A Low Carbon Diet

As a young doe who read E Magazine and poured over Co-op America‘s Green Pages some 17 years ago, I can’t help but be partially frustrated by the speed in which the rest of the world has caught on to the green movement, can’t help but shudder at the greenwashing of the world’s major corporate players and how this shallow, surface-level concern for the planet has trickled down to the public… in the form of baby onesies, tote bags, hair care, MORE STUFF (the antithesis of sustainability)… touting witty messages of our intentions to recycle, to love Mother Earth, to be “green”. Boy, this stuff all gets my goat.

So yes yes, another rant about how the omnivorous diet is the number one contributor to environmental destruction. A ton of unbiased research makes clear, to those who want to know, what is well hidden about our food system and factory farming (see links at the end of this post). I promise I won’t go on and on as I know the 2 or 3 dear hearts who read my blog on the reg. deserve better than my yelling at them. They may, if so inclined, skip the paragraph below and proceed to my description of Otarian, New York City’s Low Carbon Fast Food Eatery. The rest of you, carry on.

I know that change happens gradually and, often, it begins as a fad. But I’m still an anomaly as a vegan, though the US has made some great strides. Through wider acceptance of preventative lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of illness and the country’s obsession with weight management, vegetarianism is beginning to make sense in many people’s eyes. Though not as widely accepted a view, vegetarianism is connected intimately with being “green”, like real green. Nothing impacts the Earth more than your dietary choices… not hybrid cars, tote bags, message tees, recycling, etc etc. So that is why Otarian, a new healthy chain with locations in London and Manhattan, came to be. Otarian’s CEO, Radhika Oswal, created the eatery as a “tangible display of {my} hope in the intelligence of human kind to understand, accept and adapt to a more sustainable way.” And their display is one of quality and authenticity, from the materials and design of the restaurant space, to product sourcing, to their packaging and waste management, to their energy and water consumption… it’s the real deal.

The food (all listed clearly as V): Indian Chutney burger: vegan patty, hot and spicy chutney mayonnaise, tomato, cucumber, lettuce, and red onion. Hearty and tasty.
Sweet potato chipets: Sweet potatoes coated in spicy crumb-mix. Delicious!
All vegan Choco Treat… not the greatest vegan dessert but a vegan dessert! A vegan dessert!!!

Please see my older posts:
Force Fed
Another Inconvenient Truth
Food Inc. Movie Review
Earth Day is Why Vegan Day