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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Bitch Is Back

Skinny Bitch changed my life. I was already vegan when my best friend Sheridan called me crying one night, going on and on about the torture of farmed animals she was reading about in Skinny Bitch. She told me she was giving up meat that night, and she did. That was several years ago. Now she's vegan. She also convinced me to read the book. I didn't think I needed to. I mean, I was already vegan, right?

But I was still eating crap — high fructose corn syrup, diet sodas, white bread. Skinny Bitch helped me rid those things from my life. I'm often bored by reading nutrition books, but Kim and Rory write like I talk. Their no-nonsense style and potty mouths made the book fun!

Well, now Kim Barnouin is back with a supermarket guide on how to find vegan alternatives to just about anything. Skinny Bitch: Book of Vegan Swaps is not a cookbook. In fact, there's only 10 recipes in the whole book.

Instead, this spiral-bound guide lists Kim's favorite vegan versions of common convenience foods. She lists her favorite brands with plenty of narrative and classic Skinny Bitch attitude. There's chapters on dairy alternatives (Tofutti cream cheese for Philadelphia cream cheese, Daiya for shredded cheese), egg and meat swaps (Ener-G egg replacer for baking, Yves ground round for beef, etc.), dry goods (Amy's Organics is listed as "healthiest" soup swap and Dr. McDougall's Baked Ramen is suggested in place of Top Ramen) and even dessert and baking swaps (Liz Lovely tops her list for cookie swaps!).

There's also chapters on what to eat at the airport (Wolfgang Puck Express, salads from Sbarro) and ideas for weekend snacks (Tings, anyone?). Plus, there's a list of Kim's favorite recipes, like these Peanut Seitan Noodles:

These whole wheat noodles were coated with a sesame-peanut sauce and mixed with snow peas, carrots, cucumbers, and seitan. Delicious! I wish the book had more than 10 recipes, but I know it's intended to be a supermarket guide rather than a cookbook.

Experienced vegans probably don't have much use for this book since we all know the best hummus and the best vegan cheese. But this advice would be invaluable to a new vegan trying to navigate the world of cruelty-free goods. My only concern: New products are constantly being introduced in the vegan food world (Remember life before Daiya? Yea, those were dark days of trying every trick in the book to melt Vegan Rella.) This book has the potential to become dated quickly, so I hope Kim is prepared to frequently release updated editions.

That being said, this book is perfect for the here and now. And I have an extra copy that I'd like to give away to one lucky reader (if you're an old vegan, save it to give to the next new vegan you meet). Here's how to win:
1. Leave a comment letting me know your favorite vegan food product.
2. "Like" Vegan Crunk on Facebook and let me know about it in a separate comment.
3. Tweet a link to the giveaway and make sure to tag me @biancaphillips. Then leave a comment letting me know you tweeted.
Remember, you only need to enter once for a chance to win and you can do so by simply leaving a comment (see #1). Any extra entries for Facebook likes and Twitter mentions just help your chances, but if you're not on FB or Twitter, don't sweat it. I'll randomly select a winner on Monday night. Oh, and don't forget to leave your email address in a comment if you're not easily contactable through a blog.

71 comments:

  1. I love fresh foods, but I hate grocery shopping, so I only "shop" maybe once a month or less. I buy in bulk, make my own bread and have started making my own faux meats (is there a better term?) So no matter what, I love my own home made foods best. If I had to purchase something in the store, I would have to say that huge bag of Brussels Sprout I get from Costco, along with the oversized bag of organic brown rice. If I have both of those, I can make a meal for anybody.

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  2. Ih yeah! I Tweeted and I FB'd! All is well.

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  3. My favorite vegan food product is Parma's Vegan Parmesan-- it is just a blend of nooch, walnuts and sea salt and I adore it over salads!

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  4. Cheesy (or not, really, since this is about veganism. So Daiya-y? Nutritional yeast-y? That last one sounds kind of gross...) but my favorite vegan products are vegetables and fruit!

    Okay, actual manufactured products? Silk unsweetened almond milk in original or vanilla is practically addictive.

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  5. my favorite vegan alternative is almond breeze unsweetened almond milk. i drink it everyday!

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  6. So delicious coconut yogurt - which by some advertising snafu ended up on sale this week at my grocer for 3/$1 yes I'm fully stocked

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    1. Oh man, I almost died of jealousy. That's such a great price! The new Greek-style are up to $2 each in my town!!

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  7. I think there may be too many awesome swaps to name just one! But I am so happy that I can show people that vegans can eat the same dishes as everyone else, just veganized. I really love the Tofutti products, the cream cheese and sour cream, both taste like the real thing :) And everyone knows Daiya is the bomb!

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  8. Skinny Bitch changed my life too! I was vegetarian when I read it, and immediately went vegan. Yay Skinny Bitch!

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  9. I adore Daiya, love Almond Breeze and can't live without nutritional yeast... it's a 3-way tie! :) I would gift this book to a newly vegan friend!

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  10. 1st off, let me start by thanking you for a fun blog - it's a great way to start my morning! even tho' i'm in CA and you're in TN it feels like you're in my living room hanging out and chatting! :)

    and, now, tofutti cream cheese and sour cream are my fav replacements and have converted many of my omni friends! (not to veg or vegan, but off the regular stuff) so, yay for the tofutti!

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  11. soy dairy vegan marshmallows! great for vegetarians, too :)

    A

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  12. My favorite product that is marketed as specifically vegan is the Eat Pastry line of cookie doughs. The peanutbutter chocolate chip being my favorite.

