Living an eco-friendly life does not have to be a difficult ordeal. Much of what it means to be “eco-friendly” boils down to the basics: what we use to store our food, where we buy our food, how we clean our dishes, how we clean our mouths, etc. Here are five simple things you can do in your kitchen to shape it into an oasis of eco-friendly activity and energy.
1. Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins or paper towels. My family made the switch from cloth to paper on my birthday last November, and what a painless transition it has been! No longer are we buying giant packages of napkins from Sam’s, depleting our supply in only a few months, and beginning the cycle once more. Now, we use a set of reusable cloth napkins that we wash once a week. Ultimately, this saves money, reduces waste, and even significantly improves the presentation of our food (consequently improving its taste)! 2. Compost! The hardest part about composting is initially setting up your compost pile, but after that, it is so simple! Between 20 and 30 percent of American garbage is made up of compostable material...this material would be put to much better use in your garden, and taking compostable material out of landfills reduces methane emissions. Find out more here. 3. Store your food in reusable containers...NOT Ziplocs! Investing in a hardy set of glass containers is your best alternative here. Reheating plastic containers in the microwave and freezing them is a little shady, but glass is safe and reliable. When I imagine the amount of Ziploc bags my family used to go through, I am amazed. We went through Ziploc baggies like we went through paper napkins! If you ever do need to use Ziploc bags (for instance, I have not found a better alternative for transporting food when I backpack, and my mom uses them to give bread away to other people), try to save them and reuse them in the future. 4. Use your dishwasher whenever possible. As long as you have a full load of dishes, using your dishwasher instead of hand washing your dishes will save both energy and water. It even saves soap! 5. Stock your refrigerator with food from local farmers’ markets, or grow your own food in a garden. My goal this spring is to visit a farmer’s market at least once every two weeks. 99% of the food modern Americans consume is sourced from large-scale factory farms...not the picturesque farms with cute barns and happy animals that cartons and packages still advertise. Buying your food at farmers’ markets supports local commerce, reduces your carbon footprint, and encourages diversity in our food. While many factory farms emit massive amounts of greenhouse gases and improperly dispose of waste, small, local farms are generally more eco-friendly. Additionally, when you shop at farmers’ markets, you support food diversity. Biologists estimate that only 103 crops make up 90% of the global diet. If the two or three varieties of tomatoes commonly found at supermarkets were wiped out by disease, we would finally appreciate the vast array of tomatoes sold at farmers’ markets! What is more, it is fun and delicious to taste all of these different varieties! I hope you take a few of these tips into consideration next time you enter your kitchen to cook up a delicious meal. Feel free to share any additional tips that come to mind in the comments below!
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Citizen science (noun): science done by ordinary people, often for or with the help of scientists (Cambridge English Dictionary)
As a Natural Sciences student at Governor’s School last summer, I learned about citizen science every day. We participated in two citizen science projects (one was a bird-watching/ant-counting biodiversity project, and the other analyzed the effects different soils have on microbe growth). Before attending Governor’s School, I was completely unaware that citizen science existed, and I am so glad that my eyes have been opened to it since. Scientists are constantly fighting battles. Whether it be periods of stagnation where breakthroughs are rare to nonexistent or it is low funding, scientists can really be put through the wringer. For instance, my brother, a nanotechnologist, was on back pay for several months because his lab ran out of funds! So, what can the ordinary citizen do to support these poor, disadvantaged lab rats (I can call them that because I consider myself a scientist!)? Citizen science! Citizen science is fun, and it can take many forms. Sometimes you might be compensated a small sum (such as $10) for taking a survey or participating in an experiment, but most of the time it is free. You can participate in hands-on projects at home, or you can participate in online projects (which range from simple surveys to identification of animals from wildlife trail camera footage). Use this website to browse for a project that interests you; you can narrow your search results to one of five topics (“mind,” “health,” “sustainability,” “tech,” and “the sciences”). I challenge you to complete at least one! The fact that anyone can participate in citizen science is what makes it so great; regardless of whether or not you consider your profession a “sciencey” endeavor, you can still engage in scientific pursuits and enjoy the beauty of learning more about the world in which we live. Happy learning! Mmmm…These protein balls are a healthy and delicious source of the nutrients we need for fueling our busy lives and recovering from the physical demands of the day. They are adaptable and easily stored, kind to the digestive system, and extremely quick to make. And don’t even get me started on the flavor. If you need proof of how tantalizing these protein balls are, consider this: you can smell the cinnamon from across the room. You can store these protein balls in the refrigerator or freezer for several weeks, but I would personally rather store them in my belly.
