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BP: What’s so remarkable to me is this cruelty is still there. It’s always been there. Children are always cruel to other children. And being fat, in our society for most of the 20th and 21st Centuries has been a bad thing. Yet these children are getting bigger and bigger and the bigness doesn’t seem to prevent them from wearing revealing clothing. It’s not like they are hiding themselves under big garments. Am I right?

AE: No, they are not hiding themselves, which I think is terrific actually. I think it’s a paradox, because on the one hand you have places like Torrid and other stores that cater to kids who are bigger and I think that’s great. Because it doesn’t mean they’re going to lose weight if you don’t have these stores.

BP: So instead of encouraging your child to live in baggy sweatpants and big t-shirts, parent should encourage their children to buy attractive clothes that fit.

AE: Yes. Encourage them to buy clothes that fit and encourage them to be happy no matter what they look like. i realize on some level it sounds like I’m living in a fantasy world. I think it’s very important for kids to feel like they’re okay. At least, by their parents. My grandmother didn’t let me come visit because I was too fat. You don’t want that kind of thing to go on in the family. The family is where there has to be a kind of unconditional love. If the family needs to say 'Hey, I love you anyway,' and let the kid come and say 'Mom, Dad, I need help. I don’t feel good,' the worst thing the parent can do is harass and harangue the kid. The rest of the world is happy to do that for them.

BP: Now when that child comes to a parent and says 'I'm not happy with my weight. I’d like to do something,' what steps should the parent take then?

AE: In that instance the parent should say, 'Okay, great, let’s talk about it. We have these options.' I am not a fan of any one diet. I don’t think eating only protein is terrific or eating only grapefruit is terrific. I’ve always thought Weight Watchers made the most sense. More food groups basically, just in moderation. It is also a matter of exercise and getting the kids off the couch. You hear so much about how kids are online so much and they’re text messaging each other and they won't go outside and play. And there’s a lot of truth to that. Also, they’ve cut gym at schools so it is really up to parents to get the kids out and about. That’s a big thing. You have to get them off of the couch.

BP: NowI know this seems totally off topic, but it is actually on. We're going to talk about 'Karamel Sutra' ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s. And why are we going to talk about that? Because you named 'Karamel Sutra'.

AE: Yes.

BP: How did that happen?

AE: I went up to Ben and Jerry’s to interview the head flavorologist and he said I could make my own flavor. And I said 'I want to call it Karamel Sutra' and they said 'Wow, that’s really great.' And six months later they called me up and told me they were going to make it. I said terrific, what am I going to get? And they said nothing.

BP: Nothing, but for life you will have that honor.

AE: I have that honor and I get coupons for as long as 'Karamel Sutra' is on the shelf, which is exactly what I need, right? Free ice cream.

BP: After all that you have been experiencing in terms of weight personally and professionally, do you regard rich foods like ice cream with some kind of horror or are they now just part of your regular life?

AE: That’s a great question. Both. They are a part of my regular life, but I can’t bring into my regular life too much.

BP: Spoken like a true woman.