We ask our Facebook fans their most burning questions ...

Question: I live in a rural community without access to a Whole Foods or health food market, which makes following vegan cookbooks very difficult. What’s a girl to do? Help!
 
- Julie Hildebrand
 
Answer: Oh, Julie. If I had a quarter for every time this question popped up, I wouldn’t have so many damn parking tickets.
 
It’s a travesty that we don’t have more natural health food stores in smaller cities and rural areas. It’s not like city slickers are the only ones that enjoy putting good stuff into their bodies.  But until someone makes me God and grants me the power to replace every Starbuck’s with a Mother’s Market, we need to get creative.
 
Here are some tips to discovering hard-to-find ingredients so you can bring your healthy vegan recipes to life:
 
Explore your local grocery store. You would be surprised how many healthy and/or vegan foods have made their way to your local grocer.  Look near the produce section and you can usually find meat and cheese alternatives. Nowadays there are even health food sections in grocery stores—though they are usually small, you can often find what you’re looking for.
 
Shop online. Buy your perishables at your local grocer, and look to the Internet for everything else. Some of my favorites are veganstore.com, veganessentials.com, cosmosveganshoppe.com, bobsredmill.com, arrowheadmills.com, edenfoods.com and edwardandsons.com.
 
Seek out a local farmers market. Dig around in the community listings to see if there is a weekly farmers market in your area. Even if it’s 45 minutes away, make it a day trip! Farmers markets are surfacing in the most inconspicuous of places due to the rise of the health food movement. You can get pesticide-free produce, herbs, spices, jellies, and florals, while connecting with local farmers to understand where your food comes from. Also, farmers market finds are often cheaper than what you will find in the grocery store.

Visit localharvest.org to find a farmers market in your area. Eatwellguide.org also gives great information on farmers markets, co-ops and restaurants.

Did you hit the jackpot when it came to finding uncommon ingredients and/or vegan foods? Share with our community by commenting below and you could win a signed copy of Kim's Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook!


Kim Barnouin
After five years atop the Skinny Bitchphenomenon, author Kim Barnouin has grown as a cook, a nutritionist and a momma. Now she delivers the “Ultimate” cookbook for everyone looking for a healthier way to feed themselves, their families and friends.

Fall in love with your bikini all over again

Maybe eating “clean” hasn’t exactly been your m.o. lately.

Between all the birthday cake, BBQ veggie burgers and beer, you forgot summer was right around the corner. I feel you, sister. The good news is, you’ve still got three months to look bangin' in a bikini. So, if you’re feeling less than beachy, the remedy I recommend is Kaeng Raeng’s healthy detox cleanse.

In case you need a refresher, Kaeng Raeng is an all-natural, vegan meal replacement detox program designed to help jumpstart weight loss, improve digestion, bolster immunity, remove toxins, and reduce cravings. Got all that?

Why I Love Kaeng Raeng

• It’s Safe. There are no laxatives, stimulants, or impossible-to-pronounce scary ingredients in Kaeng Raeng.
• It’s filling. You don’t have to starve yourself to detox. Each serving of KR makes 32 fl oz and is packed with a full serving of fruit and fiber, 45g per day of lean protein, probiotics, and vitamins. Plus you can eat as many fresh fruits and veggies as you want while you’re on the cleanse.
• It’s vegan & sustainable. Kaeng Raeng is completely vegan, gluten free, peanut free, and sustainably made in California with only local ingredients. And, a portion of every sale goes to the American Humane Society.
• It comes in three flavors: blueberry-blackberry-banana; mango-peach-pineapple; strawberry-raspberry-pineapple.

Kaeng Raeng also comes in three levels designed for your lifestyle and goals. Try the three-day program if you just want cleansing benefits; and the six-day if you’re looking to lose weight.

Choose Your Level

Beginner – for the veggie curious and first time cleansers (great for new moms, too!)
Veteran – for vegetarians or those who have done at least one cleanse
Master – for  health nuts and fitness freaks who want BIG results – you know who you are

Not sure which one is best for you?  Take Kaeng Raeng’s detox quiz online to find out.

Win It!

Kaeng Raeng is giving away a free three-day Beginner cleanse to one lucky bitch – just comment below and tell me why you want to try a Kaeng Raeng cleanse.

Can’t wait to cleanse? Kaeng Raeng starts at just $16/day! Get 15% off with coupon code SKINNY15 at Kaengraeng.com (Expires June 29, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST).

*UPDATE: We've chosen our winner! Congrats Galia!

Kim Barnouin
After five years atop the Skinny Bitch phenomenon, author Kim Barnouin has grown as a cook, a nutritionist, and a mom. Now she delivers the “Ultimate” cookbook for everyone looking for a healthier way to feed themselves, their families, and friends.

                            This post is proudly sponsored by Kaeng Raeng

Here's an excerpt from a recent interview I did with Vegan Consultant:

Skinny Bitch’s straight talk about why we should live vegan is great. They cut to the chase and tell reads how it is… no sugar coating necessary. Their blunt style has created massive success for themselves and veganism. I have a couple of guy friends reading their Skinny Bastard book and love it.

Kim Barnouin from Skinny Bitch sat down with VeganConsultant.com  to discuss her new vegan cookbook that’s out called SKINNY BITCH: ULTIMATE EVERYDAY COOKBOOK. Check it out bitches!

