You can make change!

Greetings friends!

This is my first time writing since before winter break. I got ill with winter stress travels (going around the East Coast in an intense snow season is not the lightest on the bones). Anyways, Angela kindly covered the gift of being a blogger for HDH while I was recovering last night. Now I am refreshed and ready to write!

While being ill, I was diverted from eating predominantly raw vegan, and sought some warm comfort foods. Earl's Place provided me with delicious organic and vegan burritos made by Amy's. My favorite kind is the bean and rice, non-diary type... mmm delicious!

I was also flattered but a little embarrassed with the other "services" Earl's Place provided. Things like "passion meters", "grow a lover", and "love dust." All for the sake of your contentment on that day of February 14th. We are really taken care of living on campus!

And onto the subject of my more raw diet, it is amazingly catered to on campus. The reason is pretty obvious: everything raw is not cooked. So I load up on the fruits, vegetables, nuts, and kombucha which I can find all on my college campus. Soon, there will be farmers bringing me locally grown food called "Farm 2 U." I even went so far to ask HDH on their facebook, which is regularly maintained, that they supply sprouts at Earl's. (Sprouts are a very nutrious and important part of the raw diet.) Before, I was walking to the Village all the way from Warren to get my hands on dem sprouts, but now, not fortuitously, Earl's Place carries sprouts! What kindness. I encourage you all to make change by the power of suggestion. Feel free to post your comments on the HDH facbook. The link is below.

Well friends, I have said so much. Until next time!

In love,

Jessica

HDH Facebook:

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Soy milk has grown on me!

Has milk been a part of your diet for most of your life? Same here!

I drank milk for the longest time, and decided to try something different. Actually it was a combination of that reason, and that someone told me that at my age, milk doesn't necessarily benefit my health. : ) Since I knew I could get my calcium from other sources, I decided to give soy milk a chance.

I was hesitant at first because I expected that it wouldn't match the taste of ice cold milk. I was right! It doesn't. That's because it's made from soybeans.

It has its own unique flavor that's still smooth and refreshing. In my opinion, it has a lighter taste than milk, which I like.So I found a yummy replacement that also acts as a great source of protein.

I was just happy I didn't have to kick my late night cereal-for-dinner habit. :)

You can find the Silk brand of soy milk at Place and Markets in The Village, Roger's, and Goody's.

Perhaps you can try it as a substitute ingredient, while baking cookies, or just as a complement to oatmeal and cereal.Since the holidays are coming up, use soy milk in your favorite hot beverage, such as coffee or hot cocoa. Yum!

Let me know how your recipe turns out if you choose to use soy milk.

I use soy milk in moderation though because it's not the end-all perfect source of protein. I try to mix up my diet with different sources of nutrients from different foods.

If you're interested in the debate on whether soy is as beneficial a product as it's marketed to be, check out these links:

http://vegetarian.about.com/od/vegetarianvegan101/f/MilkSubstitutes.htm

The first one praises the benefits of soy, while the second link hosts a forum for discussion on soy as part of our diets.

http://caloriecount.about.com/soy-estrogen-men-ft36304

I would love to hear your feedback on these links, or any of your personal findings and opinions on the subject.Live well.

-Hilary : )

Yay for Vegan Options!

So today I cruised into Cafe Ventanas looking for something healthy and balanced on the lunch menu. Cafe V definitely delivered with their delicious-looking Vegan Grilled Portobello Ratatouille option.

It was only $4.95, and looked pretty hearty. I added a side of rice, which showcased the beautiful display of peppers, mushrooms, onions, zucchini, and tomatoes that covered the Portobello mushroom underneath.

Being that I was out to lunch with my fellow EcoNaut, Jessica, I told her how good the dish was. She decided to try it out herself! There was no doubt that the meal had an incredibly fresh and tangy flavor that complimented the herb seasoning, but I was eager to hear whether it was up to par from the ultimate Vegan herself.














Jess did give the Portobello and veggie dish the official Vegan stamp of approval!














An additional side, such as rice or tortillas, really made the Ratatoullie a legitimate tummy-filler. It was so rich in flavor that I would recommend it to anyone interested in an all-around-fantastic meal. :)

Great job Cafe V! Keep those awesome veg dishes coming!

Choose to replenish your body with food that keeps it going, not junk that slows it down. Dining Services makes it easy!

