Alicia Silverstone Quit Counting Calories - With Her "Kind Diet"

by Mary Kearl (Subscribe to Mary Kearl's posts)
Oct 15th 2009 1:30PM

Categories: Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment

Alicia Silverstone, actress, activist and author of "The Kind Diet"

The Kind Diet book cover by Clueless actress Alicia Silverstone

Victoria Pearson

Alicia Silverstone's got a thing for animals. She tried going vegetarian for the first time at age 8, subsisting on a month-long diet of ice cream and eggs. It was touch and go, however, she "stopped and started a lot or 'forgot,'" she explains in her new book "The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight and Saving the Planet" which is part weight-loss advice, part holistic living wisdom. Not being able to rescue all of the world's abandoned or endangered animals (once she adopted 11 dogs who were slated to be euthanized the next day) and learning more about the meat industry helped her become a committed vegetarian as an adult. Even so, she "doesn't expect that to move everyone. What would move me now as a 33-year-old woman," Silverstone says, "is if someone said, 'Hey, do you want to look your best, or feel your best?' Your skin is going to be amazing when you eat well. There's a grayness when people eat a lot of unhealthy foods, specifically meat."

Since going veg 11 years ago, Silverstone says she's experienced "amazing, amazing" results, while still indulging in her favorites like dairy-free chocolate peanut butter cups and a waffle, sausage and cheese panini, which she "loves." She also never feels deprived, unlike her past diet attempts, including Weight Watchers. "What those diets offer you is weight-loss period," she says. "And yeah, weight loss is good. But you're not learning how to eat, you're learning how to eat less. I haven't had to think about calories in 11 years. That's what I want to offer people -- a plan that is going to nourish your soul and make you healthy on all levels."

Silverstone's plan includes three levels of commitment: "Flirting" (going meatless and dairy-free when you can), veganism and becoming a "superhero" (based on the macrobiotic diet, it focuses on eating locally grown, seasonal foods, which she's been doing for six years). Making these changes in eating, Silverstone says, has anecdotally helped people with everything from diabetes and losing weight, to acne and even her friend's "poo" problem.

That's Fit: What do you do when you crave non-vegan foods?

Alicia Silverstone.: Well, I never crave non-vegan foods, because vegan foods are so delicious. When I'm out and there are no vegetarian foods available, then I just make the best choices I can. Sometimes, it's to eat nothing at all, or I'll have the least offensive thing. Maybe there's a salad with goat cheese, or potato salad with a little mayo. That's what it's about -- making the best choices under all circumstances.

TF: What are some of your favorite ways to fit "kind" exercise into your daily routine?

AS: The great thing about eating this way is you'd lose weight, even if you didn't exercise. But when I have a role when I'm working towards that needs me to look a certain way, I do the things that I love that really nourish me. There was a time when exercise was horrifying to me, but I was doing it for the wrong reasons, but now I do it because I want to, because yoga feels amazing for my head, my heart, my limbs. It's just about going on the journey. I love walking with my dogs, and catching up with my friends. I hate talking on the phone, so I use that as a chance to catch up.

TF: One of your "nasty food" groups from the book is processed food. A lot of vegetarian and vegan "meat" and dairy alternatives would be considered processed. What are your feelings about them?

AS: Those are more for "flirters." They're more to be used as treats or for fun. This book offers you how to eat well. If you're flirting, you should definitely have those things, because they're still better than the alternatives -- having soy milk is by far better for your body than milk, but not every day. But I want people to feel like it's easy, and I want people to think it's delicious, because it is. If you're a person reading this article saying I can't give up meat and dairy, you should read my book. There's no beating yourself up. I swear.

Want to learn more about dieting and exercising with a conscience? Mandy Moore's trainer explains eco-sensitive workouts.

Comments (14)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kate 10-15-2009 @ 2:56PM

I imagine it's also incredibly easy to stick to a diet when you can afford full time dieticians, nutritionists and chefs (ala Oprah).

Messa 10-19-2009 @ 1:12AM

OK, hello? Humans are meat eaters. We are carnivores. That is why we have eye teeth, to rip meat with. Suck it up, Alicia. If you don't want to eat meat for whatever reason, good for you, I hope you have a nice day for it, but don't try giving us some sh!t that our skin is grey if we eat meat. It's not....and, this is coming from someone who doesn't eat meat. I just haven't wanted it for a few years now, but I have nothing against it and know that humans were born to eat meat.

Cellulite Queen 10-19-2009 @ 10:21AM

POO Problems? If she ate a normal diet (with MEAT! Hello!!) she wouldn't have cement in her bowels in the first place. Feed Silverstone a steak STAT! ~ www. CelluliteQueen .com

Paula 10-18-2009 @ 8:24PM

Only 1 post that is not an ad. Will they ever monitor the boards? Anyway, right on the nose with your comment, Kate. It's wasy to be like some of these hollywood types when you can afford it.

Lisi 10-18-2009 @ 8:41PM

Apparently, even with Oprah's money she can't seem to slim down and stay slimmed down.