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  13. I would have to say that my fav is Tofutti cream cheese...even though I try not to eat too much. :o)

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  14. I have been liking you on facebook for a while now! My favorite vegan product is anything Gardein! Yums! Thanks for such an awesome blog!

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  15. hmm... favorite vegan food product? im gonna say vegenaise!

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  16. We always have TVP and Daiya on hand. They make it so easy to throw together meals in a hurry!

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  17. Frozen Rice Dream Mint Pies - OMG. They are heaven.

    Love your blog! And I already "like" you on FB! Love that too! :-)

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  18. My favorite product can change daily, but at the moment I am addicted to Daiya. I make my own pizzas using Daiya, olive oil, and pita bread. Yum!!

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  19. My favorite Vegan product is So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt. Vanilla is my favorite flavor. It reminds me of vanilla pudding I used to eat as a kid

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  20. I'd love to give this to a new vegan!! :)

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  21. I love love love daiya cheese. although I hardly ever eat it since it's pretty pricey... I also really dig almond milk :)

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  22. My favorite vegan snack is almond butter! :)

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  23. my favorite vegan snack is medjool dates

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  24. I love trail mix with nuts and dried fruit

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  25. I loved the first book! It really influenced the changes I was making in my diet! There are so many vegan products that are great... But i'll go with So Delicious frozen desserts, those are bliss!

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  26. "Like" Vegan Crunk on Facebook!

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  27. Manner Wafers (no clue if u can buy them in the U.S but they are simply delicious!)

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  28. Tweeted about the giveaway :)

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  29. Aw, yeah! Skinny Bitch totally changed my life! Hmm....favorite vegan food product is HARD. I'd say the one I use the most often is probably Earth Balance, so I'm gonna go with that!

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  31. My latest obsession are the Soyummi line!

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  32. Licks Nature burgers as far as a specially vegan food goes.


    -Midnite (harrypotter_rox(at)msn.com

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  33. I'd say it has to be Daiya Cheese.

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  34. I just liked you on Facebook!!

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  35. Newly vegan (and working on a vegan version of my cookies!). The hardest thing for me is cheese and milk, so Daiya has really been a lifesaver for me! ;)

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  36. I love the seasonal flavors that Silk comes out with. I adore the nog! nom nom!

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  37. Scratch that. Nothing tops So Good Strawberry Soymilk. I drink it everday and use it in all my smoothies. I could not live without this stuff. It's saved my life (quite literally).


    -Midnite (harrypotter_rox (at) msn.com)

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  38. I love any of the Quorn or LiteLife products. I am not a vegan, but it is my desire to get there some day. I have always been a junk-food-atarian so the last 12 years of my vegetarian life has mainly consisted of processed food, dairy, etc. In January I made a lifestyle change to eat less processed foods and more natural foods. Therefore, I am looking for creative ways to be healthy and move into the vegan lifestyle.

    I adore you and your blog. I find it inspirational. Thanks for all you do to help me help save animals and be a healthier person.

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  39. Anndd I liked your FB page.

    kdianehodges at gmail dot com

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  40. Sounds like this is a GREAT shopping guide for new vegans! Although my family is not vegan I have a son with multiple severe food allergies whose diet is limited to about 30 foods. Learning to shop for him was a nightmare, so I can totally identify with a new vegan learning to shop for appropriate products!

    Thanks for being on the tour!

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  41. I'm a 25 year Vegetarian but only a 3 month old new baby Vegan. My favorite food (so far) are the Gardein chicken tenders. Yummytastic!

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  42. I'm also already a long time fan on Facebook!

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  43. Hmmmm.....I've been a vegan for so long (17 years) that I don't tend to use a lot of meat/dairy replacements, other than soy milk. However, I recently discovered Trader Joe's Soy Chorizo and I love it, so I guess that's my favorite!

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  44. My favorite is the Gardein Ultimate Beefless Burger -- I eat them on toasted Ezekiel bread with Vegenaise, ketchup, mustard and lots of pickles. Yum!! :)

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  45. My favorite vegan product is tempeh!

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  46. Ting's Crunchy Corn Sticks!! Best replacement cheetos . . . And I'm still perfecting the best replacement for velveeta and salsa queso dip . . .

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  47. So many but right now my favorite vegan product is vegan cream cheese which I mix with fresh herbs for a spread. Yum!

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  48. No need to enter me, but what is it about a potty mouth that makes something so much more interesting? I have a friend who curses like a sailor, and everything she says is hilarious. Thanks for being on the tour!

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  49. My favorite vegan BIG brand substitute is Earth Balance Spread. My favorite more regional product is Hy-Vee Almond Milk (regular or vanilla). Yum! erika.lindgren@wartburg.edu

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  50. I tweeted! (@kaitisawesome)

    Kaitberrywright@gmail.com

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  51. I Facebooked,

    Kaitberrywright@gmail.com

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  52. Last but not least my favorite vegan food item: nutritional yeast. I buy it in bulk to make things "cheesy". Another face is Soy Dream mint chocolate chip. I eat it when I want to get my junk food on.

    Kaitberrywright@gmail.com

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  53. I've never read the original Skinny Bitch, but having read this I'm inspired to check it out. Unfortunately this new book would be really saddening for me to read about delicious vegan products most of which I can't get in the UK, maybe it's worth me creating a UK vegan guide on a blog post.
    Thanks again x

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  54. I really enjoyed that book ;)
    I also bought it for my sister on christmas!

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  55. Hi! I'm a new vegan and would LOVE this book! I'm having a blast discovering new food alternatives, but financially it would be great to have a handy guide to steer me away from buying too many "mistakes" along the way. :-) So far I'd say Anne's Goddess dressing is a favorite, my hubby and I like it on brown rice and veggies or a host of other things.

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