Futures, Options, Extension Services, and Food Waste

I would like to be here right now:

New Hard Drive...YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Last weekend I finally got a new external hard drive...best.day.of.my.life. Not only does it actually keep my photos and music safe, it is also astronomically better than my last one. I finally updated my photos on Picasa, so check out the new summer ones!

The House

What else has been going on? I spent Tuesday and Wednesday of this week in Wayne, PA for a Sodexo Wellness Council Meeting. It was basically a strategy session (aka top secret) for the company, surrounding the idea of wellness: nutrition, fitness, and mental well-being. It was incredily interesting, and a great opportunity to meet people from other sectors of the company. It was nice to take a field trip, but I have so much to catch up on. I need to have all of my projects completed by next week - stressful, yet exciting. I am really happy with the way that most are turning out, and I hope that I will be able to get as much done as possible tomorrow and next week. I cannot believe that it is almost time to go back to Colorado!

The Potomac River

Last Friday I toured both the Capitol and the Kennedy Center. I also went to the Lion King with Tony and his parents at the Kennedy Center - AMAZING!

New Favorite

This is my new favorite video: http://www.nonviolenceunited.org/veganvideo.html

Watch it...I promise that it is amazing!

I finally bought a new external hard drive this weekend. I have reorganized all of my music (that took six hours), and the photos are next. Expect some D.C. photos to be up sometime this week!

Yes

Now, THIS cartoon is funny. When I first saw the cover of the New Yorker, I felt like it was missing something, and it was: the connection to make it satirical and unmistakably satirical. It needed something such as, "With visions of..." on the top, followed by a statement on the bottom such as, "dancing in the Republicans' heads."

Of course, the main thing that I did when I saw the original in the New Yorker was count my blessings, one being, of course, that I am not a Republican.

Photos from the past month...

Quick trip home

Sleepy panda at the National Zoo

Quintessential D.C.

YTF Meeting in Scottsdale, AZ...creepy (but good) Mexican Restaurant

Arizona flowers

More tourism...

Today Tony and I hit up:

1. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival - an annual event that highlights a country, state, and 'thing.' This year the selection was: Bhutan, Texas, and NASA. It was pretty cool! We saw some Bhutanese dance, listened to a session on ecotourism, visited the booths, and checked out a model of one of the rocket engines for the 2020 trip to the moon.
   
2. The National Air and Space Museum
3. The National Archives - the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Marbury v. Madison, & the Magna Carta (Mrs. Steen would have been so proud)
4. Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

We also experienced a DELUGE of rain that I am pretty sure was one step under what was experienced by Noah!

I finally caught up on some much needed sleep this weekend and am ready for another busy week. Tomorrow I have a lunch meeting with people from the Chicago Climate Exchange...so cool!

Also, this is super awesome...

"57 Health Benefits of Going Vegan"

http://www.nursingdegree.net/blog/19/57-health-benefits-of-going-vegan/

Nutrition

All of the following nutritional benefits come from a vegan diet full of foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, and soy products.

1. Reduced saturated fats. Dairy products and meats contain a large amount of saturated fats. By reducing the amount of saturated fats from your diet, you’ll improve your health tremendously, especially when it comes to cardiovascular health.
2. Carbohydrates. Carbohydrates provide energy for your body. When you don’t have enough carbohydrates, your body will burn muscle tissue.
3. Fiber. A diet high in fiber (as vegan eating usually is) leads to healthier bowel movements. High fiber diets help fight against colon cancer.
4. Magnesium. Aiding in the absorption of calcium, magnesium is an often overlooked vitamin in importance to a healthy diet. Nuts, seeds, and dark leafy greens are an excellent source of magnesium.
5. Potassium. Potassium balances water and acidity in your body and stimulates the kidneys to eliminate toxins. Diets high in potassium have shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
6. Folate. This B vitamin is an important part of a healthy diet. Folate helps with cell repair, generating red and white blood cells, and metabolizing amino acids.
7. Antioxidants. For protection against cell damage, antioxidants are one of the best ways to help your body. Many researchers also believe that antioxidants help protect your body against forming some types of cancer.
8. Vitamin C. Besides boosting your immune system, Vitamin C also helps keep your gums healthy and helps your bruises heal faster. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant.
9. Vitamin E. This powerful vitamin has benefits for your heart, skin, eyes, brain, and may even help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. A diet high in grains, nuts, and dark leafy greens is full of Vitamin E.
10. Phytochemicals. Plant-based foods provide phytochemicals, which help to prevent and heal the body from cancer, boost protective enzymes, and work with antioxidants in the body.
11. Protein. That protein is good for your body is no surprise. It may be a surprise to learn that most Americans eat too much protein and in forms such as red meat that are not healthy ways of getting protein. Beans, nuts, peas, lentils, and soy products are all great ways to get the right amount of protein in a vegan diet.

