The other night I was rummaging through my fridge for something to eat for dinner. I found a package of seitan (a gluten-based meat alternative) and decided to sauté it in my newly invented onion-cilantro salsa verde sauce. However, when I opened the package, I noticed that the seitan was a bit slimier than usual and, after checking the expiration date, realized that it was four days past its Best By date. And yet, I ate it anyways.

Call me crazy, but I reasoned that anything that was plant-based and organic couldn’t be that dangerous for my health if it was a few days past the expiration date. Besides, I was cooking it anyways so wouldn’t that just burn off all the bad stuff?

Since I am obviously no health expert, I got to wondering: how strict are the expiration and Best If Used By dates on food packages? What foods can you eat four days after the fact and which can’t you? In fact, where do expiration dates come from? How are they decided?

I did some sleuthing on the internet and found out that 1) I wasn’t going to die from having eaten expired seitan and 2) that most expiration dates are misleading to say the least. So, the question is: can you still eat that half-opened can of Spam in your fridge that expired about a week ago? Yes, as long as it passes the smell and sight test.

Check out Nadia Arumugam’s article to learn more:

http://www.slate.com/id/2244249/

There's nothing like home-cooking to save the planet

Nowadays, it seems like everyone’s jumping on the green band wagon.

For the week of February 22-28, the Huffington Post’s HuffPost Green and HuffPost Eyes and Ears are hosting an eco-friendly challenge: The Week of Eating In. Inspired by a HuffPost Green blogger, Cathy Erway, The Week Of Eating In does exactly as it states: challenges you to cook all of your own meals for a whole week.

The rules are simple because, in fact, there are no rules except that you must prepare your own food. Anyone can join and HuffPost Green invites you to sign up and then pledge to let all of your friends on Facebook and Twitter know about the challenge. (Aside from this last detail, which turns the challenge into more of a publicity scheme than it does a green-awareness campaign, The Week of Eating In sounds shockingly commendable).

Cooking is broadly defined, but they recommend that you try to consume as many organic, whole foods as possible and to avoid purchasing pre-packaged, pre-cooked, or frozen foods. Other than that, the rest is up to you. Mix what you like, bake what you like, sautee what you like…as long as you’re the one doing the cooking.

One of the main ways that this challenge will benefit its participants is through teaching them how best to conserve, recycle, and reduce consumption. Money, which is always a factor, can help increase participant’s understanding and awareness of how much food they buy (and waste) on a day to day basis. Further, for those who rarely shop at the supermarket, this challenge offers them the chance to become more involved in local and sustainable agriculture. Once you take yourself out of the position of being merely the recipient of meals, and instead, place yourself in the role of both hunter and gatherer, you might become more aware of what foods you are putting into your body and where they are coming from. Thus, participants are forced to become actively involved in the cooking process and to reflect on what exactly they are putting into their bodies. Hopefully, an understanding of what ingredients actually go into the meals you consume, where these items are located in the market (or maybe you can only get them at specialty food stores or farmer’s markets?), and quantity sizes will make an impact both on the person and the planet.

The only setback I foresee to this challenge, besides laziness, is money. People might argue that buying the ingredients to cook at least two meals a day for a whole week will be pricey. But, I counter,the food you purchase and prepare yourself will not only do a lot more for your health, but it will last a lot longer than anything you could buy at a restaurant. So if you go to the market on Sunday and purchase all of the food you’ll need for the week in one lump sum, yes, the bill will be high but that’s only because you aren’t used to seeing all of your food purchases added up on one bill. Granted, food prices are much higher in Hawaii than they are on the mainland, but if you took the time to add up how much money you spend in a week eating out for lunch and dinner and buying the occasional pack of gum, coffee, or soda, it’s likely you’d be surprised to see how much you actually spend.

