Kashi - Grains of Change

Rico Montenegro - Fruit Tree Planting Foundation

"Plant a fruit tree and help save the world". Rico Montenegro is the Chief Arborist at Fruit Tree Planting Foundation (FTPF), an international non-profit organization that operates on the principle that where there is a fruit tree, there is no hunger and the air, water and soil are clean. Realizing all the ways that fruit trees benefit communities - protecting the environment and combating global warming, while improving human health and animal welfare - FTPF has set a goal to collectively plant 18 billion fruit trees, 3 for every person alive.

Challenges

Kashi Challenge: Grow One Thing - Not a green thumb? Think again! Herbs, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries - depending on your area, various foods can be almost effortless to grow yourself. Start with something relatively simple and see how far you can take this wholesome habit! Today, challenge yourself to find out what grows well in your region and take steps to get what you need to start a planter's box or home garden for this single item.

Kashi Challenge: Tackle Tropical Fruit - How many times have you eyed a pineapple, papaya, mango or other exotic fruit and thought, no thanks when it came to dealing with the pit and seeds? Cutting into a tropical fruit can be intimidating. Today, challenge yourself to learn about cutting up tropical fruit. Then, buy a few especially exotic fruits at the store and make fruit salad, practicing these general guidelines: - Always use a sharp knife; it's safer. - Remove stems first. - Try skinning first with a potato peeler. - Slice lengthwise, working around the seed. - Carve the flesh by working around the seed or pit.

Kashi Challenge: Infuse Your Water with Flavor - First it was vitamin-enhanced, flavored water. Now herb- and fruit-infused water is all the rage. These refreshing concoctions elevate water from ho-hum to hooray (they're a great choice for parties or showers, too). Today, challenge yourself to make some homemade infused water. Here are some ideas: Add sprigs of rosemary; a bunch of crushed mint leaves; lemon, orange or cucumber slices; or cut up fresh strawberries. Refrigerate for several hours (ideally, overnight) for maximum flavor.

Links

Marydale Debor, Diane D'Isidori, Ann Gallagher - Plow to Plate

Plow to Plate is a dynamic coalition of physicians, farmers, chefs, restaurateurs, community leaders, land preservationists who have come together to promote and increase consumption of healthy, locally grown food by the community at large, as well as within institutional settings. It is the brainchild of three extraordinary women; Marydale Debor, a hospital administrator, Diane D'Isidori, a pediatrician and Ann Gallagher, a chef. Through the efforts of these women, Plow to Plate advocates nutrition first, involving an entire community to support local food production and alter the way that healthcare is dispensed.

Challenges

Kashi Challenge: Cook with a Friend - Covet a pal's luscious lasagna or divine dahl? Invite her over for dinner - hers, that is. She can teach you how to make the dish step by step - and you can return the favor. Today, challenge yourself to invite a friend over to make a feast. Make cooking a special bonding ritual.

Kashi Challenge: Covet Mother Hubbard's Cupboard - Ever fantasize about eating your way toward a truly empty pantry? If that's what it takes to start fresh, why not give it a try? Something about a full fridge and pantry whets our culinary imagination, but a bare cupboard can also be inspirational when it comes to cooking and meal planning. (Hint: Blend chicken or veggie broth and leftovers, and instant soup.) Today, challenge yourself to let your pantry stock go as low as it can, with the goal of rethinking your choices when it comes time to restock.

Kashi Challenge: Confront Condiments - Salad dressing, jam, mayonnaise, even mustard - condiments are something most of us grab off store shelves without thinking. But not all condiments are equal. Making smart choices can translate to better health for you and your family. Today, challenge yourself to think more critically about your toppings. Some tips: - Make your own mayonnaise - not only is it easy, it's delicious! - Choose organic whenever possible, especially with dairy and fruit products. - Select lower-fat versions of rich items if you're managing your weight, as long as they contain natural ingredients. - Forgo "diet" condiments in favor of full-fat items that contain natural ingredients, making a point to use less of them.

Links

Keegan Sheridan - Kashi

Keegan Sheridan is Kashi's Natural Lifestyle Business Partner (NLBP). In this unique role, Keegan utilizes her nutrition expertise to help develop new products. She also provides science to support product claims or answer general health questions as they arise. As a licensed naturopathic physician, Keegan practiced medicine in Los Angeles before joining Kashi. Now, she helps people on a mass scale by leading Kashi's efforts to educate people about how to live more natural lifestyles and increase clarity around "what natural means."

