Kathy Freston is an American author and promoter of plant-based nutrition. Her books include ''The Lean'', ''Veganist'', ''Quantum Wellness'', ''Clean Protein'' and ''72 Reasons to Be Vegan''.

Biography

Early life

Freston grew up in Doraville and later in Dunwoody, a suburb outside of

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

Her mother, Joan, and her father, Bill, worked together in a printing store they owned in Dunwoody; she has two younger brothers, Kevin and Jon. Freston started studying meditation in her spare time and began making her own guided meditation recordings. She said, "… I started creating tapes for friends and realized, "Hey, this is very useful to people". People "came to her for counselling," and so she became a meditation counsellor, helping people find relationships or create abundance, get pregnant, or deal with the disease. She helped Cyrinda Fox, ex-wife of Steven Tyler, find peace with her cancer diagnosis and became a minister long enough to preside over the wedding of Cyrinda Fox to her boyfriend while on her deathbed.

Career

Freston's book, ''The Lean: A Revolutionary (and Simple!) 30-Day Plan for Healthy, Lasting Weight Loss'', was named one of VegNews' "Top 12 Vegan Books of 2012." She has appeared on ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' and across Winfrey's network relating to a detox diet. In January 2014, Freston launched a Change.org petition titled "It's Time for a Healthy, Meatless Option (Please!)" urging McDonald's to debut a vegetarian burger item. In November 2020, McDonald's announced they would be creating a plant-based platform called "McPlant" that could lead to a plant-based burger being available on menus at McDonald's in 2021. Freston supported California's Prop 2, a ballot measure that – among other things – required that by January 1, 2015, egg-laying hens raised in California be able to stand up, lie down, turn around, and fully extend their wings. From 2011 to 2017, she occasionally published articles in the ''

HuffPost ''HuffPost'' (''The Huffington Post'' until 2017, itself often abbreviated as ''HPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and covers p ...

''. In 2021, Freston co-authored the book ''72 Reasons to Be Vegan'' with

Gene Stone Gene Stone (born October 6, 1951) is an American writer and editor known for his books on animal rights and plant-based food. Early life and editorial career Gene Stone grew up in the Westchester County suburb of Pelham, New York, the son of law ...

Awards

Freston was awarded "Person of the Year" by ''VegNews Magazine'' in 2011. Freston was awarded with the "Healthy Living Advocate Award" by

Farm Sanctuary Farm Sanctuary is an American animal protection organization, founded in 1986 as an advocate for farmed animals. It was America's first shelter for farmed animals. It promotes laws and policies that support animal welfare, animal protection, ...

at the 25th Anniversary Farm Sanctuary gala in 2011. Last Chance for Animals (LCA) has honoured Freston with their "Vegan of the Year" award for 2016.

Personal life

Freston wed

Tom Freston Thomas E. Freston (born November 22, 1945) is an American media proprietor, businessman, and financier. Early life and education Freston grew up in Rowayton, Connecticut. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Michael's College and an MBA fro ...

on April 18, 1998 in

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. She was a stepmother to his two sons, Andrew and Gil. Kathy and Tom split their time between their New York and Los Angeles residences. They traveled widely, entertained regularly at their townhouse (which once belonged to Andy Warhol) and were frequently photographed at MTVN events and cultural galas. Freston was added to Vanity Fair's 2009 "International Best-Dressed List." They divorced in 2012 but remain friends.

Selected publications

*''72 Reasons to Be Vegan: Why Plant-Based. Why Now.'' (Workman Publishing Company, 2021) *''Clean Protein: The Revolution that Will Reshape Your Body, Boost Your Energy—and Save Our Planet'' (Hachette Books, 2018) *''The Book of Veganish: The Ultimate Guide to Easing into a Plant-Based, Cruelty-Free, Awesomely Delicious Way to Eat, with 70 Easy Recipes Anyone can Make: A Cookbook'' (Pam Krauss/Avery, 2016) *''The Lean: A Revolutionary (and Simple!) 30-Day Plan for Healthy, Lasting Weight Loss'' (Weinstein, 2012) * *''The Quantum Wellness Cleanse: A 21 Day Essential Guide to Healing Your Body, Mind, and Spirit'' (Weinstein, 2009) *''Quantum Wellness: A Practical and Spiritual Guide to Health and Happiness'' (Weinstein, 2008) *''The One'' (Hyperion, 2006) *''Expect a Miracle'' (St. Martin's Press, 2003)

References

External links

*
Kathy Freston's Blog on The Huffington Post
{{DEFAULTSORT:Freston, Kathy Year of birth missing (living people) 1960s births Living people American cookbook writers American health and wellness writers American self-help writers American veganism activists Plant-based diet advocates Plant-based cookbook writers Writers from North Carolina Vegan cookbook writers American women food writers