motor Corp., who are going plant-based.

I've seen professional athletes like Serena and Venus Williams and the NFL's number one running back Arian Foster now go plant-based. The time is here! The time is now! Go plant hard! Kill! Kill the five-headed dragon in your life. And it all starts with what's at the end of your fork, your spoon and your knife. Awesome!!! (Laughter) (Applause)