Disease Prevention

Eating a healthy vegan diet has shown to prevent a number of diseases. Find out from the list below what you could potentially avoid just by switching to a healthy, balanced vegan way of eating.

12. Cardiovascular disease. Eating nuts and whole grains, while eliminating dairy products and meat, will improve your cardiovascular health. A British study indicates that a vegan diet reduces the risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Vegan diets go far in preventing heart attack and stroke.
13. Cholesterol. Eliminating any food that comes from an animal and you will eliminate all dietary cholesterol from your diet. Your heart will thank you for that.
14. Blood pressure. A diet rich in whole grains is beneficial to your health in many ways, including lowering high blood pressure.
15. Type 2 diabetes. Not only is a vegan diet a weapon against Type 2 diabetes, it is also "easier to follow than the standard diet recommended by the American Diabetic Association." Read more about it here.
16. Prostate cancer. A major study showed that men in the early stages of prostate cancer who switched to a vegan diet either stopped the progress of the cancer or may have even reversed the illness.
17. Colon cancer. Eating a diet consisting of whole grains, along with fresh fruits and vegetables, can greatly reduce your chances of colon cancer.
18. Breast cancer. Countries where women eat very little meat and animal products have a much lower rate of breast cancer than do the women in countries that consume more animal products.
19. Macular degeneration. Diets with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens, carrots, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes, can help prevent the onset of age-related macular degeneration.
20. Cataracts. Much the same way macular degeneration is headed off by a vegan diet, cataracts are also thought to be prevented through the intake of the same fruits and vegetables. Produce high in antioxidants are also believed to help prevent cataracts.
21. Arthritis. Eliminating dairy consumption has long been connected with alleviating arthritis symptoms, but a new study indicates that a combination of gluten-free and vegan diet is very promising for improving the health of those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
22. Osteoporosis. Bone health depends on a balance of neither too much or too little protein, adequate calcium intake, high potassium, and low sodium. With a healthy vegan diet, all four of these points set a perfect scenario for preventing osteoporosis.

Physical Benefits

In addition to good nutrition and disease prevention, eating vegan also provides many physical benefits. Find out how a vegan diet makes your body stronger, more energetic, and more attractive.

23. Body Mass Index. Several population studies show that a diet without meat leads to lower BMIs–usually an indicator of a healthy weight and lack of fat on the body.
24. Weight loss. A healthy weight loss is a typical result of a smart vegan diet. Eating vegan eliminates most of the unhealthy foods that tend to cause weight issues. Read more about weight loss and a vegan diet here.
25. Energy. When following a healthy vegan diet, you will find your energy is much higher. This blog post in Happy Healthy Long Life describes how NFL tight-end Tony Gonzalez started eating vegan and gained energy–while playing football.
26. Healthy skin. The nuts and vitamins A and E from vegetables play a big role in healthy skin, so vegans will usually have good skin health. Many people who switch to a vegan diet will notice a remarkable reduction in blemishes as well.
27. Longer life. Several studies indicate that those following a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle live an average of three to six years longer than those who do not.
28. Body odor. Eliminating dairy and red meat from the diet significantly reduces body odor. Going vegan means smelling better.
29. Bad breath. Vegans frequently experience a reduction in bad breath. Imagine waking up in the morning and not having morning breath.
30. Hair. Many who follow vegan diets report that their hair becomes stronger, has more body, and looks healthier.
31. Nails. Healthy vegan diets are also responsible for much stronger, healthier nails. Nail health is said to be an indicator of overall health.
32. PMS. When switching to a vegan diet, many women tell how PMS symptoms become much less intense or disappear altogether. The elimination of dairy is thought to help with those suffering with PMS.
33. Migraines. Migraine suffers who go on vegan diets frequently discover relief from their migraines. Read more about the food-migraine connection in this article.
34. Allergies. Reduction in dairy, meat, and eggs is often tied to alleviation of allergy symptoms. Many vegans report much fewer runny noses and congestion problems.

Too Much in the American Diet

The typical American diet not only consists of too much food, it also relies on too much of unnecessary food products or toxins. The following list explains how a vegan diet can eliminate these problems.

