Skinny Bitch - the book

[gaias]

I just read this book, and , if you can overlook the (sometimes amusing imo)
vulgar language here and there , bespeaking a lack of professionalism
to perhaps some readers- the book is based on sound and good nutritional
principles, particularly for fitness (which is was they really mean by"skinny"-
they just mean, fit instead of fat) . It is also pro vegan, derived primarily from the revulsion on the part of the authors (and really, most of us who
know about this too-) into how animals are treated on factory farms, in slaughterhouses, and the environmental impact of all that. They do give arguments for veganism rather than simply asserting veganism- and then they totally leave the reader space for making their own decisions.

there are great lists of food sources- including brand names of fairly easy to find prepared foods, such as whole grain breads, baked goods, and treats, as well as meat substitutes. they also have a new recipe book out- havent seen that one yet. The amazon reviews tend to be polarized- surprised? this has proven to be a polarizing subject in current society.

Critically speaking, if it were not for the vulgar language sprinkled here and there in the book, it would be great for teens and tweens, as it has a youthful appeal, and I hope someone takes that idea and runs with it.

One think I love about the book, is it also brings attention to the machinations of our FDA, and USDA, and how they really operate-
we need constant reminders and exposures of the travesties in those agencies, and others such as EPA. We need to unlearn that those agencies are protecting us or helping us.

so while they tie in their own experiences and opinions in order to offer good health advice, I still think, all in all, they offer good health advice. The book also contains a great list of resources - books, tapes, web sites, companies- to look into for further information. I found it inspiring, and it shows imo the way the country is going- in a few decades
this stuff will be old hat, and we will look back in wonder that we ever accepted a toxic and disgraceful food supply, rather than a truly organic
and fair food supply. And the book offers a good pathway for weight loss - they stress they are not looking to create more anorexics - if weight loss is realistically the thing you need to consider.

anyway, it could not be more about "Real Food"- and what nourishes us.

[nutmeg]

thanks for your detailed description.

sounds intriguing-i would have passed it over due to the title, which repelled me, since i'm thin and get tired of the culture of women hating other women for their bodies, for whatever reaason.... too thin, too fat, blah, blah, blah....

glad to hear that's not the aim!

[PurpleSage444]

Hello Gaias,

I have read this book two years ago. I was one of those readers that overlooked the vulgar language and found some useful information. Ever since then, I don't eat sugar anymore. I like Stevia. I don't think that I could go Vegan though.

[teatime]

haven't read it and tbh probably won't. the title turns me off and the concept that only skinny can be healthy is imo, wrong. i prefer recipes books instead of food based lifestyle.

the enchanted broccoli forest is good. really anything moosewood related.

but thanks for the super detailed review! what a wonderful idea.

[forestmother]

I am so glad you brought this book up! I am almost done reading it right now. For years, when the book came up in a conversation, I was like "Ugh, what a terrible book..." Of course I hadn't read it yet!
I have been pleasantly surprised at the wealth of info in the book, and the authors do make the point that their aim is not to say that skinny is better in any way, but that educated and healthy is most important.
I was needing a "kick-in-the-ass" for my own eating habits, which in my twenties were SO much better than lately. I feel like I lost a lot of my beliefs and conviction about animal rights and the importance of whole foods. Maybe I was so strict with myself and my kids for a while, that I then went the opposite direction, needing to feel total "freedom." That is not a good kind of freedom, though, and this book (among other reads, thoughts, and conversations lately) have steered me back in a direction I feel great about.
I love the practical direction by the author of "Choose one thing you want to cut out of your diet and do it for this week, and then go to the next." I think doing everything at once would just be way too overwhelming!
So, I decided last Thursday to cut out any and all soda and snack foods (potato chips, cheese puffs - those kind - I am all for edamame, sea weed snacks, etc.). I decided to start with these two, as I don't drink much soda or eat many snacks anyways, so I thought it would be an "easy" way to start! I do have big plans though, like going vegetarian and only feeding myself and my family organic dairy products. Woo hoo!

[catoosh]

Another book and to me a waste of money, recipes too hard I like to learn and to keep food intake 'simple'

[prani]

I read this book a couple years ago and had some pretty serious concerns with the nutritional advice. I did take a lot of good information from the book, but I disagree with a lot of their conclusions. The gist of the book seemed to be, essentially:

1) "Junk food is bad, North American diets suck and most meat and dairy is inhumane and full of hormones"
THEREFORE
2) "Go 100% vegan and replace all of the meat and dairy in your diet with mass-produced, prepackaged soy products masquerading as meat and dairy"

Now, I don't disagree with #1, but their solution is pretty wacky to say the least. It's definitely true that meat and dairy are produced in fairly inhumane ways and that they are full of hormones and antibiotics. I firmly believe that it is possible to choose an omnivorous diet while ensuring humane treatment of animals. It means buying from small local farms instead of the grocery store, which can be more expensive...but it still works out to be cheaper than all of the organic prepackaged soy products that they suggest.

From an environmental standpoint, soy monoculture is not especially kind to our planet. More importantly, wo/mankind cannot live on soy alone. There has been a lot of research in recent years to suggest that all-soy-all-the-time may be hazardous from a hormonal perspective...and on a more basic level, it simply doesn't allow for enough variety in the diet.

The diet suggested by the Skinny Bitch girls requires a huge number of processed foods from the MOST expensive aisles of the grocery store. They may be fit, fabulous and eco-conscious, but they are the 1%. Eating good-quality organic foods is always a bit more expensive, but these girls take it to ridiculous extremes. For a supposedly-healthy diet, there is a shocking lack of simplicity and connection to food & food origins. We are living in a world where lots of kids are eating Alphaghettis because their parents don't know how to cook nutritious food within their budget. Good food is not elaborate, trendy food.

Personally, I'll take Michael Pollan over the Skinny Bitches any day because I think he's nailed it: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Unfortunately, it's just not as trendy.