Read n Seed 6: Final Review of "Diet for a Small Planet"

OVERVIEW:

This book shows how Frances Moore Lappe changed her life by changing what foods she consumed. However, it also allows everyone to read what she learned along the way. She educates readers on what protein really entitles and how to eat complementary protein to get more energy. She writes to educate us on how buyers and sellers are wasting our energy on bulky animal feed that we're not truly profiting off of.

Lappe compares regular "quick and easy" meals to actual home made ones how actually insignificant the differences really are. Only a few minutes here or there doesn't really change the quality of homemade food compared to store bought and taken out food. She additionally goes into depths to provide readers healthy recipes to show that making food can be simple. These recipes range from appetizers to main courses and even desserts

3 SIGNIFICANT THINGS:
One) Protein isn't always found in meats! There are many other places you can find a good source of protein. For example you can consume legumes,  grains, nuts & seeds to get a great balance.

Two) Shopping in local whole food centers allow you to find what you really need. Get rid of the advertisement and marketing aspects of food and really get to the basics of what food really is. The ingredients are more important than all of the colors and styles plastered on the shelves.

Three) Starting with someone who cares and can be a support system is a major help. Everyone needs someone in their life who can pick them up when something isn't going their way. When changing a habit this is a necessity. If you want to start eating right you need to stick to the plan.

IMPORTANCE/MEANING:

The book really allowed me to realize that not all protein comes from animals. This was something I was lead to mainly believe growing up. I wasn't taught that different items could be used as vital protein components.

This book therefore, has taught me many things. I feel it has great importance in simply educating people to see what is really happening. What is happening in our food chain and why we're being so mislead to think that protein means more meat and bigger portions. This in fact isn't the truth; nor close to it. We need more variety and meat doesn't always need to be our main focus. Not all meals need to have a consistency of meat in them sometimes finding substitutes can be one of the greatest things to understand.

RECOMMENDATION:

I would easily recommend this book to anyone. This book is a simple eyeopener in itself! It has been revised throughout the years and really has shown tremendous growth as times have changed.

Lappe has gone back and edited to make each section more sensible for each generation that continues to read it. She has great input into why she's made these changes and why she has done such.

Anyone that wants to learn real facts and understand what is really out there should read this book. I've learned so many things by just reading this book. It opens my eyes to what else could be out there pertaining to this topic.

Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 10: Overall Project Reflection

Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 10 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy.

Advocacy Project: Letter to Public Official

December 7, 2009
Senator Amy Klobuchar
United States Senate
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-2304

Senator Amy Klobuchar,

Our nation is currently in need of water system that will protect our community members and children from the harmful effects of inappropriate additives to our fluoridated water. This is a reason that I’m urging you to vote yes to S. 2093 To suspend temporarily the duty on Perfluorobutane sulfonyl fluoride.

This bill, which was created to take a closer look into what was being added to our fluoridated water systems, has therefore lead me to some interesting findings on what should be allowed in. The United States International Trade Commission illustrated that perfluorbutane sulfonyl fluoride is a product of a synthetic organic chemical that is used to manufacture protective coatings for apparel and home furnishings, and to manufacture specialty surfactants. This means that the fluoride that is being investigated more in depth has been proven to not even be ingested in humans let alone be found in fluoridated water.


I believe the implementation of this policy will allow for a change in many American lives. This policy will provide appropriate actions to protect the health of the people and the people that support you. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), approximately 286 million Americans receive their tap water from a community water system. These public water systems are monitored and regulated as set by the EPA. Removing this fluoride from the public water systems will decreasing the amount individuals that become sick from this unnecessary additive. The American Dental Association is an organization which fights for fluoride to remain intact in our government’s water system and has made positive strides and efforts to get the public behind them. In turn an expectation of a clean and healthy fluoridated water system must be help up by the government which requires help from the United States’ Department of Health Service’s Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management along with the public water systems that are subject to the EPA. 


I’ve found that a memorandum on a proposed tariff legislation of the 110th Congress also passed a temporary duty suspension on June 12, 2008 facing this same issue: H. R. 4975 To suspend temporarily the duty on perfluorobutane sulfonyl fluoride. These results showed positive action and allowed the harmful fluoride to be temporarily suspended through December 31, 2011. Many lives can be changed by your approval of voting YES to this bill.

Your community along with the community that has elected you to be in office is being affected firsthand by this contaminated water. I think families, children, and perhaps even pets who end up consuming this water have the right to know that the water they wash with, bathe with, and consume on a daily basis is contaminated by a fluoride that should not be found in our water systems. I hope you understand the necessity for the S. 2093 To suspend temporarily the duty on Perfluorobutane sulfonyl fluoride and urge you to vote YES to create a safer, and healthier public water quality for all Americans. If you need any additional information or would like to contact me, do not hesitate to do so. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Ashley Goodmund
(contact info)