I’m seriously very excited about Pizza Fusion!  Why you might ask?  Well, its not because I believe pizza is the healthiest of foods (but hey, they do also serve my favorite….salad), but because until now there has truly been a void in the fast food industry for some good quality (organic) eats.  Where can you just go grab (or have delivered) a salad packed with only fresh organic ingredients or an indulgent cheesey piece of bread made with gluten-free multi-grain organic flour, certified organic pizza sauce and meat (if you do partake) that is certified organic, free of pesticides and hormones or chicken that is all-natural and free range??? 

I absolutely love all the eco-initiatives that have set in place from the 100% certified organic cotton uniforms the employees wear, to their hybrid vehicles for deliveries, to their LEED certified restaurants and purchase of renewable energy certificates to offset 100% of their power consumption.  And I very much identify with and appreciate their “all or nothing” approach.  (Afterall, if you’re going to do it, then do it right and in full force and if you’re not then you might as well not do it at all). 

From their website: “For every decision there is a right way and a wrong way to approach things.  Pizza Fusion operates on the belief that social responsibility is just as important as profitability.  Where some businesses cut corners for their own benefit, Pizza Fusion goes the extra mile to do the best thing for everyone – the customer, the environment, the employee and the business owner.”

Just announced today, Pizza Fusion has appointed Mark Begelman as CEO to steer the company through an aggressive national franchise expansion. Begelman, former President of Office Depot who was twice named Ernst and Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” and named Financial News’ “CEO of the Year,” will oversee Pizza Fusion’s growth as the company moves ahead with their plans to open 500 U.S. franchises over the next five years. “What attracted me most to Pizza Fusion was their menu… it’s the best tasting pizza I’ve ever eaten,” Begelman explains.  “Pizza Fusion offers delicious food with a purpose.” 

Find a Pizza Fusion near you here, check out their organic classes for kids. find out how you can open your own restaurant here or simply induce mouth-watering now by checking out the video below: 

Need a pick-me-up, but trying to break (or not start) the coffee habit?  Yerba Mate is a great replacement and it comes with many great health benefits too.  I have a soft spot for Guayaki (Gwy-uh-Kee) Yerba Mate because the founders started the business near my hometown.    They were two Cal Poly University students who conceived the idea after their friendship was formed around sipping Yerba Mate everyday with each other.  Traditionally enjoyed by drinking out of a gourd, I prefer to brew mine in the coffee maker, but brewing in a french press is also popular.  I drink it plain, sometimes sprinkling in some Stevia Plus, but you can also add milk to make a Yerba Mate latte!  If you’re on the go or need a burst of energy in the afternoon keep a box of tea bags in your desk or in your bag. 

Yerba Mate has been found to contain a significant amount of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.  Each infusion of Yerba Mate contains: Vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, B Complex.  Minerals: Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Manganese, Phosphorus & Zinc.  Additional Compounds: Carotene, Fatty Acids, Chlorophyll, Flavonols, Polyphenols, Inositol, Trace Minerals, Antioxidants, Tannins, Pantothenic Acids and 15 Amino Acids. 

Health Benefits include:

Induces mental clarity

Sustains energy levels/reduces fatigue

Aids in weight control

Aids in elimination

Fights bad breath

Guayaki Yerba Mate is organic, rainforest grown and fair trade.  The company is fueled by solar power offsetting 55 tons of their corporate footprint locally.  Check out their corporate facility in Hopland, CA below:

Their carbon reduction efforts include:

By building an inventory of their company’s energy usage, they were able to determine that their business is responsible for an estimated 28.5 tons of CO2 each year.
 
•    By working with Green Mountain Energy they are to purchase enough Renewable Energy Credits to offset 2 years worth of company CO2 emissions from energy usage (57 tons).  
(“Energy usage” consists of electricity, natural gas & refrigerant emissions).  

•    Their source for the offsets  →  a solar facility at the Solar Living
Institute in Hopland, CA; only 40 miles from their headquarters in Santa Rosa, CA.  

•    They are purchasing, in total, roughly 175.5 MWh’s of green power from this facility.  Purchasing renewable energy helps ensure that facilities, like this one, continue to operate cost effectively and can therefore compete with other traditional sources of electricity such as fossil fuels. One key way to help build demand for renewables.

