Happy New Year!

As I signed off for 2007, I promised I'd be back at DawnWatch on January 3. A vegan diet story on the front page of the January 2 New York Times Dining Section has brought me back a day early. I couldn't resist!

Julia Moskin's article on the new cookbook by Skinny Bitch authors Kim Barnouin and Rory Freedman, is headed, "Still Skinny, But Now They Can Cook." It tells us that "Skinny Bitch," published in 2005, has sold more than 850,000 copies, and "Now, the book's peculiar combination of girl power, tough love and gross-out tales from the slaughterhouse has been translated to the kitchen. The authors' new cookbook, 'Skinny Bitch in the Kitch,' was published in December and reached No. 6 on the New York Times best-seller list in the paperback advice category last week."

We read:
'''Skinny Bitch in the Kitch' helpfully condenses the entire content of the first book down to three pages (meat is murder; carbohydrates do not make you fat; always read the ingredients and don't eat anything you can't pronounce). The first book barely mentioned cooking, suggesting an eating style based on fruit, snacks and frozen food from the health-food store. It was a vegan version of the fast-food diet the authors say they used to follow equally zealously."

But we learn that the authors consulted with a vegan cookbook consultant for recipes for the new book.

The article discusses their catchy title, with a fun quote from a fashion publicist who says, ''I would never have read 'The Omnivore's Dilemma.' I'm not even sure I know what an omnivore is. But I know what a skinny bitch is, and I know I want to be one.''

But we read:
"The authors do occasionally take a break from swearing to write loving disclaimers in which they say health and well-being are more important than skinniness, disavow bitchiness as a way of life and encourage readers to eat their fill of foods like avocados, nuts and fruit without worrying about calories and carbs."

And the articles even gives us a recipe for "Recipe: Spaghetti Squash With Spicy Braised Greens, Raisins and Pine Nuts Adapted from 'Skinny Bitch in the Kitch.'"

It also gives us a fantastic opportunity to sing the praises of plant-based diets -- for us, the earth and the animals. If you are thriving on one, please let the Times know.

You'll find the full article on line at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/02/dining/02skin.html
The New York Times takes letters at letters@nytimes.com

Always include your full name, address, and daytime phone number when sending a letter to the editor. Remember that shorter letters are more likely to be published.

Yours and the animals',
Karen Dawn

(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at http://www.DawnWatch.com. You may forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts if you do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title and include this parenthesized tag line. If somebody forwards DawnWatch alerts to you, which you enjoy, please help the list grow by signing up. It is free.)