These protein balls are full of protein (obviously), dietary fiber, thiamin, phosphorous, and magnesium. Thiamin, or Vitamin B1, is essential to cell metabolism and nervous and muscle system health. Phosphorous is an important nutrient for bone and dental strength, and magnesium helps regulate blood sugar levels, produce energy and protein, and support the nervous and muscle systems. Possible adjustments for this recipe include:
Takes about 10 minutes (active time) and 40 minutes (total time) Makes about 12 small balls Ingredients:
Instructions:
The best day of my life so far was hiking up a random mountain in Ireland simply because it was there. I felt as if I were surrounded by magic, and in a sense, I was. Blazing my own trail up the mountainside, I was surrounded by so much positive energy. Mother Earth is a beautiful being, and experiences like this one inspire me to dedicate my life to preserving her purity and loveliness. Compared to holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, the Fourth of July, and even our own birthdays, Earth Day receives sadly little attention from the public. While most people stress about buying last-minute gifts on Mother’s Day, many go about their normal lives on Earth Day without the slightest clue that it is a holiday at all. I have been guilty of this myself. My elementary school, Brunson, always provided us with Earth Day activities, from sidewalk chalk drawing Earth to an outside game of kickball to instructional activities relating to our environment. However, once I graduated to the big world of middle school, it seemed that homework and projects took obvious priority over Earth Day. High school was no different. I imagine that most workplaces are like my middle school and high school, where Earth Day (and the environment in general) is ignored for seemingly more pressing, more intellectual, and more important issues.
There are few issues as pressing, as intellectually stimulating, or as important as the environment. So, why is the celebration of Earth Day largely confined to elementary school children? Do environmental issues lose relevancy once we reach age 12? Far from it. Nonetheless, the refusal of middle schools and high schools to make time for environmental education, and even to make time for a simple hour-long Earth Day activity, generates the illusion that environmental health is far less important than learning about William of Orange and how to close-read poetry. Studies show that the average student spends 20-25 hours per year taking standardized tests (not including preparation time), and such tests can cost school districts up to $1000 per student. Let’s put this number into perspective. If we cut both the number of hours spent taking standardized tests and the cost of such testing in half for a school of 1,000 students, we would come up with about 10,000 hours and $500,000 to spare...time and money that could then benefit the environment. Once schools place more importance in environmental education, their students will carry a more holistic attitude into colleges and future careers, meaning that environmental awareness will diffuse into every aspect of society. Supporting both grassroots programs and government departments like the North Carolina Office of Environmental Education is integral to the push for environmental education in schools. Remember that standards of education and environmental sustainability vary across school districts; while I have friends who are currently taking a class in “Alternative Energies” in Winston-Salem in a building that features a set of solar panels (which powers about a class per day), I am unaware of any sustainability-oriented class at my high school in Yadkin County, and we host exactly zero solar panels. I hope that my voice, combined with the voices of others, will soon change some of these facts. Soon, I will return with another post in recognition of Earth Day, where I will suggest activities and events for you to pursue on this very special holiday. Until then, honor thy Mother! One of my dreams is to become so adept in nutrition, cooking, and "fooding" that I am asked to conduct food reviews for blogs or magazines. Especially for products like So Delicious's Coconut Milk Dairy-Free "Ice Cream." Often referred to as "nice cream," vegan ice cream is a delicacy I have been pining to try for several months now. I hope that you enjoy this review as much as I am enjoying my bowl!
