Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 1: My SMART Goal

MY SMART GOAL

It's time, Eco-Chicsters, to increase our eco-chicness by adopting some new eco-chic behaviors. For my lifestyle change, I am focusing on "clean eating." What is clean eating? According to Clean Eating Magazine, clean eating is...

"Consuming food in its most natural state–or as close as possible to it."

It is a healthy lifestyle approach, not a diet. Key foods are colorful fruits & veggies, whole grains, lean protein, and water. It avoids chemical-laden, packaged, and processed foods as much as possible. That means choosing healthy, natural, whole-food options over such things as refined flours, sugar, fried foods, soda, juice, and alcohol. (Read more at CleanEatingMag.com...)

Based on that, my SMART goal for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change project is:

"I will eat 100% clean foods 7 days per week for the next 10 weeks."

HOW IS THIS CHANGE ECO-CHIC?

While it is intended to benefit the health of individuals, don't you think it is environmentally friendly as well? Reduced processing means fewer chemicals, additives, hormones, antibiotics, etc. in the food, which means less ends up in the environment and drinking water. Less packaging means less plastic in the landfills, less pollution spent making and hauling the plastic, and less resources stripped from the earth. If I choose locally grown foods, it benefits the local economy while reducing the transportation costs and related pollution.

WHY IS THIS BEHAVIOR IMPORTANT TO ME?

This behavior is important to me for several reasons. First, it puts less stress on the environment. As we have learned in class so far, the world population is straining the environment in many ways. In the U.S., our behaviors represent 1/3 of that stress. There are so many things we can do to reduce the effects of our impact. I want to be part of the solution, not a continuing part of the problem.

Second, I think it is important that we are connected to the earth. Food is part of the connection. Eating foods in a natural state provides nutrients in a way that processed foods cannot. I hope to increase my repertoire of food choices as well as my respect for the natural environment.

Third, I want to be a healthier, more earth-friendly individual. By doing so, I will benefit myself as well as those around me. As a health educator, I set an example for others when it comes to health. I do not do this out of a sense of obligation, but out of a willingness to improve the human condition.

LET'S GET STARTED!

Starting Wednesday, October 7, our eco-chic lifestyle SMART goals will be put into action! This project is not about being perfect. Expect the unexpected and do your best! The focus is to learn about yourself, a greener lifestyle, and the challenges that we face and overcome.

I look forward to reading your posts! Link up your Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 1: My Smart Goal posts using MckLinky below...

LINKY PARTY INSTRUCTIONS

You are going to be participating in a linky party every Wednesday here on Eco-Chic with Amy. A linky party is when a blog posts about a specific topic. Other blogs post about that topic and everyone adds their permalink to the party guest list. (Read here to understand the difference between a main URL and a permalink.) We are using a linky host called MckLinky. Follow these instructions to join the party.

1. Start by posting your post on your blog according to the instructions provided on the course calendar.
2. AFTER the post is completed, join the party below by clicking the "You are next" link.
3. For the title, enter . 
4. For the link URL, add the permalink to your post.
5. Select "enter your link" and you will return to this blog post and should see your entry listed below. Click on it to make sure it takes you to the specific post.
6. Return to your blog. Click "edit posts" and select "edit" next to the introductory post.
7. Add the following text at the bottom of your post: "Blogged for the Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 1 hosted by Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy." Eco-Chic Lifestyle Change Week 1" and insert the permalink to this party post. Then highlight the "Amy@Eco-Chic with Amy" and insert the main URL to this blog.
8. Select orange "Publish Post" button at the bottom of the window to publish the changes.
9. Also leave a comment on this post. 
10. Visit your web group members' blogs and leave comments for them as well.