1. What was the spark to create the Skinny Bitch series?

I was trying to heal some health issues I was suffering from and since I had no health insurance at the time, I decided to try changing my diet because food was the one thing I had control over.  After all of my health problems went away the lightbulb went off and I knew I had found my passion, food has the power to heal, and I wanted to spread the word to anyone who would listen to pay attention to what they were eating and why it’s important.

2. What is your #1 tip for someone starting to go vegan? Favorite aspect of veganism?

My #1 tip would be to start slow, there are some who can jump in 100% but most people need some transition time between eliminating foods they are used to eating.  It took me close to a year to become a vegan, I gave up things every few months, and by going slowly that helped me keep my diet for a long time. I also recommend that people find places to shop for vegan foods such as Whole Foods, Trader Joes or Natural Foods Stores.  You need to be prepared with some new food items.
My favorite aspect of veganism is that it takes you to a whole other level of health and wellness, whether it’s clearing up some health issues (allergies, energy levels…) but it can aid in weight loss.

3. How has veganism impacted your personal and professional life?

Veganism has given me a career, it started out as a trial diet and look what it led me to! It brought me to a place of questioning and searching for a better way of eating.  It has challenged me as a cook and as a food lover to continue to enjoy all the foods I love, but to tweak them to suit a vegan diet.  I feel honored when people still tell me to this day that Skinny Bitch changed their life, it means so much to me to hear that.

To read the rest, go to Vegan Consultant!

Got a burning question for me?
 
Come ask it at San Diego Women’s Week. I’ll be doing an onstage interview during the morning session on Saturday, April 2, and afterward, I’ll be around to chat and sign copies of my new cookbook Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook.
 
I hope to see all you healthy socal bitches there!

I had a kick-ass time hanging out with the Kaeng Raeng team at last weekend’s Natural Products Expo West.

Lots of people came by to chit-chat and get a signed copy of my new cookbook Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook .

Kaeng Raeng’s yummy vegan meal replacement / detox cleanse kept us going throughout the day. A special shout-out to KR founder/CEO Lindsay and the whole Kaeng Raeng team for making this happen!
 
Stay tuned for our post next week about some of the hottest new natural products we found at Expo!

Stop by and say hi ...

If you’re planning to attend the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California this upcoming weekend, be sure to drop by and say what's up.

Yes, that's right. I'll be signing copies of my cookbook, Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook, at the Kaeng Raeng Detox Booth (5438 in Hall E) this Saturday, March 12 between 1pm and 3pm.

Natural Products Expo What?!

Natural Products Expo West is a trade show where a bunch of bitchworthy brands assemble to show off their wares. Attendance is a bit pricey ($325), so if you’re not in the natural products industry, don't sweat it.

Win A Signed Copy Of My Cookbook

If you're not able to attend the Expo, you can still win a signed copy of my newest book, Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook. To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment below telling my girls and I what natural product you can't get enough of.

As for all of you who will be attending this year's Expo—hope to see you Saturday afternoon at the Kaeng Raeng Detox Booth. Until then ...

*UPDATE: We've chosen our winner! Congrats, Polly!*

Kim Barnouin
After five years atop the Skinny Bitch phenomenon, author Kim Barnouin has grown as a cook, a nutritionist, and a mom. Now she delivers the “Ultimate” cookbook for everyone looking for a healthier way to feed themselves, their families, and friends.

Yes, vegan food can be just as indulgent as omni fare. Anyone in the mood for butternut squash ravioli?

OK! has nothin' but love for Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook: Crazy Delicious Recipes that Are Good to the Earth and Great for Your Bod. Check it out:

Prior to going vegan, I couldn’t eat my morning eggs without a side of ketchup. The two might as well have been sold as a boxed set in the grocery store. Tofu replaces eggs in this recipe, and the anti-inflammatory properties of curry make it a healthy alternative to processed ketchup. Truly an unconventional meal for lunch or dinner, and a cinch to prepare.

When buying Tofu, I prefer Nasoya.

-- Kim

Makes 6 Servings

• 1 (14-ounce/400 g) package extra-firm tofu, drained, and crumbled
• 1/2 cup (80 g) diced red onion
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 celery stalk, finely diced
• 1/4 cup (45 g) currants
• 2 tablespoons sliced almonds (optional)
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) vegan mayonnaise
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon agave nectar
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 pita breads, cut into quarters and toasted

In a steamer basket over 1 inch (2.5 cm) of boiling water, steam the tofu 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and place on a towel-lined bowl to remove excess water. In a large bowl, mix together the tofu, onion, carrot, celery, currants, and almonds. In a small bowl, whisk together the curry, mayonnaise, lemon juice, lemon zest, mustard, agave nectar, salt, and pepper for the dressing. Add the dressing to the tofu and salad mixture, and toss well. Chill in the refrigerator 15 to 30 minutes. Serve on toasted pita.

Serving Size: 166 g; Calories 230; Fat 16 g; Saturated Fat 2 g; Cholesterol 0 mg; Carbohydrates 17 g; Fiber 3 g; Protein 6 g

To get more recipes, pick up Kim's new cookbook Skinny Bitch Ultimate Everyday Cookbook available now!