“Locavore” is the New Oxford American Dictionary 2007 Word of the Year!

A locavore is a person who strives to buy local produce or grow their own food and lessen their dependence on supermarkets. First coined by Jen Maiser, Jessica Prentice, Sage Van Wing, and DeDe Sampson of San Francisco about three years ago, this word of the year is based on an increasingly popular movement of eating fresh, local food.

We all know that fresh food is better in more ways than one which is why it is encouraging to see a word that combines healthy eating and eco-friendly habits be added to the dictionary.

Opinion Polls & Market Research

All across America, there are many environmentally friendly places to eat and shop. Listed below are some organizations we have found that help businesses become green and help consumers find those restaurants.

Green Restaurant Association- Founded in 1990, this national non-profit organization works with its member restaurants to find the right distributors and products. From energy saving lightbulbs to chlorine-free paper products, members stay green by continuously improving and by completing four additional steps each year. A guide of certified green restaurants can also be found on their site.

Thimmakka Certified Green Restaurants targets ethnic restaurants in the bay area in reducing its environmental impact. With the Aladmeda Country Green Business (Certification) Program(ACGBP), Thimmakka has already outreached to 30 Alameda county restaurants  and plans to expand  in the upcoming year. To see Thimmakka’s list of green restaurants click here.

Sustainable Berkeley is another organization that not only targets restaurants but all businesses in hopes of making Berkeley, CA one of the “greenest” cities around.  By signing the Sustainability Pledge businesses strive to reduce green house emissions and commit to a Zero Waste Economy.

These organizations show how  there are different methods for a business, restaurant or otherwise, to become green. As a resident of Berkeley, I found that there are plenty of resources  to find an environmentally responsible business in my area just from the city’s web page.  Overall being green both as a business and a consumer is a realistic endeavor with the help of others. Please let us know if you’ve used these resources to find a business in your area.

According to a New York Times’ article, Frito Lay has announced its plans for more eco-friendly production plants.

Details include installing high tech filters to recycle water used from cleaning and burning any leftover sludge to create methane gas for their own cooking purposes. In addition, for the Casa Grande, AZ plant bio-reactors and a minimum of 50 acres of solar contractors will be set up by 2010.

The main motive for these changes is energy costs. Frito Lay estimates a cutback in its electricity and water consumption by 90% and natural gas by 80%. They have already cut $55 million in costs since 1999 at other plant sites including its Modesto, CA plant.

Apart from the fact that many of Frito Lay’s products can be high in sodium and fat, I think it’s important to observe how different companies in the food industry are being socially and environmentally responsible. On the whole, for a corporation of such magnitude to undertake these efforts is what Joel Swisher of the Rocky Mountain Institute, and those here at Feel Good Fast Food, believe is a step “moving in the right direction” and hopefully not just another strategy for green recognition. 

For those of you traveling to Toronto, Canada who enjoy dining at Mixt Greens of San Francisco, you can eat healthy at Lettuce Eatery.  

Launched in January 2005 in TD Bank Tower’s food court, Lettuce Eatery offers 70 fresh ingredients, from vegetables to protein, for you to make your very own delicious gourmet salad. The restaurant also offers several creations designed by its chefs, if you don’t have the time to pick out all the specific ingredients for yourself. Since it conception, founder Matthew Corrin has expanded the menu to allow individuals to create their own organic breakfast oatmeal, soup and, depending on what time of year, yogurt.  

Also on its web page is a link to Lettuce Size Me, a blog that chronicles Edith’s 29-day challenge to eat exclusively at Lettuce Eatery and maintain an exercise program. By her final weigh-in on June 1^st 2007 Edith lost over 15.7 pounds and is now enjoying healthier happier lifestyle.  

Lettuce Eatery and Lettuce Size Me are contributing to the rising health trend emerging in California and the rest of the US. This is yet another example of a company fulfilling the Feel Good Fast Food vision by making it fun and easy to eat healthier when dining out.