Yesterday we were struck by the simplicity of an idea emailed to us. In an effort to live more lightly on the Earth, reduce waste, and return focus to basic needs and simple pleasures, how about eating raw one day a month?
That's the idea from Family Green Survival, brainchild of Gopal Kapur. Jump below for the rules and link to the site.
According to their website, FamilyGreenSurvival.com,
Eating Green one day a month provides you and your family a degree of personal commitment to the global cause of ‘green living.’ The rules for Eating Green are:All food is eaten raw; choose foods that have been minimally processed and shipped after harvesting; visit local or nearby farmer’s markets
No wood or charcoal fires, gas burners, or barbeques
No electrical appliances – microwave oven, blender, juicer, coffee maker, stove, or oven. Use only manually operated devices
No disposable plates, cups, napkins, paper towels, or plastic utensils
No bottled water, no soft drinks, no alcohol, no coffee or tea; this is the opportunity to drink just water or hand squeezed juices
Minimal TV, telephone, and computer use; it’s a day to reflect, talk, walk, exercise, garden, sing, dance, relax, and frolic
We think this is a great idea and a wonderful way to experience raw foods. Our diet is getting more sustainable each month anyway, between organics and local foods, so we think shifting just one day of all raw foods would be easy, too: lots of local fruits and veggies to get you through the day.
What do you think? Is "Eating Green" for a day each month something you'd try?
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I really liked this idea when I first read the post, but I think it could be a little harsh for some people's systems, if they're not used to eating this way. Instead of squeezing it all into one day - try setting a goal of x number of meals a week? I really like the idea of setting aside one day a month to concentrate on something sustainable though.
view mysoultokeep's profile
Or you could try the vegan until 6 pm...
My husband and I were raw last summer and felt fantastic, although there was an initial detox period. The problem came when our farmer's market closed and the produce in the grocery store is...lacking. Not to mention trucked in from so far away. Instead, we are trying to remain vegetarian until the spring and then hopefully will be able to maintain raw more sustainably through the next winter.
view Loki Parker's profile
Man, the picture made we want figs. I love figs and I always eat them raw. I could write a sonnet dedicated to figs! My husband and I are vegans but my mother is an omni. She's trying to eat meat only once a week. She's having a really tough time because she loves pork and steak but I think a few good recipes could help. I think the Great Chefs Cook Vegan looks really yummy. I love any recipe that is plant based and not a lot of tofu or fake meat stuff. I'm also trying to get my mother to eat in season- when the food actually tastes good.
view djheathermarie's profile
I was kind of into the whole raw food thing last year, but I quickly discovered that I can't (nor want to) live without bread. Or popcorn.
view jyw's profile
this is how i generally try to eat, and i think trying in once a month might be a good tool to ease into making raw foods a bigger part of your diet. while i understand the idea behind abstaining from TV/telephone/excess stimuli, i think i'd have a problem with doing all that at once all on the same day, unless i made the whole day a 'vacation', a deliberate escape from my normal reality - and isn't that defeating the purpose?
some great ideas here, though, and it is reaffirming to see.
view pomloplum's profile
i've kinda actually been doing this all week except for i heated water in the microwave & i used the fridge to keep my veggies cold. i feel much more satiated.
view mariegael's profile
this is a beautiful idea for summer or for climates where lots of produce that can be eaten raw grow year-round. It's not sustainable (or particularly healthy!) to eat raw in cold climates year-round, though.
BTW, if you did this once a week/month, where would you get your protein? Nuts and seeds (and their butters)? Is there anything else?
view emilykristin's profile
i try to eat a 50% raw diet and you would be amazing at the change in your energy level! it also makes it very easy to maintain a healthy weight without watching everything you eat.
think one meal a day raw.
start off with a raw breakfast and raw snacks throughout the day and there you go, can't get easier than that!
view savyvegan's profile
Savyvegan, I like that idea! I can do a raw breakfast, no problem. ^_^
As for the "one day a month with little to no tech"... Well, I don't HAVE TV, I don't really talk on the phone, and I only use my computer as a recipe book for the most part, and I'm slowly transfering everything to a recipe box instead... My fiance, however, could do with a tech free day every month. I think I'll see about implementing this when I get home.
view deliriumsama's profile
Love it: raw for breakfast, or one day a week, however you wish to slice it.
So Cali people should try the most amazing raw vegan restaurant ever: Au Lac in Fountain Valley. www.aulac.com
view holland's profile
Humans evolved to eat cooked foods - with certain foods, many of their nutrients are unavailable to us unless they are cooked. Just throwing that out there, since many people seem to equate raw food and veganism with health.
view Risa Kate's profile
i went raw for three weeks and didn't waiver once. and wow, the detox effects, well let's just say the women in my office weren't too happy about the bathroom one day.. ANYWAY, it was great, my clothes were getting super loose, but then i just went ravenous and had to have something more filling.. and then it all ended. :(
view animalhouze's profile