So there we were at Candle 79 in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. I offered to hold Alicia Silverstone’s drink so she could sample some of Candle 79 owner Joy Pierson’s food. I laughed to myself because a few days earlier I was holding Gene Simmons’ bottle of water so he could have a picture taken. But in a matter of minutes, I would be sitting next to one of Hollywood’s biggest female heartthrobs, not to discuss an upcoming film, but food, and in particular, being vegan.

Silverstone, known for her roles in The Crush, Clueless and Batman & Robin among many others, recently published her book The Kind Diet, a step-by-step manual for those who might be interested in toying with the idea of a healthier lifestyle. “I had just been sharing this information with friends for a long period of time, helping them with their diets. I would hand them pamphlets of information and they would say, ‘Oh my god, this is like a book.’ I would say, ‘I know, I know … someday.’”

Alicia’s book is written in a very factual and easygoing style. She gives you the basics as to why certain foods are bad for you and how going vegan is not only amazing for your body but also good for the environment. “I did this 11 years ago for animal reasons – for good karma – and I noticed a change.” It turns out that this “big sacrifice” was helping her and wasn’t much of a sacrifice at all. “I started to research and found that there was all these athletes that ate this type of diet, and not for animal reasons, but because they wanted to be the best.” All of a sudden, Alicia noticed that she had lost weight, her skin glowed and her nails were stronger (I can personally vouch for how amazing she looks in person).

The great thing about the book is that Alicia doesn’t force the reader to throw out the contents of the refrigerator and completely abide by a strict diet. The reality is that not everyone can just be vegan. Alicia sets up three levels to attempt: The Flirt, The Vegan and The Superhero. Obviously, The Flirt is “dipping a toe into the vegan pool” to see if they can even enjoy vegan food. The Vegan, level two, includes just eating plant-based foods, no dairy. The Superhero is a level for everyone to aspire to, and those who succeed truly are superheroes. It consists of eating lots of greens, whole grains, beans, mushrooms, squash and a limited amount of tofu or soybean products.

But what about the fact that humans are omnivores? This was a question I wondered about. Were we changing what nature had intended, and then again, don’t we do that already? “Nature didn’t intend for us to be swollen, overweight, on medication, having heart disease and having cancer,” Alicia stressed. “Nature intended us to be vibrant beings. The reason we ate meat was out of necessity. If there was nothing else around, then you had to eat meat.” Today we don’t live in conditions where what we eat is dictated by our surroundings, although being surrounded by fast food establishments has caused a major heath issue, she added. “We have everything at our fingertips. So why would you choose to eat something that’s actually going to inflame your liver and make your organs all swollen and angry when you can eat these things that are going to nourish your organs?”

The chapter Becoming the Superhero is based on a macrobiotic diet but without any animal products. It consists of eating whole grains, no processed food, no nightshade vegetables and the “magic” foods like miso soup, pickles and the magical sea vegetables. Soymilk is considered a treat, as well as maple syrup and other sweeteners. In moderation, you can have fruits, nuts, salt, herbs and spices.

The Kind Diet also offers tips on eating out at any restaurant as well as some great choices of restaurants to try in New York City. There is also a variety of products that Alicia recommends, such as Light Life Fakin’ Bacon, butter, candy bars, cheeses, cookies, cream cheese, mayonnaise, meat slices, pizza, soups, etc. You can never say you’re going hungry on this diet. But the amazing thing is you can eat and lose weight, too. The food is hearty, so a small amount can fill you up. There are also great tips on exercising including walking outdoors, Pilates and yoga – exercise that is good for the body and the soul.

When I asked Alicia how she convinces the guys, she was quick to respond, not with a tricky “rope-a-dope” answer, but with a quick “chorizo tacos [and chocolate] peanut butter cups I make,” which translates to, “Guys, you won’t be sacrificing flavor for this diet.”

The recipes in The Kind Diet are amazing. If you only stick to being a Flirt, there are many recipes to try from the vegan section to the superhero section. A favorite dish is simply steamed baby bok choy with a drizzle of ume vinaigrette with gemashio – delicious. Or the pickled radishes, for which, if you attempt the Superhero version, you eat a small portion of radishes everyday, along with steamed vegetables and pickles. The Superhero diet can really fill you up. Alicia gives an example of a seven-day sampler of breakfast, lunch and dinner. And don’t forget about desserts; there is always room for dessert. Alicia’s favorite dessert to make, which she has shared with The Boulevard, is her Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, which she swears taste even better than the Reese’s at the supermarket.

Alicia has done a magnificent job. The Kind Diet offers just a little bit of everything that will make for a better lifestyle. The food will make you feel better, look better and just be better.

For me, as much as I would like to be Alicia’s Superhero, I’d still be fine being the Flirt.

Alicia Silverstone’s

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

“Back in the day, I was obsessed with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Now I make this healthier version and they are way better. In fact, I think they are the most ridiculously delicious things in the entire world. Look for graham crackers that are naturally sweetened or low in sugar (Healthy Valley makes a good one), and store the leftover crackers or crumbs in an airtight container for future use.”

½ cup Earth Balance butter
¾ cup crunchy peanut butter (preferably unsweetened and unsalted)
¾ cup graham cracker crumbs or 10 graham cracker squares
¼ cup maple sugar or other granulated sweetener
1 cup grain-sweetened, nondairy chocolate or carob chips
¼ cup soy, rice or nut milk
¼ cup chopped pecans, almonds or peanuts

Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. (If You Care makes unbleached liners made from recycled paper.) Set aside.
Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in peanut butter, graham cracker crumbs and maple sugar. Mix well and remove mixture from heat. Evenly divide mixture, approximately 2 tablespoons per cup, among muffin cups.
In another pan, combine chocolate and milk. Stir over medium heat until chocolate has melted. Spoon chocolate evenly over peanut butter mixture. Top with chopped nuts. Place in refrigerator to set for at least two hours before serving.

Yields 12