Skinny Bitch_ Ultimate Everyday Cookbook - Kim Barnouin [4]
This book is a reflection of the changes in my life that have led to the way I now look at food. My eating habits have made so much progress. I no longer rely on “fake meats” for every meal, though they were my rock while making the transition from vegetarian to vegan. Don’t get me wrong. I still enjoy imitation meats (hence, you will find some in my recipes and need not banish them from your freezer entirely either), but I use them more as a special treat now. My main focus is on fresh, seasonal, flavorful dishes that are quick and easy-to-prepare. I want people to know that it is possible to eat well and love every bit of it. It’s not difficult. You’re a big kid now—spitting out your Brussels sprout in a napkin destined for the bathroom trash bin is not acceptable. Nutritious fare has flourished, devising countless ways to taste delicious. A healthy diet shouldn’t be thought of as deprivation but, instead, as bringing you a sense of enjoyment and pleasure that carry the added bonus of helping your body function to the best of its ability.
No matter what your dietary preference, I’m not here to judge. Though all the recipes in this book are technically vegan, this is not a cookbook designed specifically for vegans. The simple dishes in this cookbook were designed to satisfy, and fool for that matter, any palate. It’s a cookbook meant to reignite the passion for stepping in the kitchen, freeing your mind, making a mess, learning a few things in the process, and setting something on the table that makes you feel empowered.
Remember you don’t have to change the way you eat overnight. In fact, I don’t recommend it. Make small changes here and there to ease into a new way of eating. Even if it’s just eating a few more vegetable dishes a week or cutting back on fried foods, it’s a choice and a worthwhile one.
So, my dear friends, it is time for me to wish you the best of luck. Use food to turn your health and life around—it is that powerful. Use food to clear your head. Use food to reunite friends. Use food to bring your family together. Use food to influence change. Use food to get laid, if it helps. Just use it. That’s what it’s there for.
Remember, no matter what led you to this cookbook, this is your opportunity. Invest in yourself, and your body will invest in you. Any positive changes you continue to make in your diet are steps in the right direction, and every choice you make is a new chance to discover just what you’re capable of.
Trust me.
Your Friend,
Kim
P.S. For years, I have received e-mails with questions about everything from better nutrition and treating everyday ailments to my favorite food products. While I try to be responsive, I’d be kidding myself to say I have answered every e-mail. So, instead of waiting for you to come to me with questions, I decided I would bring Skinny Bitch to you. My newest baby is a free daily e-mail feed that answers your questions before you even ask. Check it out at www.healthybitchdaily.com.
PART ONE
SUSTAINABILITY: A GREENER DIET
Mother Earth has a problem.
A problem much bigger than drunk texting or the lack of parking at your local Star-bucks. She has a huge boo-boo. Not the kind you just stick a bandage on. This one is gonna need some major TLC.
It’s called global warming—the very thing that is wiping out our polar bears and giving Death Valley a name to live up to. And, it’s not going anywhere. That is, unless we do something about it.
Now, what do our diets have to do with global warming? As it turns out, the planet actually does give a shit whether you have bacon for breakfast or a bowl of cereal.
This is not where I criticize factory farming for its inhumane practices and utter disdain for animal welfare. Skinny Bitch already did that. Actually, I’ve got a