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 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 seminar called Wrapping Your Head, Heart, and Hands Around Plant-based Eating. It is the very embodiment of this plant-based movement: all about the food— eating, 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 peditric 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. 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.