Book Review. Skinny Bitch in the Kitch...Kick-Ass Recipes for Hungry Girls Who Want to Stop Cooking Crap (and Start Looking Hot).

I read Skinny Bitch about three months ago on the recommendation of a friend. I have been unable to eat meat ever since. For some reason, mercury poisoning from fish doesn't scare me as much (who doesn't want to glow?) so seafood is still in.

For those of you who have not read or heard of the New York Time's Bestseller written by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin, it's a potty-mouthed (which I love), tough-love guide seemingly written by your little sister (the one your roll your eyes at every time she says or does something shocking) that explains why you look and feel like shit. Their definition of a Skinny Bitch is: someone who enjoys food, eats well, and loves her body as a result. It has nothing to do with how much yo weigh or what size you are! Skinny Bitches come in all beautiful shapes and sizes.

You are what you eat and sometimes you need a girlfriend or sister to tell you straight up. Here is the first book in a nutshell (but read the book):

1) Meat is the devil. It's loaded with nasty shit like pesticides and hormones and leads to funky diseases. The FDA is out to kill us all for the quest of the almighty dollar.

2) Dairy is for babies, not adults. They dare you to suck on an udder (I'm using kinder language). It's to blame for osteoporosis, acne and anxiety among other things.

3) Carbs have gotten a bad rap. Eat complex carbs like whole grains and avoid simple carbs like white bread.

Rory Freedman & Kim Barnouin by Tim VanOrden

So I finished the book and ran to my nearest health food store to buy only organic and blow double the amount of money I am used to spending on my veggies. Not only that, soy cheese has to be the grossest thing I have ever put in my mouth. I am not exaggerating. Oh and my husband is about to kill me because I am no longer fun to eat with and eating at restaurants has become a drag (that's why I added seafood back in).

So what's a girl to eat that doesn't taste like rat poisoning? I am assuming the authors were slammed with this question so they released a cookbook last month (December 2007)! Skinny Bitch in the Kitch...Kick-Ass Recipes for Hungry Girls Who Want to Stop Cooking Crap (and Start Looking Hot). The cookbook contains 75 recipes that should help satisfy any craving the vegan/healthy way.

The chapters are broken down by headings like:

Bitchin' Breakfasts: Basic Pancakes, Bitchin' Breakfast Burrito and a Denver Bitchlette for Two

Grown-Up Appetizers (no faux-chicken nuggets): Crabby Cakes with Remoulade, Stuffed Mushrooms and Spicy Sushi Rolls with Avocado and Cucumber

Hearty-Ass Sandwiches: Reuben-esque, Club Sandwich and a Philly Cheesesteak

Down-Home Cookin': Macaroni and Four Cheeses, Oven-Fried "Chicken" and Cornbread and Potato Skins with all the Fixin's

Skinny Bitch Stapple Meals: Big-Ass Veggie Burrito, Double-Dip Fondue, French Lentil Salad

Happy Endings: Chocalte Chip Cookies, Bitchtastic Brownies and Cheezecake

There is also a glossary of terms as many of the needed ingredients will be foreign to most and conversion charts.

I tried a few of these recipes (on my dear husband) and they were actually pretty tasty. Add this book to your cookbook collection as an effort to get healthy in 2008! Besides, both are a fun read.

Skinny Bitch in the Kitch is $8.97 at Amazon

Here is a link to an article from the Tuesday, January 2, 2008 New York Times

Visit SkinnyBitch.net

Comments

[Abby]

Have you lost weight since reading the book and giving up meat?

Thanks in advance

[Lauren - SCS]

Hi Abby,

That's a great question! Master vegetarians and vegans know that many novices initially carbo load which is what I did. It was hard for me to get used to eating rabbit food and soy products (which at first creeped me out - soy cheese still does). That's why I was so excited about this cookbook!

Going out to restaurants (which I love to do) was damn near impossible. A woman can only eat a double garden salad for so long before she goes postal. So I added seafood back in when I'm out.

Back to your question, I have not lost much weight due to other (personal) reasons, but I can say...I feel a hundred times better!

It's extreme, but once you read the chapters on red meat and chicken in the original book...it's hard to ever eat it again. Oddly though, as time goes on... my memory fades and I am craving a burger! But alas, I'll grab a veggie burger :(

[Allison]

I am so happy that the cookbook came out! I read SB the beginning of November 07 and have been "vegan" ever since. This cookbook has given me different options other than that of vegan tacos (which are quite good!)

I have lost about two dress sizes and am still losing. I did not do extreme carbs but because I am working out so much I need to add some so that my stomach is not growling all night.
This cookbook helps me with options and most importantly the sweets that I end up spending a lot of money on from Whole Foods!!

[Kathryn]

I also read the book and could no longer bring myself to eat meat. My husband joined me on my vegan adventure for a few months. I have to agree, that I haven't lost any weight per se, since starting the diet last year, but I do feel 10 times better. I have more energy and my complextion was never bad, but I was down-right glowing in my wedding pictures. I eat a lot of stir fry veggies and brown rice, beans, fresh fruit, and guacamole. It seems hard at first to find things to eat, but it gets easier. The hardest part is going to a nice restaurant and paying $20 for a spinach salad.

I hate to ruin your seafood-but do some research into what most farm raised fish are fed and you will never touch it again. I LOVED Sushi until I learned that any fish that isn't "wild caught" is fed manure to fatten it up. yeah.... that and learning that soy sauce is fungus ended my affair with the fish.

Best of Luck.

[Sandy]

I was a vegetarian back in my 20's, and succumbed to the ridiculous theory that in order to be a successful bodybuilder, I needed to eat meat. Well, 15 years later I wised up, read the book, cried a little, and went cold turkey on all warm blooded mammal products. I also changed portion sizes, watched the crap intake, and dropped about 15 extra pounds. My complexion hasn't changed all that much, but my IBS has improved radically as a result of eliminating all dairy products. I still have to deal with family, so I cave on occasion and eat shrimp.

Regarding restaurants, chains are not very good, but if you are going to a nice place, phone ahead and speak to the head chef. They have always accomodated me, and actually thank me for calling ahead because they can create some amazing dishes with grains and hearty veggies and legumes.

The only thing that bothers me is that the writers have not gone vegan with their clothing/shoes/accessories. I dumped my Coach bags and wool sweaters - the only things I have held onto are some shoes because I have very narrow feet and shoes are tough to buy. Also I live in Chicago, and winters are too cold for me to give up the Ugg. Ugh.

[Mandi]

I am looking forward to reading this book. I do not really like meat anyway.