Product: So Delicious No Sugar Added Mint Chip Coconutmilk Dairy-Free Frozen Dessert (whew, that was a mouthful!) Nutrition: For a 1/2 cup serving, it contains 120 calories, 11 g of fat, 9 g of saturated fat, 18 g of carbohydrates, 1 g of protein, and 10 g of fiber. It also has a moderate amount of iron. Compare this nutritional information to that of a brand like Edy's. A 1/2 cup serving of Edy's mint chocolate chip ice cream contains 160 calories, 8 g of fat, 6 g of saturated fat, 19 g of carbohydrates, 16 g of sugar, 2 g of protein, and no fiber. The fats, carbohydrates, and protein are comparable to one another, and So Delicious comes out far ahead on the fiber, calorie, and sugar frontiers. It is important to note that this particular carton of So Delicious contains so little sugar because it is sweetened with stevia. Stevia has sparked controversy among nutritionists, but I subscribe to the belief that it is a much healthier alternative to cane sugar, and is completely safe, especially when consumed in moderation. Also note that this product is not "healthy" by traditional definitions, but it can make for an awesome every-once-in-a-while dessert. Taste: Really, it is not all that different from mint chocolate chip ice cream. There is a slight tang of coconut, but it is not necessarily a bad tang, and it is far from overt. The chocolate chips add some nice texture, and the dessert mimics the creaminess and richness of ice cream to a T. I was licking my bowl after downing the last spoonful! Price: Sigh. We had to get here sometime, didn't we? The biggest drawback to this product is that it cost $5 for a little carton with four servings. But for me, this was worth it. I eat dessert so rarely, and I appreciate So Delicious's commitment to organic, vegan products and environmental preservation so much, that I am willing to pay those $5. I can make a small carton stretch out over several weeks (or months!), and so it is a justifiable cost for me. Conclusion: 5 stars! Go out and get some for yourself! Most pre-packaged trail mixes are chock-full of added sugar, whether it be in the chunks of dried fruit or in the M&Ms. And if you are a sane human being, you usually gravitate towards picking out the M&Ms and leaving the nuts and raisins behind!
I have always made my own trail mix because I find it healthier and much tastier than anything you can buy at the grocery store. I recently threw together this concoction as a snack for backpacking last weekend, and it is fantastic! The shredded coconut really adds flavor and mild sweetness to the mix, and the dark chocolate chips (which, depending on brand, can be vegan or not) take the place of M&Ms to appeal to chocoholics like myself. The almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and goji berries all provide protein. The pumpkin and sunflower seeds are also rich in fiber, magnesium, and healthy fats. The goji berries are rich in Vitamin A (essential to healthy vision, neurological function, and more) and potassium. And, of course, the dark chocolate provides antioxidants (and warm, fuzzy mental energy). Throw together a bag for snacking or for fueling your outdoor adventures! The proportions are adjustable to taste (just try not to use an entire bag of chocolate chips!). Ingredients
**For those of you who follow my posts every day, I went missing this past weekend because I was backpacking in Doughton Park, near Stone Mountain.
Friday night, my brother, his friend, my boyfriend, and I all slung on our hiking backpacks and trekked into Doughton to spend the weekend in the wild. We set up our tents, cooked dinner over a gas stove, chatted by the fire, and climbed into our sleeping bags for a refreshing slumber. Saturday morning dawned bright and cool. I meditated by the creek flowing by our campsites and ate a warm, hearty breakfast of oatmeal. After cleaning our dishes in the creek, we slung our packs back on and began a long hike of 12.5 miles. The weather was perfect: cool and breezy enough to keep us comfortable when we hiked uphill (rather, upmountain), and sunny and clear enough to render beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. We completed our hike in the late afternoon, proud, satisfied, and hungry. Content and pleasantly exhausted, we slept even better than the night before. Sunday morning brought rain. Nearly as soon as we awoke, a drizzle began to splatter the canopy of leaves above our heads. That drizzle quickly soaked the ground, and we donned rain jackets and extra socks and gloves. We stretched rain covers over our packs and began what would become about a four mile hike along the creek...a hike that involved nearly a dozen crossings over slippery stones and cold water. I am amazed I managed not to fall at all. This second hike was a test of our fortitude. That morning, we had three options. We could... A) Forget the creek trail and simply hike the 1.5 miles back to the car B) Complete the trail, and complain the entire time C) Complete the trail, and thoroughly enjoy it We chose Option C. Yes, it was raining, and yes, it was cold, but the rain was also an opportunity to see a different kind of beauty in nature. The rain drops created gorgeous ripple effects in the creek, and they gave the leaves a certain green glimmer that can only be admired when it rains. Sunday's hike was an obvious opportunity for us to see the glass as 1/2 full, and the truth is, opportunities like this abound in everyday life. We must only look for them. So, next time it rains in your life (literally or figuratively), you do not have to necessarily look for the sunshine...you can look for the beauty in the rain. Whether or not you meditate (and you should!), mantras, or “sound tools," can be extremely helpful in infusing your days with mindfulness and focus. According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, a mantra is “a word or sound that is repeated as a prayer” OR “any word or expression used repeatedly.” Thus, you can use mantras in prayers to yourself, prayers to religious figures, or as gentle reminders to yourself to calmly ground your mental state throughout the day.
