Raw Food · Eco-Chick

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Ani Phyo’s Healthfully Decadent Raw Coconut Kream Recipe

Dessert has always been my favorite part of any meal (though I do love apps!) and while I’ve managed to tame my sweet tooth in the last few years, I’ve by no means eliminated it. (By tame I mean I can get my sweet-happys from maple syrup, honey, and desserts made with fruit and less sugar.) Frankly, I’d rather carry around an extra five pounds than skip desserts, in all their toothsome glory. But I try to concoct or uncover desserts that are healthy as well as tasty. Just because it’s dessert doesn’t mean that it has to be a nutrition wasteland!

So stumbling upon Ani Phyo’s wonderful raw dessert cookbook (with 85 recipes!) was a coup. As you may already know, raw foods retain all sorts of wonderful enzymes, vitamins and minerals, plus are less ‘predigested’ (I know it’s a bit gross, but that’s basically what cooking is; partial digestion of food before you eat it). That means your body has to work a bit harder to digest, which makes you feel full longer and is actually really good for your gut. All of which means you get more nutrition and eat less when you go raw. While I’m not a raw foodist by any means, I’m going on my 19th year of vegetarianism and love the way whole foods that are minimally processed taste and make me feel. And the more I’ve read about the benefits of raw, the more I try to incorporate it into my diet.
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Raw Food Recipe: Late Summer Peach Cobbler

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by Starre Vartan · 08/28/09

Guest Post by Nathalie Lussier

When a person first discovers raw food, the thing that surprises her the most is how great the desserts taste! Truly guilt-free desserts part of an eating plan that’s not only healthy, but also environmentally conscious? Can’t ask for more than that!

Here is a super simple recipe that everybody will love. It’s a simply delicious peach cobbler, and you don’t even need an oven.

peaches, raw food, recipe

How to Score an Eco Chick?

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by Starre Vartan · 10/11/07

Mr. EcoGeek himself (aka Hank Green) put together this hilarious piece on how to impress (read: seduce) a green girl with your enviro cred. Title: “EcoGeek’s Guide to Getting Girls”! Love it. Being a guy, naturally he wrote a lot about how to get a woman in bed, or at least into a sexy space. (Hey, nothing wrong with seduction, especially if it’s environmentally responsible). What a romantic! Hank, I kid. Since EcoGeek is happily married he’s obviously doing something right.

BUT I couldn’t resist the challenge. As a recently single-again Eco Chick, I have to make my own list. Now, I could have made one about how to seduce a Green Guy, but really, getting most guys into bed, green, purple or ahem, blue, isn’t all that hard, right ladies?

So I’m going to go ahead and ADD to Hank’s list, in which I give away a few of the secrets to getting an Eco Chick to a) notice you, and b) get that first kiss (and maybe more). I’m doing this as a public service to all those treehugging guys who are so busy saving the world they forgot how to flirt, or are maybe just a little shy. Because there’s nothing I like less than seeing nice guys finish last when it comes to snagging dates. Mens, instead of muttering “Girls only like assholes, so I’ll be one” and then going out and behaving like a neanderthal, try these good-guy tactics instead. You’ll help save our gorgeous planet and find someone to keep you warm this winter to boot (so you can turn down the thermostat another couple of degrees!).

And remember, the key to getting any woman is turning on her mind. And what’s on an Eco Chick’s mind? (I mean besides that!!)

Know Your Shit, Or Don’t Be Afraid to Learn
Environmentally oriented women tend to be well-educated (whether through the halls of academia or through seasons of anarchic urban gardening activism, we know our stuff), and smart, conscious women like men who are the same. But don’t fake it; you won’t be able to pretend you’re interested in and love the natural world if you’re not into it, so don’t even try.

If you are just learning to be green, that’s OK, just be open about it. A “teach me” attitude is always appealing to a woman who’s passionate about any subject, from permaculture to carbon trading. If you are an expert in a subject, flaunt it, but not too much. If she’s into a what you’re discussing, a cup of coffee so you can “really get into the details” is a smart, cute way to go (see below for more ideas).

Be Original
Think creative, think low-impact, think about what she’s into.
-Instead of bringing her flowers, bring her a jar of local honey (um, unless she’s a vegan! If so, organic agave nectar. Nonorganic agave is often not sustainably harvested.)
-Send her postcards made from recycled boxes, even if you both live in the same town. It’s fun to get mail.
-Listen (it costs nothing!! and only produces a little bit of CO2…)
-During a hike, or even just a walk in the park, whip out your iPod and play a song for her that pertains to the spot you’ve chosen to stop, showing her how you appreciate the natural world.
-Make her delicious organic, local or all-natural treats of some kind, and feed them to her.

