After a 5 mile Bike ride from Bethesda, MD to Washington D.C. via the Capital Crescent Trail, and with a rosy glow on my face, I finally arrived at the Green Festival 2012. Washington D.C.’s Green Fest encouraged commuters to bike to the festival in exchange for free admission for one day. But it’s not like they just had a bike rack, they had a full on Bike Valet where we left our bikes, picked up our free pass and some peace of mind, and entered the wonderful world of Green.
That Sunday, Ralph Nader and an accolade of sustainable energy, green business, healthy lifestyle, free trade food, and gourmet cooking experts took the stage at Washington Convention center to paint the city GREEN. The Green Festival in D.C. (among other cities: Los Angeles, Philidelphia, and San Francisco) was presented by Washington D.C. based non-profit, Green America and San Francisco based, Global Exchange. This festival was green from floor to ceiling, because the selection committee made strict determinants for fact-checking and researching the businesses and companies that participated in the two-day festival. They exhibited green integrity by using recycled paper tasting cups, and utensils and cups made from plant-based compostable plastic. Waste stations contained not only recycle bins, but Compost bins where eager volunteers promoted composting to festival goers.
Brad’s Raw Leafy Kale Chips were delish! They came in 4 flavors: Nacho, Salt, Spicy, and Pina-Kaleada (a unique sweet flavor). So crunchy, light, and low sodium it’s hard to find fail with these chips. And don’t forget to Like them on Facebook and get great healthy lifestyle tips and funny Kale pics like this one:
And there were presentations for all the Vegans out there, including my personal favorite: How to Make Raw, Vegan Fruit Pies! I snagged the recipe and don’t be surprised to find raw Sparkleberry pies on Shakedown next summer!
Crust (for 2 pies):
2 cups raw almonds, 3 Tbs raw, unrefined coconut oil (should be solid consistency), ½ cup of dried dates or raisens
Filling:
6 nectarines/apples/peaches/your favorite fruit (½ roughly chopped, ½ blended in the food processor), juice of half a lemon (if using apples), coconut flakes sprinkled on top (especially if you use apples it will cover the natural browning due to oxidation)
Vannesa King was another notable speaker, presenting about Mindful Eating and Awareness. She’s an AcroYoga instructor, healthy lifestyle educator, and coach certified in Nutrition Science. She noted empirical analyses on the American diet and eating habits, from noted sources such as Harvard Medical School, which concluded that fad diets such as the Atkins Diet actually worked because it is extremely restrictive and forced dieters to eat mindfully. The Eatery App is a great source for journaling individual eating and also to get accurate self reported data on diet/nutrition by country and variety of other factors- that you can use on your smartphone! Did you know that through the data from this app, they found that people think they eat 12.5% more healthier than they actually do? And vegans eat 22% healthier than omnivores. She pointed out that being mindful is the key to healthy eating. But there can be a lot of roadblocks on the way to eating mindfully so being aware of the traps can help you avoid them.
Mindful Eating Traps:
#1 Large Portions: Due to the food surplus of the 70’s (I know I’m not the only one that read Fast Food Nation), we eat 53% bigger portions than 40 years ago. Nutritionists find that when decreasing portions by 20%, eaters are just as full.
#2 Stocking Up: Everyone occasionally buys bulk or pays Costco a visit but unless you keep your surplus far away, you might be tempted to keep snacking. Store your surplus food in the basement or in an enclosed pantry where you can’t see it- don’t leave it in the fridge or on the counter.
#3 What You See is What You Eat: Keep healthy food around more. Make healthy eating convenient because we don’t like to work for food.
#4 Attunement: When you’re eating with your friends, family or co-workers you are subconsciously trying to adjust your own eating habits to match your dining partner(s). If they eat large portions, you will unconsciously eat more. Don’t overeat, because “Our Body Remembers Even When our Mind Forgets”
#5 Food Rules: Did you grow up with any food rules like cleaning your plate, having an after school snack, eating comfort food or ice cream when upset? Examine these and change them if they are not supporting a healthy lifestyle.
#6 Takeout: It’s just a fact that people that mainly eat out (those who only eat 40% of their meals at home) eat an extra 350-450 extra calories a day!
Mindful Eating Tips:
1: Set an Intention: Do this to awaken your awareness. What do you want: To have more energy? To feel healthier? To lose weight, or build muscle? Keep your intention in mind every time you sit down for a meal.
2: Attention: Pay attention to your eating habits by journaling what you eat, making you more aware of what you decide to eat.
3: Compassion: You’re only human, so remember, don’t beat yourself up, and take everything in moderation (even your quest for healthier eating).
4: Finding Fullness: Listen to your body and notice when you’re full. That’s a good sign to indicate it’s time to stop eating and save the leftovers for later.
* For more information from Vanessa King, don’t make War, go towww.MakeYoga.org.
DC’s Green Fest was very special because it brought together people from all walks of life: from counter culture hippies to kids and families, and people interested in Green Living but haven’t yet taken the plunge into a eco-lifestyle. The presentations from the DIY stage, cooking stage, green business stage, etc really made the festival because the presenters were on point. The event went on flawlessly due to the connectivity on social media, especially Twitter, that allowed the participants to interact with the Festival organizers in real time. The best way this was illustrated was when the Green Screen Printing presentation (that I was personally looking forward to) got cancelled. Thanks to following the real-time updates from Green Fest, I found out it was rescheduled to another time and I still learned how to make a fabulous homemade T shirt. The festival left me so inspired and made the movement so real to me. According to the Buddah, “All that we are is the result of all that we have thought” and thinking about Green all day helped me extend a lot of these concepts and tips in my everyday lifestyle.
Being green is good for you and for our future. It’s much more than buying expensive organic products, it’s more about what you DO. Think you’re green? Make the commitment TODAY to be aware of implementing new green habits. If you are a part of, or run your own business, take it to the next level and get it Green Business Certified, the process is quick and easy!
You’ll be surprised at how a little green can bring a whole lot of good. Every step you take toward our Green Future is a grain of sand in the bucket of this cause. One day, the bucket will cause the balance to tip, and we will be living in the new Green Economy. Whether it’s supporting, advocating, raising awareness, or helping your self create sustainable ways of life, DOING SOMETHING as an individual is the key to seeing that day manifest. Writing this blog was my Green deed for the day, what will yours be? For more information, steps of action, and press coverage of the event please go to the Green Festival website at:www.greenfestivals.org/
Visit the full article on my fabulous sister's lifestyle and music blog about living consciously around the music and world we love on www.SparkleberryLane.com. Join the movement!
D.C. Green Fest 2012 | Sparkleberry Lane
