Maisonette Muse
Alicia Silverstone
The actress and vegan lifestyle champion talks about how to avoid the Terrible Twos and other plant-based parenting hacks.
We couldn't resist: Shop the 90s nostalgia edit
We couldn't resist: Shop the 90s nostalgia edit
- Photography
- Carissa Gallo
- Written By
- Nandita Khanna
For anyone who grew up on the “Clueless” playbook of lilac twinsets, pleated plaid miniskirts and references to Valley parties, it’s hard not to want to talk to Alicia Silverstone about life as Cher. But spend five minutes with her, and it’s actually not as hard as you think. In fact, while you’ve been wrapped up in 90s nostalgia, Silverstone has been busy building a vegan-centric empire. She’s written two books: “The Kind Diet” and “The Kind Mama.” Five years ago she launched Mykind Organics, which includes a new line of 16 herbal supplements. TheKindLife, her website for healthy and eco-friendly living, just got a facelift, too.
And along the way, she’s been raising her son, Bear, who is 7 now and as handsome as he is sweet. Her secret for raising a child who doesn’t act out? A nourishing diet rooted in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. (More on that later.) Silverstone says it applies to her too: “If I don’t eat well, I’m tired, then I don’t sleep well,” she explains. “Ultimately, I know the connection between eating well and feeling good and how that affects our relationship.”
And along the way, she’s been raising her son, Bear, who is 7 now and as handsome as he is sweet. Her secret for raising a child who doesn’t act out? A nourishing diet rooted in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. (More on that later.) Silverstone says it applies to her too: “If I don’t eat well, I’m tired, then I don’t sleep well,” she explains. “Ultimately, I know the connection between eating well and feeling good and how that affects our relationship.”
Talk to us about why you decided to write “The Kind Mama.”
I saw women in my life having such amazing, beautiful, blissful experiences with pregnancy, birth and motherhood, and that was so inspiring to me. This was in stark contrast to what we’ve come to accept as normal: having a hard time with fertility, suffering through pregnancies full of ailments, suffering through less than ideal deliveries and the list goes on.
It became clear that there was another path, so I consulted some of the smartest obstetricians, pediatricians and experts in the field. All of the research helped me and countless others have a smoother, more enjoyable pregnancy and post-partum experience.
How do the tenants of “The Kind Diet” apply to how you’ve been raising Bear?
I think the diet's influence on Bear is pretty evident. He’s full of vibrant energy. He's smart, creative, and insanely sweet — like a magical little elf! It's so important to me that his body be as healthy as possible. He feels good, and this ripples out into a harmonious state of mind and actions — seriously no tantrums or difficulties. I'm so proud to say this is how his life is, and I've made it my job to keep it that way.
I saw women in my life having such amazing, beautiful, blissful experiences with pregnancy, birth and motherhood, and that was so inspiring to me. This was in stark contrast to what we’ve come to accept as normal: having a hard time with fertility, suffering through pregnancies full of ailments, suffering through less than ideal deliveries and the list goes on.
It became clear that there was another path, so I consulted some of the smartest obstetricians, pediatricians and experts in the field. All of the research helped me and countless others have a smoother, more enjoyable pregnancy and post-partum experience.
How do the tenants of “The Kind Diet” apply to how you’ve been raising Bear?
I think the diet's influence on Bear is pretty evident. He’s full of vibrant energy. He's smart, creative, and insanely sweet — like a magical little elf! It's so important to me that his body be as healthy as possible. He feels good, and this ripples out into a harmonious state of mind and actions — seriously no tantrums or difficulties. I'm so proud to say this is how his life is, and I've made it my job to keep it that way.
“I think the diet's influence on Bear is pretty evident. He’s full of vibrant energy. He's smart, creative and insanely sweet.”
What advice would you give parents who are thinking about raising their kids vegan?
Stop bringing unhealthy items into the house and start making delicious plant-based recipes. (There are some amazing ones in "The Kind Diet" and "The Kind Mama.") Don't talk about it; just do it! Good food is good food. If your kids reject it at first since they're jonesing for the nasty fix, they’ll come around when they get truly hungry. You need to break the addiction. Trust me, they’ll come around.
Start by moving away from dairy, sugar and animal foods, and instead try whole grains and plant-based proteins and veggies. You'd be surprised at how open kids are to trying new things if you embrace them, too.
Stop bringing unhealthy items into the house and start making delicious plant-based recipes. (There are some amazing ones in "The Kind Diet" and "The Kind Mama.") Don't talk about it; just do it! Good food is good food. If your kids reject it at first since they're jonesing for the nasty fix, they’ll come around when they get truly hungry. You need to break the addiction. Trust me, they’ll come around.
Start by moving away from dairy, sugar and animal foods, and instead try whole grains and plant-based proteins and veggies. You'd be surprised at how open kids are to trying new things if you embrace them, too.
After our shoot you and Bear were talking about soaking chickpeas to make your own hummus. Do you spend a lot of time in the kitchen together?
Bear is an excellent sous chef. He’s also the best taste-tester, especially for hummus and guacamole. Dinner at our place always includes a bean, a green and a grain. Here are some of our favorites as of late:
• Pinto bean tacos with avocado, tomato and lime
• Steamed kale or steamed bok choy with a vinaigrette of ume plum vinegar, flaxseed oil and lemon
• Black beans, tomato, cucumbers, garlic and lemon
• Hummus
• Guacamole
• Pizza crust with vegan cheese, tomato sauce, any veggies in the house plus olives for Bear
• Stir-fries of rice, kale, potato, tofu, beans and lime shoyu
• Raw Balls, a sweet treat from "The Kind Diet." We make these together every week to share with his classmates.
Bear is an excellent sous chef. He’s also the best taste-tester, especially for hummus and guacamole. Dinner at our place always includes a bean, a green and a grain. Here are some of our favorites as of late:
• Pinto bean tacos with avocado, tomato and lime
• Steamed kale or steamed bok choy with a vinaigrette of ume plum vinegar, flaxseed oil and lemon
• Black beans, tomato, cucumbers, garlic and lemon
• Hummus
• Guacamole
• Pizza crust with vegan cheese, tomato sauce, any veggies in the house plus olives for Bear
• Stir-fries of rice, kale, potato, tofu, beans and lime shoyu
• Raw Balls, a sweet treat from "The Kind Diet." We make these together every week to share with his classmates.
“Dinner at our place always includes a bean, a green and a grain.”
What's surprised you most about being a mom?
The love is off the charts. I also love the focus it brings you.
How do you carve out time for yourself?
The best way for me to really take care of myself is to plan where I’m going to get my breakfast, lunch and dinner the night before so I can feel my best.
I’m always trying to create balance in my schedule so there’s time for Bear, work and fun. I carve out time for movement, whether it’s a walk in nature or a group exercise class. Right now, I’m into yoga and Pilates.
Nandita Khanna is a L.A.-based content director who has worked Goop, Jcrew and Town & Country Magazine. This is her first story for Maisonette. Follow her @dresslikenan.
The love is off the charts. I also love the focus it brings you.
How do you carve out time for yourself?
The best way for me to really take care of myself is to plan where I’m going to get my breakfast, lunch and dinner the night before so I can feel my best.
I’m always trying to create balance in my schedule so there’s time for Bear, work and fun. I carve out time for movement, whether it’s a walk in nature or a group exercise class. Right now, I’m into yoga and Pilates.
Nandita Khanna is a L.A.-based content director who has worked Goop, Jcrew and Town & Country Magazine. This is her first story for Maisonette. Follow her @dresslikenan.