Stay happy and healthy : )

~Hilary *Compost Queen*

Foodworx, Fame, and more!

Howdy-ou-do guys!?

I hope all is going swell with midterms. if you need a break, check out the following:

The other day, I had the fine privilege of going into Foodworx. I was SO stoked on that place. First of all, it's rather large for a marketplace on campus. Second of all, it had AMAZING choices. I highly recommend Amy's burritos (you can locate them in the freezer section of any marketplace on campus). My favorite kinds are the Beans and Rice and the Indian Samosa wrap... mmmmm delicious! They are an absolutely easy dinner treat to make for friends having a late night study session at your place. The Marketplaces also have a fine variety of snacked goods. I happened to grab some vegan vanilla crackers which were amazing. They also have a great selection of Uncle Eddie's Vegan cookies which every vegan and non-vegan alike should try at least once in their life. (Incredible! I particularly enjoy the Molasses cookies.) Now that I am all excited about food... I have to mention that Foodworx offers a BBQ on the deck from 1-5pm every Saturday. Make sure to check that out tomorrow if you are around!

On another note, HDH has had another moment of fame! HDH Sustainability Manager Krista Mays talks "trash" with the city and SDSU on KPBS's These Days. Listen to the interview for yourself: http://www.kpbs.org/news/2009/nov/10/san-diego-landfill-makes-room-food-waste-recycling/

The San Diego Landfill is making room for UCSD's food waste to be recycled (i.e. composted)! This is truly something to celebrate. So keep on composting, friends.

This is such a great campus. Keep checking out all of the great Dining events here: http://hdh.ucsd.edu/diningservices/events.pdf as well as all of the student-org led events. Be aware and read signs around campus; you will really reap great rewards.

Peace and love,

Jessica

Vegetarian/Vegan Living at UCSD

Hey all,

I hope all your midterms sown have reaped into beautiful blossoming trees. If they are less than that, just know the seeds are still being sown-- and you can still perform fabulously in your courses!

Speaking of seeds and blossoms...let's talk about the awesome vegetarian and vegan options you have when you eat at UC San Diego Dining Services (DS).

Every DS location on campus offers at least one vegetarian entrée per meal service. Some of the vegetarian options are also vegan.

Here is a short list of the many veg/vegan entrée options on the current fall cmenu:

• LiveWell Indian-Spiced Eggplant and Cauliflower Stew over Basmati Rice
• Roasted Vegetable Primavera with Tomato Basil Sauce
• Vegetarian Rolled Tacos with Brown Rice and Black Beans
• Thai Rice Salad with Herbs
• Elise's Sesame Noodles
• LiveWell Soba Noodles with vegetables
• LiveWell Whole Wheat Linguini with Roasted Vegetables
• LiveWell Spaghetti Marguerite
• Black-Eyed Pea Gumbo
• Portobello with Rataouille
• Tofu Ratatouille
• LiveWell Pasta Alla Casalinga

Due to the smaller demand for vegan dishes, there are times when the appropriate strategy for vegan students is to ask for a modification to a vegetarian dish. The best way to get a vegan option in a DS restaurant, especially if one is not readily available, is to ask for assistance from the manager on duty!

Rather cook your own veg/vegan dish? Visit one of the five marketplaces on campus and buy yourself some ingredients. They have hosts of delicious items like noodles, sauce, soup, and tofu. Mmmm, delicious!

Here is another helpful link:

http://hds.ucsd.edu/diningservices/images/vegan_diet.pdf

Enjoy and Happy Eating! :)

Jessica B.

jbaltman@ucsd.edu

Puttin your waste in its place? ....Come to Revelle's "Eat Local" event!

Hey students!
Been eating in the dining halls lately? Then you've probably been approached by students in black shirts who aren't afraid to "talk trash" to ya!
No these aren't over-studied and over-midtermed students ready to chew you out........they're your super friendly and incredibly helpful EcoNauts! If you haven't been graced by our presence yet, be on the lookout for us because we're here to help you reach your ec0-goals, no matter how "green" ; )

We approach you guys while you're eating (sometimes mid-bite) because we want to let you know how easy it is to compost and recycle before you head to the waste receptacles.

Be on the lookout for signs like these:


Some signs will have pictures and some will have words describing what waste item goes where. It's that easy people! But it's up to you to make it work!