This Vanilla Bean Buttercream Body Scrub is in my shower right now and I can’t believe how much it smells like cake frosting!  If you’re not familiar with body scrubs, trust me, you’re missing out!  It’s a must-have product for Fall and Winter when the air gets dry and sucks moisture from our skin.  Around this time of year I begin to think about boosting up my personal care regiment with more hydrating products and this is one such item in my arsenal.  It’s an all-in-one product and I use it to exfoliate dead skin and moisturize at the same time.  I have even abandon shave gels as I prefer to shave (under arms & legs) with organic body scrubs as I get a much closer shave & it’s completely non-toxic (plus I need no lotion afterwards).  Note: Gently rub scrub all over legs, quickly rinse, then shave & rinse again.  Careful: It will make the bottom of your shower/tub somewhat slick, but just swish around some shampoo or soap with your feet and you’ll be good to go.  (Plus, an added bonus it that it makes the tub so much easier to clean as I think the oils lift residue & dirt from the tub!)100% Pure offers a great selection of scrubs containing wonderful oils in mouth-watering “flavors” like Sugared Lime Peel, Apple, Blueberry, Pineapple, Blood Orange, Tangerine, Nectarine and Strawberry (suddenly I have a craving for some juicy fruit).   And you can be sure you won’t find anything suspect lurking in these products as they come with a long list of “No’s”:

• no synthetic chemicals
• no parabens or other toxic preservatives
• no sulfates or other harsh detergents
• no artificial fragrances or colors
• no alcohol
• no phthalates
• no petro-chemicals
• no propylene glycol or PEGs
• no animal by-products
• no toxins
• no fillers - never watered down with water, thickeners, emulsifiers or other fillers
• no GMO  (genetically-modified organisms) ingredients

Check it out for yourself, you’ll find nothing but amazing, hydrating, pure organic goodness in every jar: Ingredients (Vanilla Bean Buttercream Scrub): Organic Virgin Coconut Oil 1, Organic Cocoa Butter2, Organic Macadamia Nut Oil1, Organic Shea Butter 3, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice3, Organic Green Coffee 4, Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Vitamin C (ascorbyl palmitate), Organic Vanilla Extract5, Organic Hazelnut 5, Extracts of Organic Grapefruit Seed2, Organic Rosemary 3, Organic Oregano3, Organic Thyme 3, Organic Cinnamon3 and Organic Goldenseal3, Kukui Nut Oil1 certified organic by Baystate Organic Certifier2 certified organic by Soil Association Certification Limited3 certified organic by QAI4 certified organic by Hawaii Organic Farmers Association5 certified organic by Organic CertifiersTotally pure, completely organic, smells fantastic & really works!  Check it out here. 

I just returned from a two week trip and it’s hard to say whether it was the change in seasons or the flu-infused recycled air on the plane that put me into a watery eye, running nose haze for about 4 days. Going through two boxes of Kleenex left my nose red & raw…quite the lovely look. Luckily Whole Foods was only minutes from my hotel, so amongst other things I picked up some Perfect Organics Lip Balm. I bought it for my lips initially, but decided to slather it on the outside of my nostrils before bed one night hoping to heal thy self of the painful little cracks. When I woke up my nose wasn’t sore nor chapped (nor was there a blemish in sight from the balm)! I’ve also been using this on my lips and I really like it. Leaves my lips soft long, long after applying it. Very thick and creamy…something I’m definitely keeping close by as Fall and Winter approaches, because for those of you who live where there are seasons…you know that you need a more powerful arsonal of products during the seasons to stay hydrated and protected. And this little pot is a mere $3.99!!! Hello…time to stock up!

The Vanilla Twist version impressed the Beauty Editors at Lucky Mag so much that they ranked it #14 in their Green Makeup Guide this month: “The soft feel of a petroleum-based balm is hard to replicate; this does it one better. The vanilla scent is just the best–sweet and creamy.”

Dr. Schulze’s line of wellness products are those that I truly believe in & use.  They have not only helped me but have assisted my own family & friends alike.  From eliminating issues that have plagued a family member for 30 years, to causing grey hair to turn brown again and helping save a marriage…when taken consistently and properly Dr. Schulze’s formulas are truly powerful and effective.  The ingredients are organically grown and/or wild-harvested and one of the biggest differences between them and other supplements is that they are very, very concentrated. 