Farmers Markets are a great place to buy fresh, local, and organic foods

In response to those who are too lazy to cook every meal for a week, I recommend cooking half of the meals, or at least the first three days’ worth, in one go. That’s what I do. Sometimes I get the cooking bug and can’t wait to whip something amazing up in the kitchen. And then on other days, I’d rather lie on the couch and starve then start cooking. So, because my cooking drive waxes and wanes on such short notice, I’ve taken to cooking at least three meals a time whenever I get the culinary fever.

Remember as well that partaking in The Week of Eating In does not mean that you are literally stuck in your homes! You can always cook your meals beforehand and then bring it with you in a Tupperware wherever you need to go for the day.

And lastly, because this is a green blog after all, I’m sure there are tons of readers, myself included, who think that they don’t need to partake in the challenge because they already cook at home on a regular basis. I  just reflected on the food I ate in the last week and realized that I only ate out once. However, pat on the back aside, this is no reason why I shouldn’t (or why anyone shouldn’t) partake in the challenge. I suppose, if only in a silent way, it adds support and numbers to the cause which is important when you think about just how many people don’t eat at home, let alone know how to make pasta. And if anything, doing your part to eat locally and mindfully can never hurt the environment or your body.

To sign the pledge or learn more about The Week of Eating In, go to:

www.huffingtonpost.com/katherine-goldstein/the-week-of-eating-in

There’s a reason why everyone likes spoofs: they’re funny and usually have something clever to say. Latest cool spoof on the block, or at least on my block, is The Meatrix. Modeled after the sci-fi, cult-classic The Matrix, The Meatrix is an animated short film about Leo the pig’s excursion into the real world of factory farming.

Donning a black trench coat and sunglasses, Moofius, Laurence Fisburne’s bovine equivalent, offers clueless, young Leo a chance to escape the false confines of his idyllic farm life and see the industry for what it truly it is. In mock imitation of one of The Matrix’s most famous scenes, Moofius sidles up to Leo whilst he is feeding happily from a trough, and offers him the chance to” take the blue pill and stay here in this fantasy or take the red pill and I will show you the truth.” And, of course, we all know that Leo chooses to take the red pill.

What follows is a whimsical, fast-paced rendition of modern day factory farming. As Moofius explains to Leo, “The Meatrix is all around you. It is the story we tell ourselves about where our meat and animal products come from.” In the timeframe of less than a minute, our guide, Moofius, details the harsh living conditions of farm animals, the systematic mutilations that they undergo, the threat of an impending disease epidemic resulting from farmers’ overuse of antibiotics, and the effect that modern day farms have on both the surrounding environment and economy. According to the film, since 1950, over 2 million family farms (those quaint, stereotypical, red-barned farms that we all like to fantasize about) have vanished due to their takeover by greedy agriculture companies.

Astounded and appalled by the devastating effects of modern-day egg, milk, and meat farming, Leo turns to Moofius and asks him what can be done. Fortunately, the valiant Moofius tells Leo that a Resistance movement exists, and then BLAM! Out of nowhere jump two kung-foo fighting sunglass-wearing farm animals. Although the same gravity-defying spectacle probably won’t happen when YOU decide to join the Resistance, the method of fighting back, whether you are fish, fowl, or Homo sapien, is still the same. Mentors Moofius, “Spread the word. Consumers have the power. Don’t support factory farming.”

While the film itself sounds like a universal call for everyone to turn vegan, Dawn Brighid, marketing manager for Sustainable Table, the company that created the film, is quick to point out that the company in fact supports all diets and that the film was not created with the intention of brainwashing/guilt tripping viewers into becoming vegan. Explained Brighid, “[we] attempt to educate people so that they make the best decisions they can based on animal welfare, health, environment, etc. Sometimes this is not clear.”

So, next time you’re bored and lamenting the fact that there is never anything good to watch on television, despite the fact that you pay extra for premium channels and a DVR recorder, log ontowww.themeatrix.com and join the Resistance movement.

Good-bye 2009, hello 2010. With the welcoming of each new year, the hope that the next 365 days will bring better luck and more happiness sprouts in the minds of almost everyone. New Year’s resolutions are not uncommon as many people set intentions and goals to help achieve and improve on various aspects of their life.

