Vegan Celebrity Kim Barnouin Dishes on Sweet Treats & Good Eats

Hey Tofutti Cuties,

You’ve heard of Kim Barnouin, right? The model-turned-holistic-nutritionist who co-authored the New York Times #1 bestseller Skinny Bitch? If you haven’t, go buy her book. Despite the sassy title, it isn’t about being skinny or bitchy. It’s brilliant testimony to the inner and outer benefits of a vegan, whole-foods lifestyle. Then clop over to her website and sign up for delicious daily installments of health, lifestyle and beauty advice. It’s like Dr. Weil meets Sex and the City. You’ll love it!

Instant recognition!

I was lucky enough to catch up with Kim and ask her a couple of nosey questions. I hope you enjoy her foodie wisdom!

Carob kisses,
Nora

[Editor's note: The Co-op does not endorse nor encourage the book's title language. For an interesting and revealing take on Skinny Bitch from the NYT Book Review, take a gander over here.]

Moi: Kim, you’re a bestselling co-author of the “Skinny Bitch” series, a sexy vegan health guru, a holistic nutritionist, a mother, a wife, and the brains behind a fabulous new lifestyle website, www.healthybitchdaily.com. With so much to do, what keeps you so gorgeous and grounded?

Mme Kim Barnouin: I really love what I do, and I’m trying to make the world a healthier place, so that passion keeps me going not only professionally but personally as well. As a mom I want my son to grow up in a healthy environment and to take that foundation into his adult life. I live by the beach and that helps me feel grounded. I also have a lot of fun with my son, and have great friends to keep me sane.

Moi: This is really nosey, but what’s the most deliciously sinful thing you’ve eaten lately, and what’s the most virtuous?

Mme Kim Barnouin: I have an obsession with cupcakes. I’m really picky about my desserts and I love to bake so I tend to make my own. I eat them with no guilt because they’re pretty much fat- and cholesterol-free, and I don’t eat them everyday. Virtuous? I only started eating kale about five years ago–I never knew what to do with it–but now it’s my favorite veggie and I put it in everything. I chop it up really fine like parsley, and hide it in foods so my son will eat it!

Kim Barnouin

Moi: You’ve made it clear to your fans that a healthy diet is a healing diet. What eats would you recommend to keep our immune systems pumping through the winter months?

Mme Kim Barnouin: People should be eating foods to boost their immune systems, such as green tea, garlic, broccoli, kale, spinach, collard greens, tomatoes. Beta carotene-rich foods such as carrots and sweet potatoes. Nuts and seeds pack a powerful punch of Vitamin E and antioxidants. Omega-3 fatty acids such as flaxseed oil. Probiotics. Vitamin C-rich foods such as oranges, grapefruits, cantaloupe and asparagus. Legumes–they are a good source of zinc.

Moi: Seems like everyone and their mother has food allergies these days. Where do you weigh in on the topic? Is the gluten-free industry brainwashing us or do we all have sensitive, intolerant digestive systems?

Mme Kim Barnouin: It is true that we’re hearing more about food allergies lately, and since my son has them too, I’m in the thick of it. I thought I did all the right things to prevent them. Many kids grow out of their food allergies, but there are a handful of allergies that stay through adulthood. Food intolerances are more common and stay with you longer. But maybe we’re just more capable now of pinpointing health problems from them. Gluten intolerance is an autoimmune disease and it affects about two million Americans. It can cause many symptoms within the body and over time can be very harmful. Recently I read about kids with autism following a gluten-free diet and how it can be a very important aspect of treatment for them. Then there are just plain wheat allergies and those people are also looking for the wheat-free foods. There is a rise in people with these sensitivities and many believe the food industry is exposing more people to gluten and wheat than in the past. It is a common ingredient added to many foods now. I also think our food production has changed so drastically in the last few decades, with the amount of chemicals, pesticides, hormones, preservatives and additives, that our bodies don’t know how to process it all.

Moi: Lately there’s been some bad press on soy and peanuts. Soy cheese and peanut butter are probably my two favoritest vegan things on the planet. Am I still allowed to eat them?

Mme Kim Barnouin: Yes! Peanuts are very healthy. They contain Vitamin E, niacin, folate, protein and manganese. They’re rich in antioxidants and contain resveratrol, also found in red grapes and red wine. Be sure to buy organic for any peanut related foods—otherwise they contain pesticide residue. Soy products are a hot topic still and I think if you consume small amounts you will still reap the health benefits without overdoing it. Keeping the soy foods GMO free and as unprocessed as possible is the best approach. Soy cheese is good, but everything in moderation!

Kim Barnouin is the co-author of the New York Times bestselling books Skinny Bitch and Skinny Bitch in the Kitch. Skinny Bitch has been translated into twenty-one languages and has sold over two million copies worldwide. Skinny Bitch in the Kitch is the follow-up cookbook that also appeared on the Times list and has sold over 350,000 copies in the U.S. alone. Kim also co-authored Skinny Bitch: Bun in the Oven, a healthy guide for pregnant women; Skinny Bitchin’, a motivational journal for women; and the most recent release, Skinny Bastard, the Skinny Bitch book for men. Beside her role in the Skinny Empire, Kim recently released three Skinny Bitch fitness DVDs to incorporate exercise into the lives of women looking to add to their new, healthy lifestyle. Kim’s most recent project is the launch of a website for women, www.healthybitchdaily.com, where she will be spreading her message of a healthy lifestyle through food, fitness, body care and spirituality. Kim holds a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Health and a Master’s degree in Holistic Nutrition. She lives in L.A. with her husband and son.