I just returned from a two-week long business trip out of state and a couple days after my arrival I felt a sore throat coming on.  Good thing I packed my Echinacea Plus because I immediately began a regiment of 60 drops (2 full droppers), three times a daily in 2 ounces of water.  Although I did have watery eyes & nose for about 4 days, that is what my body needed to do to purge itself and most people I know who have come down with it recently, have had it for a good 1-2+ weeks.  The usual accompanying suspects like an achy body, total exhausion, headache and sore throat were no where to be found. 

Over the years, Dr. Schulze treated thousands of patients in his clinics all over the world.  Today, he focuses on and prides himself on offering the best wellness products on the market. He’s a no-nosense man and doesn’t beat around the bush.  He would argue that his Echinacea Plus is the most potent echinacea formula on the market.  In his words “it will stop the flu or cold dead in it’s tracks.  It works in two ways.  First it builds up your immune system by stimulating your body to produce more immune cells and chemicals.  Secondly, it also builds these cells into heightened action and activity levels.  These actions will help you combat any disease or illness more effectively and also protect you from future envasion and illness.”

Take control of your health!  Start by warding off flu bugs & colds as the season changes and back-to-school is in full swing.  

 “Tomorrow is what you believe and do today!”  ~ Dr. Schulze

It’s no secret that purchasing reusable containers will help reduce the amount thrown into a landfill.  Whether you’re the one who’s going back to school or the one packing the lunches (or both) with a few cool tools, you can save time and money.    

To-Go Ware Stainless Steel Food Carrier

Great for hot or cold foods, this comes with a removable plate and 2-tiers so you can separate foods.  Stainless steel is highly durable, won’t leach toxins like plastics can and is very easy to clean. 

Plastic Bag Dryer

I never knew these existed until very recently.  Way back in Elementary school I had a friend who would save all her Ziplocs she used for snacks & lunch in a day and bring them home with her after school and gave them to her mother who would wash, dry and reuse them as many times as she could.  Back then I  thought it very strange (because no one else I knew was doing it).  Little did I know back then that it would be considered “eco-friendly” today. 

SIGG Water Bottle

According to Fast Company, Americans use 50 billion water bottles each year.  Most are not recycled.  Find a reusable water bottle that looks good (so you’ll be more inclined to use it) and help keep your share of water bottle waste out of the trash.  They come in an assortment of colors and sizes for kids and adults alike. 

Not officially or medically-speaking, but Jack Johnson seems to have a way of lowering ones blood pressure (if you happen to like mellow, yet upbeat folksy/surfer tunes).  As a Hawaiian native, and surfer-turned-songwriter, much of his melodic imagery is inspired by nature and his tropical surroundings.  This year Jack Johnson & his crew are taking steps to reduce their environmental impact on their world tour. 

Greening Actions Include:

-Providing onsite water stations, waste management and recycling services.

-Reducing waste with the use of biodegradable food service items and reusable water bottles that can be refilled onsite.

-Fueling tour vehicles and/or generators with sustainable biodiesel (where available) to help reduce CO2 emmisions by up to 78% percent. 

-Offering eco-friendly tour merchandise including organic cotton clothing, reusable water bottles and tote bags.

-Minimizing distribution of paper at shows and using 100% recycled paper and soy-based inks for all printed materials.

-Selecting environmentally-conscious travel and hotel options.

-Procuring locally grown and organic foods for backstage catering

-Offsetting all remaining CO2 emissions from the tour and for each night’s show.

If you’re a fan (or want to be), check for tour dates here.  To learn more about Jack Johnson’s All At Once campaign, click here.  To buy his latest Sleep Through The Static CD, click here. 

With a national movement underway to bring organic food to college dining halls, Colgate University senior, Nina Merrill discovered that there was very little online documenting and discussing it.  She gives college students a voice and a platform to discuss what’s happening on their own campuses.  Her goal is to encourage the development of organic good programs on college campuses nationwide.  Her theory is that by facilitating a round-table discussion where students can share their successes and pitfalls of their organic campus initiatives, others will be empowered to take proactive steps in improving the quality of their campus dining.  Her blog, titled Organic on the Green, gives students the opportunity to network with others from around the country who have similar goals and concerns.  It features essays from students on the front lines of making college dining more sustainable. 
 
She’s also working on a “How To” dining guide for students who hope to bring more organic food to their university or college.  This guide will call upon the topics discussed on the blog as well as highlight the initiatives of some of the most influential students on the sustainable campus circuit.

Additional organic food resources:

How To Go Organic

Slow Food USA