No matter how you feel about the U.S. election, you probably expect big changes to start happening soon. Some of the predictions are downright scary: reducing food inspection and regulation, reducing protection for animals, and ignoring climate change. Even our health-care system is about to shift again.
We still have apron power!
By cooking plant-based, organic food from scratch, we can help protect our families and families everywhere from some of the changes expected when Trump becomes president. Here are seven positive steps to take, with a bonus funny/scary video at the end.
1. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables.
A big new study from the University of Warwick shows this quickly increases your sense of well-being. Going from zero to eight servings a day gives the same mood boost as going from unemployed to employed! (Thanks to Matthew Miller for the tip.) Being happier will give you more oomph to do the rest.
2. Avoid processed food and unrecognizable ingredients.
Think apples, not applesauce. It’s harder to sneak dangerous filler into a carrot than into corn chips.
3. Buy organic food when possible.
You’ll minimize the toxic chemicals in your body and on farms. You’ll also avoid Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
4. Go vegan or move as much as you can in that direction.
Reducing regulations for factory farms will make a cruel situation worse. Your eating habits can add up to affect the lives of many animals, as these useful calculators for vegans and vegetarians show. Even if you just observe vegetarian Meatless Monday, you save about 29 animals a year from this suffering. The image below shows my results for 4 years and 11 months of being vegan. Notice that saving animals also saves the water, grain, and forrest land needed to raise them and avoids creating tons of climate-warming CO2.
5. Save money by cooking mostly local, seasonal, plant-based food and wasting less.
You can save thousands of dollars a year. It’s like getting a part-time job, without the commute or grouchy boss! Saving $10 is even better than earning $10, because you don’t pay taxes on your savings. Even if you are financially comfortable now, thrifty cooking can also help lower your stress levels because you’ll know you can do it.
6. Stay healthy.
Even if the changes to ObamaCare doesn’t mean the end of your health insurance, who wants to get caught up in a less-regulated health-care system? The five steps above will take you a long way towards feeling great now and avoiding chronic diseases and early death.
7. Act as if you believe climate change is real and happening right now.
It is. All the steps above will help reduce your carbon footprint and minimize pollution. The funny and scary videobelow with Jack Black and his cat Lil’ Bub show what we’re up against. Post an #EarthToMarrakech sign if you want, but please also make a real difference by cooking like it matters. It’s up to us. If you have any questions or comments, please share them below or send me an email. I’m here to help.
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