This year, Green Magazine asks YOU what your New Year’s resolutions are. Is it to increase your recycling efforts and stop purchasing beverages that come in plastic bottles? Or maybe you are going create a daily zero-energy hour where you turn off all your appliances, lights, and electronics? Of course, it could also be as simple as just buying local produce whenever possible. (A good way to start this resolution successfully would be to hit up your local farmers market and stock up on an assortment of fresh, local, not to mention cheap fruits and veggies. Check out our latest issue- Vol 1 #4, Winter 2009- for a list of markets on all the islands).

For those who want to keep their New Year’s resolutions but fear that they may fall off the bandwagon halfway through the year, check out Current Green Blog’s ONE GREEN THING new years challenge. ONE GREEN THING is as simple as it sounds– choose one green thing to do this year, post it on the online forum, and stick to it. Others who are up to the challenge post their ONE GREEN THING on the forum and throughout the year, everyone posts status updates, pictures etc on the progress of their resolution. It’s always fun to connect with other greenies worldwide, and haven’t studies proven that it’s easier to achieve/accomplish something when it is a group effort? (or maybe that’s just an old wives tale?).

If youre up for the challenge, check out http://blogs.current.com/green/2009/12/29/take-the-one-green-thing-new-yearss-challenge-with-us/

Watch the ONE GREEN THING Video

ONE GREEN THING challenge

Namaste

Gift-giving is an interaction that not only allows you to spread happiness and joy by means of surprising someone with something they will love, but, it is also a chance to express yourself and your own personal beliefs. This holiday season, consider gifting those you love with something that is both fashion and earth conscious.

If reducing consumption, living green, and purchasing recycled and reclaimed goods over newly-manufactured products sounds similar to the principles you hold in your own life, consider checking out some of Wooly Pocket’s living products.

Wooly Pocket originally started out as a line of creatively-designed gardening containers by Miguel Nelson, a sculptor based in Los Angeles. The Wooly Pocket gardening container consists of two parts: a breathable felt layer made out of 100% recycled plastic bottles and a built-in-moisture barrier that is also made out of recycled plastic bottles ( and is reputedly made according to military standards for impermeability).

The company is known for their vertical and horizontal garden and plant installations, but they have recently branched out into the fashion world and created their first stylish Wooly Pocket item, The Vagabond. And yes, it is exactly what you would imagine: a potted plant hanging on your arm.

Bring some green to the streets

Now, before you run off thinking that both myself and Wooly Pocket are going insane, remember that fashion (or at least avant-garde fashion) does not always fall in line with the status quot. The Vagabond may look a bit shocking dangling at one’s side as they strut down the street, but who said plants weren’t beautiful? Their porous containers have built-in moisture barriers which will prevent any harm to your clothing, car seat, or furniture, and they adapt well to both inside and outside environments. As for space, it is true that you wont be able to hold much– the contents of your colossal, everyday work bag will in no way be able to fit into your new Vagabond. The available space is certainly limited and you wont be able to fit much more than your wallet, cell phone, and a chap stick in it. But then again, haven’t you ever heard the phrase pain is beauty and beauty is pain? There is no arguing with the fact that a lush, healthy plant is the epitome of beauty or that having to limit the number of items you carry in your purse is not some form of sadistic pain.

The Vagabond- A planter-purse for everyday use

The product itself is a bit pricey, ranging at about $140. However, it is handmade in the US, which greatly reduces the pollution generated from importing and exporting of resources. It even comes with an optional $15 hanging system using a reclaimed pully so that your purse can also double as a hanging plant basket when you’re at home.

If youre at a loss for what to get someone this holiday season, then look no further. They might not be the purse carrying type or might even lack a green thumb, but just as people say when someone is having a baby, there is nothing better than bringing new life into this world.

For more information and where to buy, go to http://www.woollypocket.com/