INTERVIEW SERIES – SKINNY BITCH KIM BARNOUIN

Unless you have been living in under a rock you have heard of the Skinny Bitch series of books.  Kim Barnouin and Rory Freedman ignited a revolution with the release of their first book, Skinny Bitch.  Skinny Bitch helped mainstream vegan diets by explaining to women (and later Skinny Bastards) why they couldn’t “keep shoveling the same crap into [their] mouths every day and expect to lose weight.”

Kim Barnouin, 1/2 of the Skinny Bitch duo recently released her latest book,  Skinny Bitch Book of Vegan Swaps (click HERE to read Veggie Grettie’s review), and Chic Vegan was lucky enough to have the opportunity to interview the ever so sweet Kim.

 

Chic Vegan – What motivated you to become vegan and was it an overnight switch or more gradual shift?

KIM –  My motivation was originally to change my diet because I was having some health problems, and I started feeling so amazing that I wanted to push it a bit farther and become a vegetarian.  I had seen some pictures of factory farming in a magazine and it really upset me, so I knew I didn’t want to be a part of the meat eating industry.  It took me a few years to become a vegan, I took my time along the way.

your book with Rory Freedman has become a cult classic in the vegan world.  When you were writing the book did you have any idea that it would become the huge success that it has?

K – We were hoping it would become a big success, but it’s hard to imagine something this big happening! It’s been an amazing journey so far, I did have dreams of things happening this way but living it in reality is so sweet.

CV – Tell me a little bit about “Skinny Bitch Book of Vegan Swaps” and what inspired you to write it.

K – Vegan Swaps was to answer the questions of so many fans who were e-mailing me and asking what in the world they could eat when they were out with their friends, and at the airport.  I also knew of people’s struggles in Whole Foods with so many food choices, they would tell me they never knew where to start shopping or what to get! It’s a great go-to guide for many vegan questions.

CV – What is your favorite book in the Skinny Bitch series?

K – This is a difficult question! I love Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven, I was pregnant when we were working on that book so it became sort of a test  for us to try out a lot of the information and menus on me! It was a challenging book research wise, but opened my eyes to so many other things besides food (it led me to my book Skinny Bitch Home, Beauty & Style).  My other favorite book is Skinny Bitch Ultimate Everyday Cookbook, it is what I like to call my “grown up” cookbook.  I love the recipes, and the pictures, it has such great recipes and still some good info in the first half of the book. I’m a wanna be chef!

has such a fun mix of information on the site.  What is your favorite aspect of the site?

K – I love my website, it’s so adorable and a great source of information! I love telling people about new vegan, healthy products.  I’ve become so crazy about reading labels for beauty products now so it’s helpful when giving people healthy alternatives to everyday unhealthy, chemical filled ones.  I also love the recipes we give to our readers!

CV – What do you typically eat in the span of a day and are you a snacker?

K – I am one of those every few hours eaters, I can’t eat a huge helping at one sitting, instead I spread my meals out throughout the day. It helps regulate my blood sugar levels and keeps me full without that feeling of stuffing my face.  I like oatmeal or whole grain blueberry pancakes for breakfast, a hearty soup for lunch with a salad, and dinner would be a tofu and veggie stir fry or chili.  Snacks would consist of fruit, nuts and dried fruit, homemade granola, coconut milk yogurt, smoothies and I like to juice in the morning.

CV – What is your favorite vegan indulgence?

K – Cupcakes! I love cupcakes so much, and I can make the best vegan cupcakes. I like to show people that you can be vegan and eat great desserts.

CV – When people learn that you are vegan, what is the #1 question they ask and what is your response?

K – People ask “Where do you get your protein from”? I get that a million times a week! Vegans get their protein from eating a well balanced diet consisting of nuts and seeds, legumes, beans, seitan, tempeh, and grains such as quinoa and millet.

CV – What vegan product could you not live without?

K – Earth Balance non-dairy butter! It’s a staple in my cooking and baking recipes.  It’s so delicious and creamy.

CV – In your wildest dreams what will your life look like in 5 years?

K – I would love to still be writing books, and would love to have a cooking show on the Food Network!

 

Click HERE to read Veggie Grettie’s review of Skinny Bitch Book of Vegan Swaps