1234 10-18-2009 @ 9:31PM

It does not take wealth, dieticians, or nutritionists to eat mindfully and take care of yourself. It only requires YOU to make a choice about what YOU will put into YOUR body.

Michelle 10-18-2009 @ 10:37PM

Sometimes eating nothing at all... sounds like a pre-curser
to being anorexic and I know what I talk about. The best
choice is never to not eat something. There is always a piece
of lettuce, a tomato, someone who advocates eating nothing is a very young inexperienced with life person who I would never listen to. Let her live into her 50s with her advice and see what kind of skin she has at that point. Kind and saggy skin. Oh I forgot, she's a celebrity so she will have a face lift. Exactly!

jean riley 10-18-2009 @ 11:02PM

you all need to read "The China Study" and go to all plant based protein instead of animal protein- we all get far too much protein in a normal diet and the china study has proved that less protein and a plant protein diet can actually reverse diabetes, heart disease and some times even cancer--get this book, it is an eye opener and a life saver! This is research that has been going on for over 30 years by a scientist who was raised on a farm eating meat and drinking milk and using cheese until he started the research and found out some amazing facts.

Bobby G 10-19-2009 @ 12:41AM

Obviously not many people have been impressed by this article aside from advertizers. I find that counting calories actually works best for me. If I keep a consistent daily goal of a specific calorie target, it isn't that hard to stay on track and eat what I like to eat. If I know I plan on indulging by going to a restaurant or something, I adjust the rest of the day accordingly, including skipping a meal if necessary. It works and it doesn't hurt to skip meals as long as you don't overcompensate later all at once. It's a great way to burn off fat. I safely lost 30# in a year by sticking to a diet of approximately 1,000 calories per day and it worked. I gave myself a little latitude of 100-200 calories per day, and I continued to reduce or hold steady from week to week. When I splurged on candy, cake, or high carb items, I simply cut out other things for the day, but I still indulged in fun things to eat without blowing it or starving myself. One thing that did work well for me was snacking on almonds (any kind) and carrots. Otherwise I ate from all of the food groups and tried to watch high carb items like bread, rice, and pasta without cutting them out entirely. It really IS the total calorie intake that matters if you are trying to reduce. To me, that is just as simple as it gets. Once you know how many calories foods have (most are labeled) it isn't that hard to keep track in your head over the course of a day.

Linda Bailey 10-19-2009 @ 1:51AM

I have to laugh reading how "kind" Alicia Silverstone is to ANIMALS...and yet she was so "rude" to a human being for absolutely no reason, other than the fact that the "human" disagrees with her politically. I'm speaking about Elizabeth Hasselbeck on The View. When Alicia was on that show, my friends and I were really shocked to watch Alicia walk right past Elizabeth, who was holding her hand out to shake it, and Alicia wouldn't even look at her, and snubbed her. It made the news the same day. So, you just have to laugh that Alicia (the hypocrite) can be so "kind" to animals...and yet "unkind" to her fellow human beings. She'd never met Elizabeth before from what the articles said that day, and Elizabeth had never done anything to her "personally," so it made Alicia look "little" not slim. I wouldn't read what she has to say in this book, only because after seeing who she REALLY is....anything else she has to say would be "hot air." Just my opinion. I'm not a big fan of The View at all, and was only watching it at a hair salon....so don't know much about anyone on there...only what I saw that day, and read. Ms. Silverstone may want to take a lesson from Bill Clinton and the elder George Bush Sr...who disagree vehemently on MANY issues...but remain very good friends, and travel together all over the world. They respect one another's FREE RIGHT AS AMERICANS to disagree on the issues...yet admire one another as "fellow men." Very "big" of them if you ask me.

Dea 10-19-2009 @ 1:57AM

Yes, it's all true!! I have been veg for years but went al the way to vegan 5 years ago and now never have to watch my weight,never get sick and feel awesome. I would never go back

kmk1 10-19-2009 @ 1:58AM

I can't believe how many people post to these atricles with advertising! Nothing to do with the subject! Anyways, you guys are right, it is alot easier to do with money, chefs and dieticians. It is costly to do these major switches in diet. I have tried many, and the bottom line is that you just have to make conscience choices of the food you eat. Organic is best. Lots of fruits and veggies, less processed and fried foods. Common sense....

Lucy 10-19-2009 @ 6:18AM

I gave up meat and poultry over a year ago and I do not miss them. I do still eat seafood. I have to say I feel much better these days and I shed several pounds without trying. However, a true vegan lifestyle just seems too limiting to me. Wish I could make that kind of commitment, but I just don't think I could stick to it. I do respect Silverstone's position and I applaud her for her convictions. I assume she never wears leather products, either.

SueDoeNim 10-22-2009 @ 9:30AM

It's no harder to eat vegetarian/vegan than it is to eat carnivorous. I'm not sure what having a chef or dietician has to do with anything. We can all learn on our own. Personally I eat a vegetarian diet (I eat some goat cheese and goat yogurt occasionally) because it prevents me from feeling poorly. I guess this type of eating would be hard if you eat McDs or Subway daily, which a lot of Americans do.