Kim Barnouin and Rory Freedman might not be professional dieticians, but the authors did snag the No.1 and No. 2 spots on the New York Times best-seller list of paperback advice books for Skinny Bitch"" and ""Skinny Bitch in the Kitch.""
The widely successful books look like your average chick-lit beach-read from the covers, which are both donned with svelte female sketches and have ridiculously long taglines like ""Skinny Bitch: a no-nonsense tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating crap and start looking fabulous!"" But the first book especially is not an ordinary diet book and delves into issues much more serious than weight loss.
""We knew once people bought the book and they read it cover to cover, it would honestly move them and force them to really take a look at [veganism],"" Barnouin said.
After a few humorous and often sardonic chapters like ""Carbs: The Truth"" and ""Sugar is the Devil,"" the book shifts focus and illustrates the dangers of eating meat and the hazards of the dairy industry. The authors discuss in-depth the mistreatment of animals on factory farms and the health consequences of eating animals and their by-products.
""I know we got a lot of e-mails saying, 'Oh my god I can't believe this,'"" Barnouin said. ""A lot of this was a shock for us as well.""
The authors do not attempt to tiptoe around any major health issue. They condemn the Food and Drug Administration for being corrupted by and siding with the meat industry, and they reveal the sham of the ""Got Milk?"" campaign. Most of these topics are things college students would like to turn a blind eye to, but they should be read nonetheless.
""Skinny Bitch"" provides an unfortunate realization for students: ""Of course it's easier to socialize after you've had a few drinks. But being a fat pig will hinder you, sober or drunk. And habitual drinking equals fat-pig syndrome. Beer is for frat boys, not skinny bitches.""
Another disadvantage for Wisconsinites is the stance on cheese. The authors disclose the scary truth: ""All dairy products contain casein, but cheese has the highest concentration '¦ It also has phenylethylamine (PEA), an amphetamine-like chemical. So when we kid around and say, 'I am addicted to cheese,' it's not a joke - it's true. We are chemically addicted to cheese.""
Other unwanted expressions include, ""Soda is liquid Satan,"" ""Coffee is for pussies"" and ""Sugar is like crack."" The book eliminates many popular foods and drinks, including staples such as ordinary pizza and ice cream, but it also gives many healthier alternatives.
At the end of the book there is a list of substitutes for anything from ordinary cheese and meat to mayonnaise and flour. Barnouin said the book shows you can be a vegan and not just eat lettuce.
""My favorite is the pecan French toast because I'm a breakfast person,"" Barnouin said. ""The burrito for lunch and the 'meatloaf' and mashed potatoes for dinner. And the brownies make my hair want to fall out - they're just so good.""
These recipes and more are all included in the vegan cookbook ""Skinny Bitch in the Kitch,"" which Barnouin said helps people think outside the box. More important than the recipes are the ingredients that go into making them. The authors encourage the use of all organic products and say the cost is entirely worth it.
""For us we just kind of say people can find a way to spend money on clothes, handbags and shoes, but they don't want to put a lot of extra money into their health,"" Barnouin said. ""What you put into your body is what you get out of it. We try to do the best that we can, but we're not perfect either.""
Vegan ideas aside, Barnouin said the most important thing she wants readers to get out of the book is to start reading ingredient lists and start a healthier way of life.
""We get thousands of e-mails that say 'I read your book in a day, and it changed my life,'"" Barnouin said.
Many of the claims the authors make, while well supported from other sources, are eye opening for even those who allege they are already healthy eaters. And despite the often vulgar language and harshness of the straight facts, the book simply gives readers the information and allows them to make their own choices about food.
Barnouin and Freedman put it best in the last two sentences: ""YOU hold the power to change your life, and it's really so simple. Use your head, lose your ass.
