Two documentaries, Fresh and Food, Inc., have recently premiered, addressing the dangers of our industrialized food systems and offering some examples of how changes are being made. Both films remind us of how we can make a difference in reducing the amount of fossil fuels, antibiotics, growth hormones, and unhealthy ingredients go into our food system.

In both films, Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, describes some of the worst impacts of our food system from reliance on corn to the loss of diversity in farming. Joel Salatin’s Polyface Farm is portrayed as an idyllic diverse farm, but both films also show the struggle that a majority of farmers and ranchers have in escaping the industrialized markets. Gary Hirshberg, the inspirational founder of Stonyfield Farms shows how better-for-you foods can be affordable through selling organic yogurt to Walmart and trying to keep the perfect from being the enemy of the good. These themes are what has inspired the feelgoodfastfood.org blog to continue the conversation started by Eric Schlosser in Fast Food Nation. It is also what inspired the launch of Amanda’s in Berkeley, CA to offer affordable, approachable, convenient meals that use good quality ingredients and embrace environmental values.

While these topics can be discouraging, especially when most of us face limited time and budgets, there are hopeful suggestions that we can all start to incorporate. We can start to ask questions of our current food suppliers - what do you serve that is organic or local? is your meat naturally-raised without the use of antibiotics and growth hormones? We can start to make incremental choices to eat more local ingredients, less meat, and more fruits and vegetables to change our own health and the health of our world. Please see these films, discuss them with your communities, and join us in helping to change the world one meal at a time.

There’s no use belaboring the facts of climate change and its potentially drastic effects. What is important however, is how we respond to the new knowledge we have about human impact on climate change. In choosing to be more environmentally conscious, businesses and homeowners have options over how to reduce negative effects of global warming..

Some utility companies now offer green pricing programs which gives their customers the choice to pay extra to ensure all of the energy they use is produced by renewable sources. Another option is to invest money in more energy efficient technology to reduce overall electricity consumption. From an economic perspective, money being spent to reduce the impacts of global warming should be spent in the most cost effective way; thus, the greatest amount of emissions reduction per dollar spent.

As California’s renewable energy portfolio (20% renewable by 2010) continues to lead the country with its high standards, our utility companies will increase the percentage of their power mix coming from renewable sources. PG&E in Northern California, in particular, already boasts that about half of the electricity delivered to its customers comes from either renewable and/or non-greenhouse gas emitting sources, such as hydroelectricity. Utility companies dedicating a greater percentage of their power mix to renewable energy means that concerned customers may prefer to focus their emission reduction efforts on increasing energy efficiency, being able to get the same job done with less energy.

In this spirit, Amanda’s Restaurant in Berkeley, CA has dedicated itself to being more energy efficient, using the latest Energy Star rated appliances as part of its environmental commitment. Energy Star is a program backed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that helps customers easily recognize efficient products that reliably demonstrate energy savings. Look for the Energy Star logo when supporting local businesses and purchasing new appliances for your home. Energy Star and other energy efficient products may be the most cost effective way concerned consumers like you and I can do our part to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It’s true—gone are the days when slow food and fast food were unheard of as being one and the same.

 Because we believe in creating a community through environmentally sustainable practices and healthy foods, we support  and encourage the three principles of “good, clean and fair” foods that the Slow Food movement was structured upon.

 The Slow Food movement, as defined by Slow Food USA, is “ an idea, a way of living, and a way of eating” supported globally yet primarily reliant upon community’s involvement, with a mission to change the food system by making it affordable to all and reconnecting Americans with the people and traditions that generate our foods. Through it, there is the hope of ensuring “ equity, sustainability, and pleasure”.

Good news! There are several opportunities for community involvement available through Slow Food USA.  Not only is there a chapter established in Berkeley , but there are also national programs dedicated to expanding this food movement to areas such as elementary schools and college campuses through activities that range from improving school lunches, to examining food justice issues.

Local Slow Food events this summer:

 June 13, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

-Potluck Picnic Party in Tilden Park – enjoy summer with shared organic and locally grown/raised/brewed foods!

Help fight AIDS by eating out this Thursday, April 30. Participating restaurants donate at least 25% of dinner sales to local AIDS service organizations.

Feel Good about yourself by treating yourself to a meal at Amanda’s in Berkeley or other participating restaurants in the East Bay or search the Dine Out For Life Site for restaurants in your area.

Thought I’d share my favorite happenings around the world to celebrate the earth!

Here are 3 to start with:

1) Freshly-made sodas for just 50 cents if you bring your own cup today at Amanda’s at 2122 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, CA.
2) Current.com has the coolest Green Site with a schedule for the day and earthday-related articles
3) Amy Hale’s Donation and Volunteer ideas to inspire you to get involved on Earth Day.

Don’t be like those 1 in 5 four-year olds who are already obese, reported today in the SF Chronicle. Controlling calorie intake is one of the most important ways to maintain a healthy weight. Nutritiondata.com has an excellent tool for helping you determine what your calorie and carb/fat/protein intake should be based on your gender, age, height, weight, and activity level.

Join the twitter culture and read the twitters of food writers or restaurateurs. The San Francisco Chronicle recently reported about foodies in the “twitterverse”. You can follow Amanda’s twitters here.

UNICEF’s goal is to increase the number of peope with safe water and basic sanitation. You can help, without writing a big check during World Water Week, March 22-28,2009. Just pay $1 or more for the tap water you usually get for free at restaurants like Amanda’s, Venus, Chez Panisse, and Saul’s Deli in Berkeley, CA. To find a participating restaurant in your area, click here. Or, donate online here.

Berkeley’s Eat Well program is one of the many reasons that I’m proud to have started my restaurant, Amanda’s, in Berkeley. It is an innovative community health program unique to Berkeley, but something that I hope will set an example to cities nation-wide. I’m particularly excited about the program because I have spent years researching healthy eating options in the restaurant industry and my own restaurant is founded upon building a healthy community by offering delicious and affordable, yet wholesome meals which you can read about here.

Eat Well is sponsored by the City of Berkeley and Kaiser Permanente. It is designed to support and promote restaurants that provide healthy food choices. Customers can use the program to identify restaurants that meet the overall criteria including offering a fruit or vegetable side dish and a lean meat option, healthy options for kids, and no trans fats at all. Eat Well also helps you identify specific menu items that meet the calorie and balanced meal guidelines of the program. Some of the Berkeley restaurants who are currently in the Eat Well program include:
* Amanda’s Feel Good Fresh Food restaurant at 2122 Shattuck Avenue (at Center Street)
* Bobby G’s Pizzeria at 2072 University Avenue
* The Bread Workshop at 1398 University Avenue
* Spud’s Pizzeria at 3290 Adeline Street
* And more DBA businesses have registrations in progress.

I promise to post something other than the wonderful press reviews of Amanda’s. But, I thought that you all would be interested in the article about Amanda’s in the Chronicle’s 96-hour section. In a budget economy, Amanda’s is truly a Bargain Bite.

Also, please help support Amanda’s with by casting your vote for us in the Chronicle’s Best of the Bay.