WITHOUT MY HUSBAND, FINLEY, there would be no Food Babe. No amount of words can express how much I love you for always believing in me. Thank you for changing the world with me.
This book is written in memory of my mother-in-law, Diane, who taught me grace, compassion, and how to look at the bright side of any situation. Thinking about you gives me courage every single day.
I am forever grateful for my mom and dad, who have protected me tirelessly, from the moment I was born. I’ll never forget the lessons I’ve learned from you both, especially understanding how to stand up for myself and how to be unconventional without worrying about what other people think.
Thank you to my brother, Yog, and sister-in-law, Judy, and my two nephews, Ian and Dylan, for cheering me on, putting up with my food police mentality, and always keeping me in check. I owe so much gratitude to my grandparents, who continue to encourage me to hold on to my roots.
Thank you to my father-in-law, Finley, for his humorous one-liners and career advice, and to Laura, Summers, Taylor, Henry, and all of my wonderful aunties, uncles, and cousins. Reeva, thank you for being the little sister I never had and for making yourself available for the intense web chats and phone calls out of the blue.
Thank you to Sushila Melvani and the Sri Aurobindo Society in Pondicherry, India, for looking after me, praying for me, and sending blessings throughout my life. If it hadn’t been for my closest girlfriends begging me to start a blog and get on social media, this train wouldn’t ever have left the station.
I love you, Nicole, Anamore, Vicky, Marianne, Ruba, Liz, Gimar, Amy, Lee, and Heather. Thank you to my friends in the corporate world—Ed, Rachel, Wes, Larry, Diane, and Rob—who inspired me to investigate, follow my heart, and preach.
To my two brilliant agents, Steve Troha and Scott Hoffman: Thank you for showing me the way for my first (and second!) book. Thank you to Tracy Behar, my editor, for believing in this book and me from the very first sight. I feel so at home with the whole Little, Brown team because of your unwavering support and guidance. Thank you to Michelle Aielli and Cathy Gruhn, for helping me through the media mayhem. To the talented and amazing Maggie Greenwood-Robinson, thank you for your encouragement and thoughtful insights, which made this book come together so beautifully. Thank you to Ryan Holiday, for your support, strategy, and intellect. Thank you to Sean Busher, my dear friend and photographer, his team, and Scooter, who worked tirelessly to get the perfect shot for the cover. Thank you to Derek Halpern, my mentor and friend, who always turns my frown upside down and inspires me to work even harder. Thank you to Dr. Mark Hyman for standing up to Big Food, for fighting with me, and for writing a beautiful and inspiring foreword for this book.
Without my Food Babe team, this train would come to a screeching halt—thank you, Pam, Kim, Janet, Lexi, Krista, and Lindsey for your incredible, passionate work.
Thank you to Max Goldberg for your incredible advocacy and friendship and for encouraging me early in this journey to attend product shows and meet the company leaders behind them.
To my dear friend and mentor, Lisa Leake, thank you for showing me you can do what you love and change the world.
To all the amazing activists who inspire me daily—John Roulac, Pulin Modi, Mark Kastel, Robyn O’Brien, Ken Cook, Heather White, Alicia Gravitz, Kris Carr, Gary Hirshberg, Dr. Josh Axe, Dr. Michael Jacobson, Dr. Joseph Mercola, Mike Adams, Pamm Larry, Jeffrey Smith, Zuri Allen, Will Allen, Congressman Tim Ryan, John and Ocean Robbins, Leah Segedie, Bettina Siegal, Kari Hamerschlag, Melanie Warner, Ronnie Cummings, Birke Baehr, Rachel Parent, Dave Murphy, Lisa Stokke, Cheri Johnson, and many more.
When I think back on what shaped me the most to take on this role as investigator and outspoken activist, I can’t help thinking of my debate coach, Barbara Miller, and debate partners Matt Lietzke and Wendi Wright. I’m forever grateful for your tough love and teachings.
Last but not least, thank you to all my inspiring readers. You are why I’m here with this message; without you I would be nothing. Your collective commitment to a better food system is powerful—more powerful than you can imagine.