Mantras are backed by realms of scientific reasoning; many scientists postulate that the repetition of certain sounds activates one’s nervous system, which in turn affects one’s emotional and physical energies (where we feel/see the results). It has been found that silent mantras (those repeated mentally) and vocal mantras are both closely connected to the nervous system. If you are interested in the science of mantras, you can read more here. Here is a challenge for the next week: experience the power of mantras for yourself by making a goal each morning to incorporate a new mantra into your thoughts. Post this mantra somewhere visible: for instance, as a sticky note on your bathroom mirror, as a background on your cell phone or desktop, or as a note on a white board. Repeat this mantra to yourself when you are greeted by stress and joy alike, and let it be your first and last thoughts of the day. Day 1: “Om.” Pronounced, “A-U-M,” this classic sound that resonates through yoga rooms across the world is said to have been the first sound heard upon the universe’s creation. Some believe uttering this syllable unblocks the throat chakra (a center of spiritual power) to improve communication. Whether you buy into this or not, it can have a very soothing effect. Day 2: “Om śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.” Pronounced, “A-U-M Shanti Shanti Shanti,” this mantra means “Om Peace Peace Peace” and sends positive energy into the universe to create well-being, wholeness, happiness, and peace for others. Day 3: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” (Mahatma Gandhi) Yes, mantras can be spoken in English as well. Use this empowering mantra to inspire you to lead by example and spark change. I have a bracelet I wear every day that has this quote inscribed upon it. Day 4: “Sat Nam.” Pronounced, “Saaaaaaaat Nam,” where “Sat” is eight times as long as “Nam.” This mantra means “Truth is my name,” and it helps those who utter it trust their intuition and honesty. Day 5: “I change my thoughts, I change my world.” (Norman Vincent Peale). How true. Use this mantra to emphasize the power our projections and perceptions hold over our reality. If we change the lens through which we see the world, our reality will change as well. Day 6: “Neti-Neti.” Pronounced, “Neti Neti,” and meaning “Not this, not this,” this mantra will help you peacefully turn away from toxic situations and interactions. Day 7: DIY, meaning formulate your own mantra! Choose a quote, a sound, or a word that is especially meaningful to you and repeat it throughout the day. The reason my childhood best friend, Wren, and I became such close friends was simple: we both love to bake. Pretty much every time I was over at her house, we baked cupcakes, fudge, or cookies together. Often, we would bake desserts for no reason at all, other than to bring smiles to our classmates’ faces when we carried twenty-four perfectly iced cupcakes to school. No matter what we were baking, we were loud, crazy, and happy. I remember chasing Wren around with sticky hands covered in marshmallow creme, artfully creating a giant M&M cookie that sprawled across an entire pan, and rolling delicious truffles in dishes of cinnamon, powdered sugar, and crushed peppermint. I remember her teaching me that life is too short to not lick the spoon, cutting fondant side-by-side with great precision and care, and searching for our first vegan cookie dough recipe together (her early transition to veganism inspired me to follow the same path years later). Our moms often asked us why we didn’t bake something healthy every once in a while, but they, too, could not resist the tempting, warm scents that emerged from the oven every time we hung out.
