Mayim Bialik Discusses “Mayim’s Vegan Table” With Bill Maher

While kicking back with my remote control this past Friday evening, I was thrilled to see The Big Bang Theory’s Mayim Bialik appear on Real Time With Bill Maher to discuss her new vegan cookbook Mayim’s Vegan Table. Referring to the fact that Ms. Bialik is a neuroscientist, Mr. Maher gave her the cute title of “a scientist with a cookbook.”

On the show, Mr. Maher clarified his own status in the world of plant-based eating by stating that he is not a strict vegetarian. He said that “what I am is an infrequent eater of meat.” Ms. Bialik actually referred to Bill Maher as “vegan-friendly” in her new book.

*For the record, Vegan American Princess applauds Bill Maher as a vegan-friendly, infrequent eater of meat! We also applaud anyone and everyone who acknowledges the far-reaching implications of eating animals and takes any steps whatsoever to consume less meat. Full-fledged veganism is not a requirement!

Significantly, Ms. Bialik noted that “the environmental impact of keeping and harvesting animals is actually worse than driving all the cars and trucks.”

Pointing out that Star or US magazine named Gwyneth Paltrow “the most hated celebrity” (not Chris Brown who hits people or Lindsey Lohan who drives her car into poles…ha ha!), Bill posed a very good question to Mayim…

“How do you write a celebrity cookbook and not get the Gwyneth Paltrow criticism that you’re undermining all the traditional American values?”

Mayim’s response…

 “I’m not Gwyneth Paltrow!”

Mayim then explained that she writes for Kveller.com, and that people are always asking her how she veganizes her recipes, especially the ones for the Jewish holidays. Since she wanted to share these recipes, she wrote Mayim’s Vegan Table. She further explained that she was not trying to write a cookbook about how her “perfect” family and her “perfect” children eat…

  “These are recipes that I make and eat and that non-vegan people in my home eat too and ask for seconds.”

Mayim also expressed her opinion that (“with all due respect for Gwyneth Paltrow and Alicia Silverstone“), cookbooks with vegan-heavy recipes can feel elitist since they often contain ingredients which you never heard of or are too expensive. She said “that’s not how I cook and that’s not how I eat.” She noted that every major medical organization says that we should eat more fruits and vegetables and less processed foods. She doesn’t believe that veganism is for everybody, but that her cookbook is a way to incorporate some of these recipes into any diet, no matter what you call yourself.

Bill concluded the interview by stating…

  “You are so NOT Gwyneth Paltrow!”

I may be purchasing Mayim’s Vegan Table for Passover 2014. What about you?

Debby

xoxoxo