In Always Too Much and Never Enough, vegan activist Jasmin Singer writes about her relationship with food, body image, and the falsehoods perpetuated by the American food industry. As Singer’s first published memoir, this book is quite a feat. Singer’s writing is humorous, honest, and very often heartbreaking.
Singer’s description of life as someone who constantly faces body shaming is both brutal and necessary. As someone who also grew up being “the fat kid”, I found myself often nodding in agreement with Singer. She gets it. She gets the stigma, the bullying, and the self-soothing dependence on food. But, most of all, she gets the empowerment that comes with understanding where your food comes from.
Singer opens her book with an anecdote in which the film Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, a documentary purporting the miraculous health benefits of juicing, was suggested to her over dinner. This incident led Singer on a juicing journey; one in which she examines her relationship with her body, veganism, and the impact of weight loss on the way she is perceived by those around her (namely: her mother). Though I have yet to buy into the world of juicing, Singer’s weight loss journey is admirable. She examines not just the physical transformation associated with the pursuit of health, but the psychological one as well. She, like many practicing vegans, has to relearn how to eat.
Always Too Much and Never Enough is a deeply inspirational book. Singer is a relatable protagonist. She is the friend you wish you had, detailing all of the awkward, complex, and often devastating realities of self-transformation. Always Too Much and Never Enough is a worthy addition to any vegan bookshelf.
Tofu Reader 