TIPS FOR A SUSTAINABLE LIFE

by Claudia Cocci Grifoni

What is Sustainable Living?

Living sustainably means trying to minimize the use of the earth’s natural

resources to ensure the health of the environment and the wellbeing of

present and future generations. In fact, the future of our world and our species

depends on how carefully and strategically we use of the

resources available to us today.

Committing to a sustainable lifestyle is not an easy step. It requires

dedication, education and change of habits. Is it worth it? Indeed.

One of the many ways to make our lifestyle more environmentally friendly is

choosing sustainable food.

Why sustainable food is important?

As the world’s population is rapidly expanding, we cannot have a secure food

supply unless it’s sustainable. We often don’t realize how much food

production places a huge demand on natural resources. The greenhouse gas

emissions caused by human activities is contributing to climate change by

warming the Earth’s atmosphere at a rate that is unprecedented in human

history. Working toward a sustainable food supply is essential to avoid

disastrous effects, but it won’t be achieved without a change in the way our

food is produced.

So what we put on our plates has a huge impact on the environment,

therefore eating more mindfully and sustainably improves not only our health

but it also benefits the planet.

There are many reasons to incorporate sustainable food into your lifestyle and

here are few of them:

 It’s more flavourful as it’s local and picked closer to its pick of ripeness

 It’s grown with less toxic pesticides and without hormones or antibiotics

 It’s not genetically modified or irradiated

 It’s healthier

 It supports local economies

 It generates less waste

Tips for Sustainable Eating:

 Prioritize plant-based ingredients. This will help reduce freshwater

withdrawals and deforestation. Also if we eat fruits and vegetables at

recommended levels, farmers would grow a lot more of these foods.

 If you don’t want to fully switch to a plant-based diet, try to minimize

dairies, meat and fish and buy them organic. For example meat

production, especially beef, is one of the predominant contributors to

greenhouse emissions and it requires more food, water and energy

than plants.

 Look for non-GMO products.

 Look for and support more environmentally friendly food sources. Buy

seasonal organic products and from local farmers markets to find fresh

produce and learn where your food was grown.

 Learn about the issues surrounding fair trade, fair wages for workers

and community economics

 Prepare your meals and reduce or eliminate processed food from your

diet.

 Minimize overeating by resizing your meal and reduce food waste. We

often need much less food than we think.

 Eat mindfully.

No matter if you can’t be 100% sustainable, every little action can make a

huge difference!

What is Mindful Eating?

Eating is one of the most natural and pleasurable activities of our life.

Although, there are so many different ways to do it. One of the most powerful,

rewarding and unfortunately uncommon is mindful eating.

Mindfulness is a form of Buddhist meditation practice that involves paying

non-judgmental attention to the present moment, feelings and thoughts in

order to awaken the internal and external experience.

Applied to eating, mindfulness is having small bites, chewing slowly,

appreciating colors, flavors, textures and smell of food.

Mindful eating is not a diet but a beautiful way of experiencing your meals,

which helps to feel more satisfied and to get rid of guilt and anxiety.

Tips for Mindful Eating:

 Pay attention and appreciate your food.

 Reflect on where your food came from.

 Engage your senses: notice colors, positions, smells, textures and flavors

 Eat and chew slowly.

 Get rid of distractions (eg. watching TV or reading).

 Eat until you are satisfied and not until you are full. Make few pauses, learn to

listen to your body and ask yourself “Do I really need more food?” Sometimes

we mistake emotional signals for physical hunger and we don’t need as much

food as we think.

 Notice how food affects your body and feeling after having it.

 Eat to promote health and wellbeing as a form of self-appreciation.

 Research about optimal nutrition and learn what type of ingredients and

combinations are best to nourish your body.

 Learn to prepare your meals and play with the ingredients to make it more

fun.

Want to learn more about Sustainable Living and Mindful Eating? Why

not doing it while enjoying a wonderful retreat in Bali?

This August, “The Vegan Option” and “Omcean Yogi” will be leading a unique

life-changing experience at the stunning Floating Leaf Eco-Luxury Resort.

As passionate plant-based lifestyle advocates, experienced health

professionals and instructors, their mission has always been to help others

healing, improving the quality of movement and developing toward health. And

with their latest project they nailed the goal once again.

More than a classic retreat, what they offer is an incredible body-mind

learning experience that will aim to promote self-enhancement, environmental

awareness, sustainable living and mindful eating. 

Whether you are just looking for a relaxing yet fulfilling time to spend in

paradise, away from stress and worries or you would like to nourish your

mind, body and soul while opening yourself to new physical practises,

learning experiences, connections and self-appreciation, this retreat could be

for you.

 

Why it will be different…

For an entire week, you will fuel your body with delicious Plant-based Meals

made with fresh and seasonal ingredients from the on-site permaculture

garden…

With the Healthy vegan cookery class, you will have the chance to learn

how easy and important is to prepare simple and delicious plant-based meals

and how nourishing and powerful they are for your body…

During the Mindful Eating and Sustainable Living Discussion, you will learn

how food choices can massively influence not only your health but also the

one of the environment and how little daily changes and improvements can

help to make a huge difference for yourself and the planet…

A 7 day-long health project totally devoted to improve many aspects of your-

self and open your horizons toward an healthier and happier living…sounds

good?! For more information, prices and inclusions check out “The Vegan

Option” page.