A More Conscious Diet

A sustainable way of life extends far beyond what kind of car you drive or how long you leave your lights on.  If we really want to reduce our carbon footprint, we must think about what we are putting on our plate. Conscious living includes an informed diet, one free of fads and societal norms.  If you truly want to be the change, then change the way you look at food. Ethical eating can save both the planet and your life. Sound too good to be true? Here are 5 steps with resources to guide you to conscious eating:  


1. Plot the land

Read “Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan

As Pollen explores food’s journey from soil to plate it takes us on an eye opening ride. He ponders the potential choices we have to make amongst such a vast array of food available to us.  After traversing the extremes, he came to the conclusion that no matter what you eat, the food that comes into your hands and mouth must have a transparent source and the closer you can get to that source the better.


2. Plant the seeds

Read  “The Kind Diet” by Alicia Silverstone

Silverstone is a down to earth vegan who breaks down the ethical and health reasons for excluding meat and animal products from your plate.  This is an idea that has many people running for the hills.  But if you gain a bit of knowledge about factory farming from “Omnivore’s Dilemma” then you might just be willing to at least learn what a vegan lifestyle is all about.  She encourages people to enter into this type of eating at their own pace.  To encourage this, you will find easy swap outs and recipes for “beginners”, making the statement that even small changes can make a difference. 


3. Watch them grow

Read “The Conscious Kitchen” by Alexandra Zissu

“The Conscious Kitchen” is a great guide to cleaning house (and kitchen). If you’ve gotten this far, you are probably ready to make some changes. Here you will learn how to easily take steps towards going green and eating clean.  This book sets you straight and turns what is potentially a very overwhelming concept into a very attainable check list of things to everyone can do.


2. Do the work

Read “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer

To really reach the tipping point, “Eating Animals” is a must.  This book is not for the faint of heart.  It is a brutally honest look at the ethical choices we make when we mindlessly grab a bite to eat.  It shines a bright light on the terrors that are factory farming. If you are serious about making the switch to conscious eating then this will make your decision that much easier.


5. Harvest the rewards

Read “Super Natural Everyday” (book) and 101cookbooks (blog) by Heidi Swanson

Once you are ready to start ditching old habits and eating a more conscious diet you might realize that the rest is pretty exciting. Find some great blogs and books to inspire you and you will be amazed at how good it feels to get in the kitchen. Heidi Swanson provides daily doses of amazingly simple yet delicious and healthy recipes on her blog, “101 Cookbooks”. “Super Natural Everyday” is truly a gem in that it provides a slew of recipes that make you feel like a powerhouse and not only that but become ones you will return to again and again.  Eating for your health and for the health of the planet is a rewarding experience all the way through. 

Best of luck on your journey to Conscious Eating ~ and remember, knowledge truly is power!