Challenges

Kashi Challenge: Trek Your Food Home - Shopping for foods at the local farmers' market not only gets you outside, it lends itself to lots of walking and carrying - in short, great exercise! The next time you go shopping, challenge yourself to bring a backpack to the farmers' market and walk your purchases home.

Kashi Challenge: Spend a Quiet Evening - Instead of reaching for the TV remote or other electronic media, tonight challenge yourself to read, talk, walk, or just sit companionably quiet. You'll be surprised how rejuvenating it is to be alone with your thoughts or share some mellow conversation.

Kashi Challenge: Have Spice, Will Travel - Spices formerly linked to a single cuisine are crossing over: Turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, coriander, cloves, Aleppo pepper, and blends like India's garam masala will travel cross-culturally. Take advantage of this new globalization of flavor! Today, challenge yourself to learn about and use an exotic spice in a dish from your own repertoire. Hint: Try flavoring a pasta sauce or salad dressing; they're forgiving and can be modified easily.

Links

Michel Nischan - Wholesome Wave

Michel Nischan founded Wholesome Wave Foundation in an effort to make locally grown, sustainable food available to all. The core programs - Wholesome Wave Farmers Markets Nutrition Programs and Green Wave Farm-to-College - use innovative methods to link local farmers with new markets, including colleges and universities, as well as low income urban communities, eager for access to locally grown healthful food. Outside of Wholesome Wave, Michel also supports farmers in the Westport, CT area as chef/owner of Dressing Room, a restaurant he founded with Paul Newman that offers a nightly forum to showcase locally grown cuisine.

Challenges

Kashi Challenge: Make Leftovers into Salad - Green beans, Brussels sprouts, leeks... the list of veggies that can be transformed from hot, dinner side dishes into delightful, lean salads is long and varied. Today, challenge yourself to make a little extra at dinner tonight and save your leftovers for salad. When you wake up tomorrow, quickly toss leftovers with a homemade vinaigrette, and take them to work for a tasty healthy treat.

Kashi Challenge: Turn on to Turnips - Formerly thought of as the poor man's root, turnips are taking on new pizazz in culinary circles. Puree them for a more nutritious version of mashed potatoes, roast them with other veggies like carrots and place on a pretty platter, or just boil, slice, and dress with salt for a simple appetizer. Today, challenge yourself buy some turnips and serve them to yourself or your family.

Kashi Challenge: Spice Up Your Toppings - Applesauce with pork. Jelly with lamb. Hot cider. Many sauces and toppings can benefit from judicious use of the exciting natural flavors of herbs and spices. Today, challenge yourself to put a new spin on an old favorite. Add the ingredients of one of your favorite dishes to your grocery list and change-up the spices. Some easy ideas: - Add a little ground ginger and savory to applesauce for pork dishes - Put a pinch of mint in jelly sauce to accompany lamb and wild game - Add cloves to cider - Toss some sage in your stuffing

Links

Patrick Dollard - President & CEO, Center for Discovery

The Center for Discovery provides educational, social and creative-arts experiences to individuals with a broad range of disabilities. Center for Discovery habilitation might involve planting seeds, baking bread or helping in the beekeeping process as part of the activities associated with Thanksgiving Farm. Thanksgiving Farm is Demeter Certified which recognizes farms that are bio-dynamic and that are virtually self-sustaining and designed to provide for the long-term biological health of the soil and surroundings. Center for Discovery serves roughly 100 New York school districts, and counting.

Challenges

Kashi Challenge: Push Yourself - Here's a just-move-it idea: Do a push-up for every snack you sample today. Not only will marking your indulgences make each choice a more mindful one, you'll enjoy the benefits of increasing your strength push-up by push-up! Today, challenge yourself to start this program with a double set. -Always consult a physician before starting any exercise routine.

Kashi Challenge: Focus on Stress Reduction - Instead of focusing on things like grueling challenges or weight management, try shifting your mindset to reducing stress. When you imagine the benefits exercise has on your mind, fitness takes on a whole new meaning. Today, challenge yourself to workout and then focus your attention on your stress level after your workout. Pretty relaxed, right?

Kashi Challenge: Do Something You'd Rather Avoid - Not a green thumb? Plant a tree. Hate getting wet? Sing in the rain. Is there something you just can't stand the idea of doing? Today, make an effort to face up to your fears, misgivings, or repulsions by giving something you dislike a second chance. Although you may not always end up embracing it, you may learn something about yourself and your limits.

Links

Paul Maschka - San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project

Paul Maschka is a gardener with a cause - or several of them to be exact. As Chief Educator for San Diego Food Not Lawns, Paul is not only a fountain of knowledge where urban agriculture is concerned, but also a champion for food security, and one of the urban farmers involved in the San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project. He was one of the urban farmers involved in creating the community at San Diego City College. The farm teaches students and the community about sustainable permaculture, agriculture, nutrition and leadership.