35. Animal proteins. The average American eats twice as much protein as necessary for a healthy diet and much of that is from red meat. Getting protein from beans and grains is much healthier and reduces the risk for osteoporosis (see above).
36. Cow’s milk dairy. The human body is not designed to digest cow milk and cow milk dairy products, yet the idea of milk being healthy is pushed through advertising. As many as 75% of people in the world may be lactose intolerant and many people suffer from undiagnosed milk allergies or sensitivities. By eliminating cow’s milk from your diet, you are improving your overall health.
37. Eggs. Many nutritionists believe that the number of eggs in the American diet is too high. While sometimes disputed, it has been shown that eggs can raise cholesterol levels.
38. Mercury. Most of the fish and shellfish consumed has mercury in it. While some fish have less than others, it is almost impossible not to be putting mercury in your body when you eat fish.
39. Sugar. Most people have heard that Americans consume way too much sugar. Relying on other sweeteners that are not synthetic, processed, or derived from animal products is a healthier way to eat. Many vegans do not eat processed sugar due to the fact that most of the cane sugar is refined through activated charcoal, most of which comes from animal bones.

Other Benefits

In addition to the health benefits above, following a vegan lifestyle and diet also provides these benefits as well. From helping the environment to avoiding serious bacterial infections, learn other benefits to eating the vegan way below.

40. Animals. Many people begin a vegan diet out of concern for animals. Whether opposed to the conditions of animals intended for food or eating animals in general, going vegan will help your conscience rest easily.
41. Environment. Growing plants takes much fewer resources than growing animals. By eating vegan, you can help reduce the toll on the environment.
42. E. coli. E. coli comes from eating contaminated red meat and is the leading cause of bloody diarrhea. Young children, those with compromised immune systems, and elderly people can become extremely ill or die from E. coli. Eating vegan means completely avoiding the risk of E. coli infection.
43. Salmonella. Another gastrointestinal illness from animal products, salmonella food poisoning is closely related to E. coli. The most frequent way people contract salmonella food poisoning is through contact with raw eggs or raw chicken meat from chickens infected with salmonella. Again, going vegan means eliminating this risk altogether.
44. Mad cow disease. It’s safe to say that most people would want to avoid contracting a fatal, non-treatable disease. One way to ensure you don’t get Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is by not eating animals infected with mad cow disease. While the incidence of mad cow disease is not reportedly so high in North America, it does exist.
45. Global food supply. Feeding grain to animals meant as food sources reduces the amount of food that is available to underdeveloped nations. Many people will go hungry while that same food they could be eating is given to animals raised for slaughter. Eating vegan ensures that you have removed yourself from the participation of this imbalance.
46. Hormone consumption. Eating animals that have been given hormones to speed growth (a common practice in the meat industry) means those hormones go into your body. Not only can this disrupt the natural balance of your hormones, but some of the hormones given to animals have shown to cause tumor growth in humans.
47. Antibiotics. Antibiotics are frequently given to feed animals, which can lead to bacterial resistance. Many of the antibiotics used to treat human infections are also used in feed animals.

Healthy Eating

A vegan diet can be a much healthier way to eat. Find out how to combine the vegan diet with other ways of eating for an even more healthy way to go or discover ways to keep your vegan diet healthy but more convenient with the resources below.

48. Raw. A raw diet lends itself to veganism by the very nature of its design. Find out how to combine live and vegan diets with Raw Inspirations.
49. Organic. Eating organic and vegan is super easy to do. Use some of the recipes from this blog for help with meal ideas. The posts have slowed, but you can always search the archives for some great ideas on how to live and eat organic and vegan.
50. Fat-free. Vegan eating is typically pretty low in fats anyway, but the FatFree Vegan Kitchen shows you how to make some delicious vegan food that is always fat free.
51. Gluten-free. Due to allergies, Celiac’s Disease, or whatever your reason you avoid gluten, find out how to combine the best of gluten-free with vegan cooking in the Gluten-Free Vegan blog.
52. Eating out. Eating out isn’t usually associated with eating healthy, but a vegan diet ensures there will be a lot less of the bad things in the food you choose. Find eating out options around the world for vegans here.
53. Lunch. Maintaining a vegan diet means you are likely to take your lunch more often than most people. Vegan Lunch Box offers recipes, tools, and ideas for carrying great vegan lunches every day.
54. Dinner. Coming up with new dinner ideas is challenging for everyone–regardless of what type of diet you follow. Check out this amazing selection of vegan dinner recipes accompanied with mouth-watering photos of each preparation on Dinner with Dilip.
55. Dessert. While not all the recipes on My Sweet Vegan are for dessert, you will find a large selection of sweet vegan recipes with the most delicious-looking photos.
56. Wine. Pairing vegan food with wine may be challenging for those who rely on the old standard of "white with fish and red with meat." Read this article for ways to compliment your healthy vegan diet with a tasty glass of wine or this blog entry for specific pairings of wine and vegan food.
57. Fun. These ladies know how to kick it with vegan cooking. Post Punk Kitchen offers some great recipes with a ton of fun infused in them. Be sure to go through the archives for more yummy food ideas.

