On the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, Amanda’s Feel Good Fresh Food Restaurant hosted a table talk about Sustainable Sourcing for Fast Food with BEACN, a consulting group at UC Berkeley, Lee Bassian from Bassian Farms, Tom Franier and Mike Rose from Semifreddi’s Bakery, Tony D’Amato from Bay Cities Produce, and Ariane Michas from the Community Alliance with Family Farmers. The event was inspired by the BEACN team’s consulting project that helped Amanda’s to make goals for a more sustainable future. The student representatives discussed the importance of local, natural, food, and fair trade food items. Conscious consumers have the ability to improve the world through their food choices. One of the best ways to do this is to ask a lot of questions and to inform yourself to make better decisions. According to their survey, there is an increasing number of people who show interest in organic foods and more people are going to farmers markets.

The second portion of the event was a Q&A session with a panel of experts from different fields, including meat, produce, and baked goods. One of the panelists commented on Amanda’s Restaurant and how the goal of the restaurant is not just about serving food, but also about educating its customers so they can make conscious decisions. One of the key themes of the event was how to make these great sustainable options less intimidating, less elitist, more down to earth, and more affordable.

The panel was successful in educating and those who attended were happy with trying a free burger as well as a new pickle recipe that Amanda’s is soon to release. Amanda’s was generous enough to allow attendees to try out a new, potential ingredient: grass-fed beef burgers. The beef was juicy, well cooked, and tasty overall. Amanda’s also announced that locally-owned Semifreddi’s bakery is now supplying whole wheat vegan hamburger buns specially designed for Amanda’s. Lee Bassian explained that grass-fed beef has less cholesterol, more vitamin E, and more monoglycerides, opposed to triglycerides, which makes it less fatty. The new pickles have a one of a kind flavor and simple, all-natural ingredients.

Other topics that were discussed include how to balance a business and its social mission, understanding where your food comes from, and the importance of building a close relationship with your supplier.

Almost 20 years ago, my best friend and I launched the Environmental Club at our high school. We sold Earth Day T-shirts to raise money for the Amazon rainforest and started the recycling program in our school. Since then, I’ve become increasingly moved by Earth Day. Because of our early high school activism, I was inspired to launch a business that was founded upon environmental values.

Two years ago, before my restaurant opened, we had the chance to serve our Amanda’s Organic Apple “Fries” to students at UC Berkeley. Last year we had a celebration at my restaurant. And this year, Earth Day feels more special than Christmas or Passover to me. Since it is the 40th Earth Day, there is a lot going on:
* Berkeley’s Ecology Center is celebrating their 40th anniversary
* My restaurant, Amanda’s Feel Good Fresh Food, is holding a panel today from from 5-6pm on “Sustainable Sourcing for Fast Food” where we continue to improve our committment to the environment
* The City of Berkeley is celebrating Earth Day with a Festival on Saturday from 12-5pm in Downtown Berkeley’s Civic Center Park.

Finally, my high school best friend is having her second baby boy today, an Earth Baby!

Back in middle school, my friends and I loved going to Taco Bell for a few tacos or a burrito. My favorite item on the menu was the Cheesey Gordita Crunch. Not only did the name sound appetizing and manly, but the taste was excellent. From the soft gordita on the outside, to the crunchy taco on the inside, it had the taste and texture to make me quite a happy camper. I didn’t care about the high calories or how bad this taco was for me; I wanted my stomach to feel the sweet satisfaction.

Today, I still crave some of the things I ate growing up as a teenager.   I may have grown out of those habits of eating whatever tastes good, but I still am tempted by Taco Bell.  If I’m this tempted, what about the rest of our country? Obesity is such a problem in America, other people must be tempted by Taco Bell and giving in even more than I do. Considering the taste, proportions, price, and convenient locations, Taco Bell might be a regular place to have lunch for some people . Changing bad habits like these can be difficult at times of economic struggle and when people need to grab food then go.   So, what’s the solution?  We need quick, convenient, affordable and delicious meal options that don’t have the horrible ingredients and portions of the traditional fast food joints.  Check out the blog posts we’ve made on some better-for-you options here.

Eating right and in the right amounts have been drilled in us since grade school, but why do we still seem to eat too much sometimes? CNN.com has gathered the top three reasons why we overeat and ways to overcome them.

We’re not getting enough shut eye:

Sleep deprivation results in a lower levels of the hormone leptin, which signals satiety, and higher levels of the hormone grhelin, which signals hunger. The combined result of the hormone imbalance? A 24% boost in appetite, according to a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine. To curb your appetite after a restless night, eat complex carbohydrates and lean protein for long lasting energy to get you through the day and try to prioritize a good night’s sleep. 

We’re too stressed:

When our bodies are stressed, we produce the hormone cortisol to help restore homeostasis. Cortisol, however, can boost your appetite and cause your body to store more visceral fat. Stress reduction techniques, such as yoga, meditation, and deep-breathing exercises should help reduce chronic cortisol exposure.

We’re hardwired to crave fatty foods:

It almost seems unfair, but our brains are working against our diets because of evolution. Our ancestors needed to find palatable, high energy food to survive and our brains have been in that mode ever since. This means that the mere sight of a food can cause a craving. To fight your cravings, just don’t tempt them. Keep junk food out of your pantry and out of sight.  

Everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but what if you find yourself too busy to grab something 

before work? Luckily, restaurants like Amanda’s offer quick, healthy breakfast options that you can easily pick up on your way to work or school. But in case you’re not convinced to take that extra time out of your day, here are our top 5 reasons to eat breakfast:

-Curb Cravings: Eating breakfast saves you from caving into your cravings later in the day, when you’ll be tempted to nosh on high-calorie, non-nutritious snacks. 

-Build Better Eating Habits: Starting the day with a healthy meal sets the trend — you’re more likely to keep eating well throughout the day.

-Boost Your Energy: Breakfast breaks your fast from the previous night and provides your body with the energy and nutrients it needs before lunch.

-Maintain Weight Loss: Researchers from the National Weight Control Registry found that 78% of people who’ve lost weight and maintained it for at least six years eat breakfast. 

-Enhance Cognitive Function:  Studies show that children who eat a balanced breakfast perform significantly better on standardized tests than those who did not eat breakfast at all. 

With new websites like Good Food Near You, making healthy choices during a hectic workday or when you’re on the road just got easier. These new fast food nutrition websites make healthy choices just a click away. Just use your Blackberry or iPhone to check out the websites on the go, or even download the applications. Here are a few of our favorite sites at Amanda’s:

-Good Food Near You

This site locates the most nutritious fast food eats around. Just type in your zip code and it’ll give you the skinny on what low calorie menu items are in restaurants nearby. Click on the menu item and it’ll give you the full nutrition information, a map of the location, and the complete menu of the restaurant. 

-TwoFoods

Don’t really know how to compare apples to oranges? This website will compare them for you! TwoFoods allows you to instantly compare nutrition information between two food items to see which better suits your health needs. Better yet, this website can compare items on restaurant menus too, so you can make nutritious choices at home and on the go! 

-Calorie King

This classic food database holds the nutritional information for over 50,000 American generic and brand name foods, including over 260 fast-food chains. I used to carry the pocket sized book, but often forgot to use it. Now that it’s available online, I just need to remember to bring my phone!

Shopping for healthy food in grocery stores today seems like a daunting task. With junk foods like Fruit Loops and Cocoa Krispies deemed “Smart Choices,” customers find nutrition labeling confusing and often misleading. The Federal Drug Administration hopes to put to stop to that.

 By next year, the FDA will put in place a program that will scrutinize health

claims and consider setting government criteria for how and when companies can advertise a product’s nutritious value. Margaret Hamburg, the FDA commissioner, hopes to install a nutritional labeling program similar to the one in Great Britain. Products receive red, yellow, or green circles indicating whether they have high, moderate or low amounts of salt, saturated fat, sugar and total calories. 

Ideally, foods would have the standard nutrition label and would be accompanied by this simplified nutrition number colored dot just to help people shop more wisely. 

It’s hard to eat healthily today when going out. Large portion sizes, trans fat, and  high sodium content of foods served in restaurant chains only make it harder for time-strapped customers to make healthy choices. Luckily, there has been a trend among restaurants, such as Amanda’s, to serve fresh, healthy foods. Even large chains like McDonald’s have been offering healthier alternatives to the usual calorie-laden fare.

Health Magazine has compiled a list of the 10 Healthiest Fast Food Chains in America. They surveyed a list of the 100 largest fast food chains in the country, scored the chains on such factors as the use of healthy fats and preparations, healthy sodium counts in entrees, availability of nutritional information, and the use of organic produce to arrive at their top 10.

• Panera: This bakery-cafe boasts a comprehensive menu of healthy choices for every meal. With the great variety offered in Panera, customers will find it easier to eat healthily.
• Jason’s Deli: This eatery is big on organics. Their creative salads and fresh produce make them a good choice for a quick meal on the go.
• Au Bon Pain: This restaurant serves up sandwiches, soups, salads, and hot entrées made with whole grains, veggies, and hormone-free chicken. They even have a 14-item small plates menu!
• Noodles and Company: It’s Asian, Mediterranean, and American noodles sans grease! The restaurant packs their noodle bowls full of fresh vegetables, so customers aren’t just noshing on carbs.
• Corner Bakery: This bakery-cafe has a breakfast menu that’s a cut above the rest. They also offer a menu full of healthy salads, soups, and sandwiches served in great portions!
• Chipotle: This restaurant chain gives its customer the freedom to create their own burrito, taco, or salad and offers fresh, local veggies and hormone free meat as their options.
• Atlanta Bread: This Atlanta based bakery serves up great whole-grain bread, fresh sandwiches and paninis, and hearty, healthy soups and salads.
• McDonald’s: A surprise on the list, but this mega-chain offers healthy options, like apple dippers in place of fries and low fat milk instead of soda in happy meals. Customers should still be mindful of their portions, however.
• Einstein Bros. Bagels: This bagel joint boasts a menu packed with healthier alternatives like reduced-fat shmears, hummus, and peanut butter. They also offer menu items in half sizes! 
• Taco Del Mar: This Baja style Mexican restaurant uses fresh ingredients and lean fish and chicken in their menu items. They also bake their fish and taco shells instead of frying and have banned lard in their beans.