Expect the Unexpected (and Appreciate It!)
Women who are dedicated to changing the world are probably a bit different from the norm; exactly how different and in what ways varies from woman to woman. Note and compliment the things that set her apart from other women and notice what makes her special. Why does she care so much about the planet/animals/organic agriculture/raw food? What is her ideal vision of the future? How does she envision getting there?

Work Your Green Guyness
If you already have awesome eco-man cred, show it off! She will see you in your element, which is always sexy. Never downplay who you are, it’ll come out eventually anyway…

Activist? Ask her to help you make posters, masks, think up slogans, or help you distribute information for your next action.
Locavore? Take her on an excursion to a little-known farm or local-only eatery.
Vegan? Ask her to help you walk dogs at the animal shelter.
Ecologist/Geologist/Biologist? Show her whatever your specialty is in a fun way. Bring her to a super-unique local ecosystem and show her what’s amazing about it, take her on a visit to a rare or interesting outcropping, or take her to the local nature center and show her your favorite interesting insect exhibit.
Environmental Writer? Give her a copy of the book that inspires you the most, with your favorite sections marked off, or go to a reading by your favorite writer.
Green Designer? Show her what inspires you and your designs, whether it is a natural space, an industrial wasteland or the dancing movements of a microscopic creature.
Politician? Ask for her opinion about a speech, op/ed or campaign points that you are working on.
Outdoor educator? Take her on a personalized adventure rappelling, white-water rafting, mountaineering, backcountry snowboarding, or whatever your specialty is. Pack a meal for the trip and include something small but special that shows you were thinking of her (her own caribeaner, quick-dry towel or an extra pair of socks).

And How To Get Her Into Bed…

If you’ve done a few of the things above, she will most likely be pulling you towards the bedroom, into the sleeping bag, or off the side of the trail for a little all-natural frolic.

What’d I miss ladies?? Add your original ideas (and thoughts of course) in the comments section below!

activism, agriculture, Animals, book, car, carbon, coffee, design, designer, dogs, farm, Food, garden, Gardening, green designer, local, Op/Ed, opinion, Organic, Personalized, produce, raw food, recycle, recycled, sleep, spa, Tea, urban, vegan, waste, water, women

G Living: Contemporary Green Lifestyle Network

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by Summer Rayne Oakes · 07/12/06

The first thing I said when I went to the G Living Network site was, “WOW, that Brendan Brazier character is hot.” C’mon girls, we’re just coming off the World Cup where all men are created equal…to Adonis.

Green Living seems to be pumping out a multi-media network, which includes TV (pods), magazine, blogs, reviews, reports, and a marketplace. The front page is a bit busy, but it gets a thumbs up in my book, because it is clearly on its way. It seems a little bit like a cross between Lime TV and Current TV, but the niche is still in its neonatal stages. Tuned into Tim VanOrden’s interview on raw food. Could have been cut down a bit more, but some really amazing pieces…Take note girls, Tim says, “My body can function under very, very high levels, under extreme conditions.” One more thumbs up in my book.

book, Food, Green Living, interview, magazine, media, raw food, reviews, style, tv

A Rawcumentary

2 Comments

by Starre Vartan · 05/11/06

This is the story of a woman who wanted to be a showgirl– and got in shape by going on a raw food diet for 30 days.

I haven’t seen Supercharge Me…30 Days Raw, but it looks fun, in the using-self-as-guinea-pig style of Super Size Me.

In case anyone’s wondering what raw food has to do with environmentalism….actually a lot! Raw food meals (especially if grown locally) are meals that use little energy and create little waste (all of it compostable). Most raw-foodists are vegan, which is almost as low-impact as a diet can get.

As the name implies, raw means uncooked (though food can be gently ‘warmed’ or dehydrated). Much of the labor is done by human hands, and though it’s somewhat anecdotal, I vouch for the fact that raw food for days on end makes you feel kind of ecstatic and it’s very energizing. It IS a lot of work though, and there’s little prepared raw food available. I wrote an article on raw food a while back for E Magazine, if you want more details on what it means to be raw.

If you already enjoy raw food, go see this movie and let us know what you think!

Energy, epa, Food, labor, local, magazine, raw food, style, vegan, waste