Challenges

Kashi Challenge: Plant a Flower on your Plate - Edible blooms and floral herbal infusions are appearing in all sorts of foods these days. From exotic herbs like apple and chocolate mint to hibiscus and rosemary, flowering herbs are surprisingly adaptable to savory and sweet dishes - and even cocktails. Today, challenge yourself to gild the lily a little by experimenting with a floral herb in a salad, refreshing drink, or dessert.

Kashi Challenge: Bee Healthy - Natural bee products - like honey, pollen, royal jelly and propolis - are full of amino acids and bioflavonoids. Plus, they offer unique flavors nutrients. In the next 24 hours, challenge yourself to add a bee "keeper" to your meal: a dollop of honey on toast or in tea, or a supplement that contains pollen or propolis.

Kashi Challenge: Green Up Your Greens - When it comes to greening up a salad, it's easy to think, what's there to add? Microgreens are a great way to boost nutrition and add more complex flavor. What are they? Microgreens are actually small, delicate plants - salad greens, herbs, edible flowers, and leafy veggies. Examples include microfennel, microarugula, and micro-spinach. Today, challenge yourself to find out where you can buy microgreens in your area. Then schedule a day to go buy some. (Since they're a newer gourmet food trend, they may only be found in select gourmet stores.)

Links

Trevor Paque - MyFarm

With MyFarm, Trevor Paque transforms private urban yards into abundant gardens that supply the local community with vegetable boxes directly from the farms through a decentralized CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) model. Paque and his crew follow organic as well as permaculture farming methods. They travel by bicycle as much as possible, even for deliveries. For MyFarm, it's about working with, rather than against nature.

Challenges

Kashi Challenge: Share the Harvest - Have fruit, nuts, or veggies growing in your yard? Come time to harvest, you'll probably have too much to eat yourself. Here's one way to reduce your "cookprint": Challenge yourself to ask a local school, volunteer organization, or soup kitchen to help you harvest your bounty - and bring home anything they pick.

Kashi Challenge: Think Small - Often, we're so busy aiming high - and big - that we forget how motivating it can be to set smaller, more realistic goals. Instead of cycling for an hour, try 15 minutes. Or, climb one set of stairs instead of three. Setting more doable goals not only increases chances of success, it is more likely to increase self-esteem, which translates into longer-term stick-with-fitness! Today, challenge yourself to make your usual routine bite-size.

Kashi Challenge: Simplify the Sides - Why not make your next meal easier by simplifying your side dishes? A healthful and basic way to prepare veggies is to roast them - think winter vegetables like potatoes, yams, carrots, turnips, peppers, and squash. Today, challenge yourself to keep your side dishes simple by adding one to the menu of your next meal. A dash of olive oil, a sprinkle of salt, and a roasting pan or grill - now, that's the flavor of eating healthfully!

Links

Chef Ann Cooper - Renegade Lunch Lady

Chef Ann Cooper is the Executive Chef for the Berkeley school system, head of the Berkeley Unified School District and author of Lunch Lessons - Recipes for Healthy Eating. Working across the district in 17 locations and overseeing 90 people, Chef Ann and her team, feed children, teach them how to make healthy food choices, and expose them to cooking and gardening. This "Renegade Lunch Lady" has committed to transforming children's relationship to food.

Challenges

Kashi Challenge: Turn Kids into Cooks - Teaching kids to cook or grow their own food empowers them to be healthy eaters. Herb garden kits, child-size utensils, kids' cookbooks, smoothie/popsicle-makers, and cooking classes are just a few ways to get kids acquainted with natural foods. Today, challenge yourself to make a list of the kids in your life and identify some nutrition-related gifts for them.

Kashi Challenge: Get Out of a Lunch Rut - Is your usual workday lunch limited due to time constraints or your imagination? When you're rushed or bored, you're less likely to make healthy choices. In the next 24 hours, challenge yourself to break out of your lunch rut. Wake up a little earlier to prepare something new or visit a new local restaurant that serves healthy fare.

Kashi Challenge: Spice Up your Kids' Snack Selection - Snack time is a great opportunity to increase the health factor in your kids' diets. But rather than making drastic changes that might take some getting used to, try more subtle changes to start out. Increase snacks that don't contain any preservatives or artificial ingredients. Snacks that include fruits, veggies, and whole grains are very nutritious. Challenge yourself to evaluate the health value of your kids' snacks.

Links