With a friend, mistakes in the kitchen do not seem so terrible after all. Wren and I had our fair share of scalded chocolate, and one time we even twisted an electric mixer’s metal whisk beyond repair (don’t ask us how). We laughed over each mishap and found solutions without complaint or stress. The kitchen was a sanctuary for our creative spirits and hungry bellies (it still is), and by baking together, we infused our sanctuary with joy, confidence, and love. Although it has been nearly a year since I last baked with her, every time I pop a tray of cupcakes or fudge into the oven, nostalgia overwhelms me. Last year around the time of Thanksgiving, I heard an advertisement on Pandora that encouraged people to cook together to decrease the stress of preparing Thanksgiving feasts. I wholeheartedly agree with this tip. Perhaps the best part of cooking with my dad is he chops all the onions! Communal cooking also eliminates tediousness and encourages bonding. And the more positive energy you put into your mixing bowl, the more delicious the final result! Seriously; check out this University of Maryland study that explored benevolent intentions and corresponding sensations. So, next time you are looking for something to do, or you are dreading preparing dinner alone, consider spending some time in the kitchen alongside a loved one or friend. Your mind, soul, and belly will thank you! My host mother in Austria is a craniosacral therapist, meaning that she aligns patients' cerebrospinal fluids with their energy fields to relieve stress and pain. Sounds radical, right? I did not believe that such treatments were viable until she performed craniosacral therapy on me; I could feel my energy radiating off of me as I drifted into a semi-conscious trance. After just an hour of therapy, my host mother accurately postulated that my birth had been out-of-the-ordinary (I came very quickly into this world and nearly died due to a nurse blowing a hole in my lung!).
A few days after my first craniosacral treatment, I was walking to the bus stop after school and saw a car adorned with a craniosacral therapy ad. This was one of those moments when I realized how drastically different Austrian culture and American culture are. You see, craniosacral therapy was a highly-accepted practice in Austria...so much so, that my host mother was often booked morning to night with appointments. Conversely, craniosacral therapy is hardly heard of in most parts of America. There is only one certified craniosacral therapist in Winston-Salem, out of a total of eighteen practitioners in the entire state of North Carolina. Eighteen is a very low number when you compare it to statistics from other professions...imagine how many thousands of dentists, chiropractors, and psychiatrists there are in North Carolina! Craniosacral therapy has been largely excluded from Western medicine because it has no apparent concrete evidence or explanation. The world of Western medicine adheres strongly to physicalism (also known as materialism), the doctrine that everything is shaped by physical properties (you become sick due to a virus, you experience love due to oxytocin, etc.). Strict physicalism can be a very limiting perspective, however; for example, it does not account for the placebo effect or unexplained, spontaneous healing. This is where vitalism comes in, the belief that living beings are shaped by non-physical factors, like energy fields. Physicalism has done great things for humanity; modern medicine would not be what it is today if it were not for the cause-and-effect nature of physicalism. Vitalism, however, can supplement the offerings of physicalism; consider this study conducted by former Wake Forest professor, Kathi Kemper, that found that non-verbal communication of compassion is possible and practical. This study proved the viability of the meditation practice of sending loving kindness to others that has been used for years. Consider also Reiki and Healing Touch, two practices that have been used for decades and have touched millions of lives. Even yoga centers on the union of mind and body, and for nearly three thousand years, it has promoted metaphysical well-being. Craniosacral therapy seems pretty radical. But try it out, and you may find that its effects are real. While there is not much science to currently back up this treatment, the scientific community is rapidly coming to terms with the fact that physicalism cannot explain everything. Indeed, fifty years ago, meditation was hardly a scientific interest at all, and now it is generally agreed that meditation, for whatever reasons, is powerful and effective. Imagine how our perspectives will change in the coming fifty years, and craniosacral therapy might not seem so radical after all! One thing is for sure: I would much rather have a human-administered, natural, holistic treatment for my anxiety and stress than a synthetic, austere pill. |
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