My food revolution: a year without fast food

There has been a trend in people who have been giving up fast food across the country. From Jamie Oliver’s new show Food Revolution to Michael Pollan and clips of Food Inc. showing up on Oprah, more and more Americans are being influenced on the way they consume food. I’ve personally been swayed and have attempted to cut out fast food for one year of my life.

Today marks three months since I returned from trip to Sri Lanka and also a quarter of year of not eating fast food. So far I haven’t lost weight, in fact I’ve gained weight because I’ve been working out less and working more. But, I feel good about not consuming processed foods, not eating beef, not sitting in a drive thru (other than a McD’s by LAX while dropping off a friend who wanted to pick up food for himself), and not feeding the machine of a fast food nation.

Difficulties thus far have been my discipline. I’m weak. I can barely push myself to do another set of curls at the gym let alone go to my Well Fargo ATM without sniffing the In-N-Out next door.  The smells of fries have consumed my life. The smell of chicken nuggets and sweet and sour sauce – ok not going to go off the deep end. Ultimately, it’s been tough to adjust.

Visits to Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods have increased. I’ve also tried to use more greens and also eat 80% less meat. I’m not a vegetarian – I couldn’t go veg cold turkey (pun intended). But, I think if every person could consume less meat, we’d definitely be on our way to turn the ship of obesity and water consumption. I also have managed to get by with eating at dine in restaurants like La Salsa, Subway, and random cafes because of their non-fast-food-like preparation methods and healthy meal choices. Lastly, I don’t preach to others about my change in lifestyle.  I don’t make others change their behavior – I simply vote on going elsewhere when it comes to choosing a lunch choice.

One quarter of the year done. My goals for the next three months are to continue to avoid fast food restaurants, work out consistently, eat MORE greens, and drink more water on a daily basis. Wish me luck!

Eco-Friendly Fashion From Head To Toe

Sustainable fashion is possible! Although the best method is to shop your closet, here are my favorite pieces to construct the perfect green outfit:

Alkemie Jewelry “Cowry Shell” necklace, forged from 100% recycled metals, $120

Kitson LIV GRN “The world would be a better place if we all LIV GRN” T-shirt, 100% Organic Cotton, $48

Del Forte”Bluebelle” Mid-Rise Flare jeans, 99% organic cotton, $89

Bag the Habit “Reusable Shopping Tote in Plum”, 55% recycled fabric, $18

Zoe&Zac for Payless “Tigerlily Espadrille” platform wedge, organic cotton, hemp and recycled rubber, $27

Eco-friendly fashion – a sustainable choice

Think the green mark left from your imitation metal ring qualifies as green fashion?  Think again.  True eco-friendly purchases can include clothing made from 100% woven bamboo, reusable shopping bags (just bought my first two from Ralphs last week), a recycled candy wrapper clutch or  recycled metal jewelry.

This necklace is one in a series from Debby Arem Designs. Titled "Three Ring Circuits" this necklace uses both recycled circuit boards and vintage beads

An increasing number of designers and producers are choosing a sustainable strategy that aims to reduce the industry’s huge environmental footprint, better audit clothing firms’ sprawling supply chains, boost the use of organic cotton and increase levels of precious metal recycling.

Recycling of gold and other precious metals can occur in many ways, but one growing source comes from people who are recycling their broken or unwanted jewelry. A  U.S. Geological Survey reported that 120 tons of new and old scrap, equal to about 67% of reported consumption, was recycled in 2008.  Essentially, the jewelry you sell must go to a precious metal refiner for purification with the minimum purity of 99.99 percent.

There are a myriad of companies that produce superb jewelry using recycled materials.  One company, greenKarat, claims there is enough gold above ground (already mined) to satisfy all demands of the jewelry industry for the next 50 years.  Makes sense, as much of it sits in bank vaults in the form of old and unused jewelry.  Fundamentally, greenKarat conceives that we have the ability to liberate this idle gold through our purchasing decisions and, in effect, reduce the demand for gold and other precious metals from harmful mines.

Another company, Alkemie, creates collections that are forged from 100% recycled metals.  All pieces are handmade locally in my native California and are featured in many of the finest boutiques around the world.  They effectively combine artisanship with sustainable principles.  One of my favorites from Alkemie is the Owl Coin on a vintage chain on the right.

According to the Earth Day Network Footprint Calendar, I currently consume 14.4 global acres and 15.3 tons of CO2 a year to support my unsustainable lifestyle. The reusable shopping bags I purchased were my first attempt towards reducing my carbon footprint.  While I can’t buy my air-powered car of choice just yet, I understand that sustainability starts from buying fewer consumer goods.  Consequently, I chose not to buy a new car until my current Honda Civic breathes its last CO2-emitting breath.  Am I doing more damage from not converting to available hybrids? Possibly.

In the end my unsustainable buck stops here.  Through my research for this post, I have found enough organic cotton t-shirts, organic cotton jeans, bamboo woven dresses, and recycled metal jewelry to appease my styling needs for the next few fashion seasons.  What green fashion will you favor?