Javascript is not enabled.

Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.

Skip to content
Content starts here
CLOSE ×
Search
Leaving AARP.org Website

You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

Jane Goodall Shares Recipes, and a Mission

The world-famous animal rights activist has a new cookbook—and a message about how skipping meat can help save the environment

spinner image portrait of jane goodall
Photo by Michael Callopy

We all know Jane Goodall as the chimp lady: the woman who, at age 26, packing binoculars and a notebook, left her home in England for the wilds of what is now Tanzania to live with, study and ultimately protect chimpanzees. Now 86, Goodall is still going strong, advocating for both animal welfare and environmental stewardship.

Speaking from her childhood home in Bournemouth, England, which has become her central command during the pandemic, Goodall says she is now “virtual Jane, working probably three times harder than I did when traveling 300 days a year, spreading hope around the world."

She is also spreading the message of plant-based eating. The Jane Goodall Institute's first cookbook ever, titled #EatMeatless: Good for Animals, the Earth & All, hits bookstores this month, offering up 80 plant-based recipes that are both healthy and inspiring: breakfast dishes, soups, salads, mains and desserts.

spinner image eat meat less the cover of a new cookbook from the jane goodall institute
Simon & Schuster

A longtime vegetarian and now vegan, Goodall — who wrote the cookbook's foreword and offers nuggets of wisdom throughout — shared why she and her eponymous institute decided to create this collection now: “It's becoming more and more clear that the obsession with eating meat and dairy products and eggs is totally destroying the environment. It's creating methane, it's wasting water, and it's bad for our health."

Goodall, whose studies in the ‘60s and ‘70s of chimps in Tanzania's Gombe Stream National Park (work that continues today) led many to view animals as sentient beings like us, grew up in the U.K. eating meat. But while on a flight in the late ‘60s, she read Peter Singer's book Animal Liberation and had an epiphany. “I looked at this meal they served me — it was a bit of chicken — and I realized that it represented fear, pain and death. And I thought, ‘I don't want anything to do with that.’ And that was the end of my eating any kind of meat."

Though her initial reasons, she says, were “ethical and purely about animals,” they are now also about the environment. She takes particular aim at the raising of animals on factory farms, which requires the clearing of huge swaths of habitat and the use of pesticides, fertilizer and lots of fossil fuels.

Plant-based eating, she says, isn't just better for the environment — it's also healthier. Along with cardiovascular benefits, Goodall points to growing research that links meat to human antibiotic resistance — and ultimately, she says, to superbugs.

For those of any age, Goodall stresses it's never too late to tweak your diet. She offers a simple suggestion for meat eaters: Start by going meatless one day a week. “Vegan food used to be tasteless and awful,” she says, but today “really good vegan cooking is some of the best I've ever tasted.” This cookbook (including the four excerpted recipes that follow) is a great place to start.

spinner image banana pancakes with seasonal fruit syrup
Erin Scott/The Jane Goodall Institute/Simon & Schuster

Banana Pancakes With Seasonal Fruit Syrup

White whole wheat flour is made from a variety of wheat that has a pale outer bran layer, so it looks like white flour but has all the benefits of whole grain wheat. If you can't find it, substitute whole wheat pastry flour. You can use a ripe banana for these pancakes, and it will caramelize nicely in the hot pan, a perfect foil for the fruity syrup.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh or thawed frozen berries or fruit, plus fresh berries for garnish
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 1 ½ cups white whole wheat flour or whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • Sea salt
  • 1 ½ cups plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened nondairy milk
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
  • 1 large, ripe banana, peeled and thinly sliced

To make the fruit syrup, in a 1-quart pot, combine the fruit and maple syrup, and set over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring often, until the fruit is soft and the syrup is slightly thickened, 2-5 minutes. Keep warm over very low heat while you make the pancakes.

If desired, preheat the oven to 200°F. Place a heat-safe platter or pan in the oven to keep the cooked pancakes warm.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the nondairy milk, oil, vinegar and ground flax and let stand for 5 minutes for the flax to gel. Stir the nondairy milk mixture into the flour mixture just until all the flour is moistened.

Warm a griddle or a large nonstick frying pan over high heat. Spray with vegetable oil spray just before adding the batter. Stir the batter again, then use a 1/4-cup measure to scoop the batter onto the hot griddle, leaving 1 inch of space between the cakes. Place 3 slices of banana on top of each cake and tap down with a spatula to adhere. When the batter starts to bubble, reduce the heat to medium. When the edges of a pancake look dry and cooked and the surface is covered with holes, about 2 minutes, flip the cake. Cook for 2 minutes on the second side. Transfer the finished pancakes to the platter in the oven, if using, while you finish cooking the rest of the pancakes, using more vegetable oil spray as needed.

Place 3 to 4 pancakes on each plate, top with one-fourth of the fruit syrup and garnish with berries. Serve right away.