Yay DNC!

Today I received my weekly update on the course I am taking at the DNC in August. This was my favorite part:

"Both Republicans and Democrats are trying to hold the most environmentally friendly conventions to date. In both Denver and Minneapolis, some of the new changes include recycled-fiber carpet around the stages and booths made from sustainably harvested wood, energy efficient lighting, banners printed with soy-based inks, biodegradable plates, water made from petroleum-free containers and composted food. There is even an option to ride bicycles from hotels to the convention hall to minimize carbon footprints. According to press reports, the DNCC is taking an extra step that might disrupt some delegates' eating habits. Indeed, the Democrats have issued guidelines for food catering that include a ban of fried food. Instead, the guidelines say every meal should be nutritious and include "at least three of the following colors: red, green, yellow, purple/blue and white." So far, Republicans have not taken a similar stance on fried foods and students participating in the Republican Convention seminar will be enjoy all the fried food and meat on the stick that they want at the Minnesota State Fair, which will be happening throughout the first week of our program."

One more reason I am not a Republican!

Arizona, Etc.

Oh no...I am getting very lazy about this blogging thing again. Actually, I am really busy, but still, I should be better about it. I cannot believe that this is week three in Gaithersburg. It seems like I have lived here much longer! I am very well adjusted. I can navigate the buses and the metro; I know the fastest route to Trader Joe's; and I found a gym, today, YAY! I should note that the gym I joined (thank you, special student summer rate) is actually a health club. I have no idea why it costs less than the regular old city rec center, but I am not complaining. It is adjacent to my office, has three levels of amazingness, a pool, and tons of other fun stuff. Yesterday when I went to check it out, I stuck my hand in the pool to check the temperature. The guard came over and asked if I wanted anything, so I asked him if the temperature was 82 degrees F. He said, no, it was always 84 degrees F but that he was getting ready to check it anyways (he was testing the water chemistry...always a good sign). You should have seen the look on his face when he discovered that it was INDEED 82 degrees F. HAHA!

Everything is going well with work. I am busy, busy, busy! I have Friday off, which is excellent because I really need to catch up on sleep. The only complaint I have about my office is that it is SO COLD! Ahhh! I wear my fleece from 9:00 to 5:00 pm and drink hot tea by the Nalgene bottle. My favorite part is lunch because I go outside where it is HOT! Speaking of hot, it has not been incredibly hot here or humid. I think that I brought nice Colorado weather with me. Also, tonight I saw lightning bugs! Lightning bugs were always one of my most favorite parts of visiting Nebraska in the summer. I guess that they knew that I would not be visiting there this summer, so they came to me!

And why am I so tired? Well, I do get up rather early, but I have been trying to go to bed earlier too. More likely it is from my crazy weekend! This past Friday to Saturday I was in Scottsdale, AZ for a YTF meeting. It was SO WONDERFUL to see all of my friends and to meet the new crew that I missed meeting in January. We accomplished quite a bit of work too! It was 115 degrees F there! The hotel we stayed at was beautiful, and I got to spend Sunday afternoon in the pool after the meeting was officially over...yay for late flights! The downside of the late flight was that we (my YTF buddy Tony, interning in D.C., and I) left Arizona at 8:30 pm, had to stop in Vegas where our flight was delayed an extra two hours, and did not arrive back in D.C. until 9:00 am on Monday morning. Needless to say, I was late to work even though I went straight there. That, coupled with not much sleep over the weekend and an all-nighter last Thursday, made me tired! I am glad that I have Friday off to catch up!

I think that we are going to see fireworks downtown D.C. on the Fourth. I will put up pictures from AZ as soon as iPhoto decides to shape up because it is misbehaving again...will it ever end?