So PLEASE take the time to look at the signs before you toss out your leftovers!
This looks more like a compost/trash bin than one for recycling : (

Wanna have some eco-fun! If you aren't doing anything from 4pm-6pm this Thursday night (10/22/09), then come out to "Beyond the Bite" at the anchor located near Plaza Cafe in Revelle!

This awesome event, which is geared toward UCSD students living both on and off campus, will focus on the benefits of eating fresh and local food from local growers.

The Revelle RAs are planning this fun-filled event that will include food, fun, music, and a chance for you to meet some of the EcoNauts! Kim (water conservation), Jessica (vegan and vegetarian tips), and I (Hilary aka composting queen) will be there to support the event and invite you to get to know us and all the initiatives we advocate for as EcoNauts. : )
Hope to see you out there tomorrow!

Otherwise, be on the lookout for us in the dining halls.

~Hilary *Composting Queen*

When you put your waste in the right bin, we all win!

RD in da House!

Greetings!

So I've been in contact with Becky McDivitt, our local RD in da House (Registered Dietitian). And she is pretty much one of the most awesome people on staff. She can help any of you with your dietary needs and nutrition, and you can come to her to offer suggestions for various food options.

Here is her website so you can check out her credentials:http://hdh.ucsd.edu/diningservices/nutrition.asp

And here is her email to get in touch with her: rmcdivitt@ucsd.edu

And here is her picture:

Don't gain the freshman 15, work with Becky and you'll be lookin' fine!

As a vegan, I've been working closely with her to try to get more vegan options established at Canyon Vista (my local dining hall). And she gave me some close contacts to offer suggestions to the staff there. At the bottom is a list of names of the management of Canyon Vista Restaurant for all of you who want to offer a helpful hint or even share concern you have and a way to make it better, of course. The staff is there for YOU! To better your college eating experience, and to offer quality food for fuel. Take advantage of it, and take advantage of the wonderful opportunity you have to meet with a dietitian, especially one as cool as Becky.

Speak with a manager on duty to make a special request. At Canyon Vista... Scott Spangler (the senior manager), Mark Azhocar (chef), Nancy Thompson (senior cook), Peter Maxwell (some evenings) or Tom Jones (front of the house manager.)

Shoot me an email if you want the names of staff in other dining halls.

jbaltman@ucsd.edu

Until next time :-) ,

Jessica

Being in college now.

Hey all,

so move-in has been quite the experience of transition! Living away from the sweet parents.. being surrounded by tons of peers.. loving all of my wonderful roommates.. having to do laundry, dishes, and cooking all on my own time.. doing my best to stay healthy as a vegan.. it's all been quite the fun! I feel like an adult now. Like suddenly I have budded because I share an apartment with some gals in La Jolla and part of something really awesome called Warren College. Isn't it funny how age hits you once you are finally able to accept the responsibilities for your age group?

So I ate in the Canyon Vista Restaurant for my first time today. I read somewhere that Warren has the most extensive salad bar in all of UCSD, and I was expecting something a little more epic when I got there, but I do have to say I was very pleased by their provision. I am a fan of lettuce, mushrooms, tomatoes, cucumbers, brocolli, and tofu in my salad. I've gotta get those three servings of protein some how. Other than the salad, tofu, and fruit, there wasn't much to satisfy my vegan diet. It's too bad I would go hungry at the CV dinery, but to be very honest, I am glad it is that way, and I am glad for my choice to be a vegan every day of my life. Sometimes it gets really hard (like when I was in Ensenada, Mexico with very limited food, or at camp in Green Valley for a week, or on a cruise for 10 days, or traveling to New York then Israel for THREE WEEKS), but I have pulled out so much stronger from each time I push myself to walk that line. But for all the other vegans out there, it is my goal to get more vegan options available around campus because I think we are going to get larger in number as time goes on. I haven't found my "vegan niche" yet at UCSD, but I hear there are a gathering of vegans under some trees near Muir. I'm gonna have to check that out.

But that is what college is all about isn't it? Finding our niche. Whether it be in academics, in culture, in diet, in lifestyle, in dress, in faith. College is about finding that niche that is more or less "for you." The problem is never if something exists, the problem is seeking that which is real. And it is such a problem because it is self-motivated. So here we are! And here we must be either on our own or holding the hand of G-d as we venture on this journey of self-discovery and finding that place cut out just for us. So lets gird up our loins, friends, there's something out there in this beautiful world for us!

-Jessica