Makes four servings.

spinner image summer vegetable minestrone
Erin Scott/The Jane Goodall Institute/Simon & Schuster

Summer Vegetable Minestrone

Peak-of-summer locally grown produce is the freshest and most nutritious, and practically seasons itself. All the cook needs to do is show off the vegetables’ vibrant flavors with an easy soup like this one. If you are making the soup ahead of time, don’t add the pasta, since it will soak up the broth and become mushy. Instead, wait and cook the pasta just before serving. Distribute it evenly into the bowls, and pour the reheated soup over the top.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 large carrots, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 4 large tomatoes, chopped, with their juices
  • 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced
  • Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 1 bunch kale, ribs removed and thinly sliced, and leaves chopped
  • ½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
  • ½ cup orzo

In a large pot, warm the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, basil, oregano, fennel seeds, broth, tomatoes and their juices, chickpeas, kidney beans, zucchini and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the kale and parsley and let stand, covered, until the kale is wilted, about 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, if using the orzo, bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain well. Stir the orzo into the finished soup.

Ladle the soup into bowls and serve right away.

Makes six servings.

spinner image cauliflower tacos on a plate with radishes and lime
Erin Scott/The Jane Goodall Institute/Simon & Schuster

Cauliflower–Pumpkin Seed Tacos

With its texture and versatility, cauliflower makes a good stand-in for meat; its mellow flavor also pairs well with spices and seasonings. Pepitas come from a squash grown for its large hull-less seeds, which are very different from the seeds you scrape out of a Halloween pumpkin. They require less water to grow than most nuts, and contain protein, heart-healthy fats, and plenty of vitamins and minerals.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
  • 2 cups cauliflower florets
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 large jalapeño chili, seeded
  • 3 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon dried sage
  • ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
  • 1 tablespoon tamari
  • Sea salt
  • 8 corn tortillas
  • 1 ripe avocado, pitted, peeled and cubed
  • Juice of ½ lime
  • Hot sauce, for serving (optional)

In a food processor, process the pumpkin seeds until finely ground; scrape into a small bowl and set aside.

Place the cauliflower, half of the tomatoes, the jalapeño and garlic in the processor and pulse until minced.

In a large sauté pan, warm the oil over medium-high heat. Add the pumpkin seeds and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 3 minutes.

Scrape the cauliflower mixture into the pan with the pumpkin seeds and cook, stirring often, until the mixture is soft and browned, about 8 minutes. Add the sage, chipotle powder, tamari and ½ teaspoon salt and stir until the pan is dry, 1–2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.

In another bowl, toss together the remaining tomatoes, avocado, lime juice and a pinch of salt.

spinner image AARP Membership Card

Join AARP today for $16 per year. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. 

To warm the tortillas, wrap in a paper towel and microwave for 2 minutes, or warm each tortilla individually by placing in a cast-iron pan over medium heat, flipping every few seconds until hot, about 1 minute.

Divide the filling evenly among the tortillas and top with the avocado salsa and a drizzle of hot sauce, if using. Serve right away.

Makes four servings.

 

spinner image apple cranberry crumble bars
Erin Scott/The Jane Goodall Institute/Simon & Schuster

Apple Cranberry Crumble Bars

Full of whole grain goodness and healthful fruit, these chewy, oaty bars are a treat you can feel good about. Cranberries are especially high in antioxidants and vitamin C, so don’t just enjoy them at Thanksgiving. They are available frozen year-round, and you can easily freeze your own on rimmed baking sheets and transfer to freezer bags when solid. If using frozen berries, increase the baking time by a few minutes.

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil
  • 6 sweet baking apples (such as Gala or Golden Delicious), peeled, cored and sliced
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • ½ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the crumble

  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • Sea salt
  • ½ cup coconut oil, melted
  • ½ cup unsweetened nondairy milk
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.

In a saucepan, warm the oil over low heat. Add the apples and cook, stirring often, until starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the cranberries and stir just until a few berries pop, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the brown sugar and vanilla and cook, stirring, until the mixture is melted and syrupy, 2–3 minutes. Remove from the heat.

To make the crumble, in a large bowl, stir together the oats, flour, brown sugar, baking soda and ¼ teaspoon salt. Drizzle in the oil and nondairy milk and stir until the mixture holds its shape when squeezed.

Sprinkle half of the mixture over the bottom of the prepared pan. Dampen your hands and press the crumble into the pan, dampening again as needed to keep the mixture from sticking to your hands. Add the cinnamon to the remaining oat mixture and toss to mix. Spread the apple mixture in the pan and crumble the remaining oat mixture over it evenly. Press gently with the palms of your hands to make even bars.

Bake until the top is firm to the touch and the edges are golden brown, 30–35 minutes. Cool completely in the pan on a rack and then refrigerate until cold.

Cut into squares and serve. Or just eat warm and messy. The bars can be stored, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Makes 16-20 bars

spinner image AARP Membership Card

Join AARP today for $16 per year. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine. 

Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition

Join AARP to Continue

Already a Member?

spinner image AARP Membership Card

Join AARP today for $16 per year. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.