Johnna Mendenall
"To have less of a negative impact on this earth"
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 386 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO5.0public officials or leaderscontacted
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UP TO6.0whole food mealsconsumed
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UP TO90minutesbeing mindful
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UP TO2.0more servingsof fruits and vegetables
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UP TO150minutesspent learning
Johnna's actions
Food
Watch a Documentary about Food Sovereignty
I will watch 3 documentary(ies) about food sovereignty: the right of local peoples to control their own food systems including markets, ecological resources, food cultures and production methods.
Food
Smart Seafood Choices
I will visit seafoodwatch.org or download the app and commit to making better seafood choices for a healthier ocean.
Food
Advocate for More Food Options
I will advocate for local and/or organic food options at work or on campus.
Food
Meet My Local Farmers
I will visit my nearest farm to find out who produces my food, and will learn about the quality of life of those who produce my food in other regions of the world to make better choices when I shop.
Food
Whole Foods Diet
I will enjoy 2 meal(s) each day free of processed foods.
Health
More Fruits and Veggies
I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 1 cup(s) of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.
Health
Take Control
Both system and personal sustainability are important! I will develop a plan with my medical professionals to achieve my best health and live my life to the fullest.
Health
Happiness
I will write down three things every day that I am grateful for, or send one email every day thanking or praising someone.
Simplicity
Eat Mindfully
I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.
Participant Feed
Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.
To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?
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REFLECTION QUESTIONSimplicity Eat MindfullyMindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How do your eating experiences differ when practicing mindfulness?
Johnna Mendenall 10/10/2018 5:28 AMOne big thing I noticed was that I had more time to watch my daughter eat and to really pick up on her habits while eating. I also noticed that I eat less because I'm not eating as fast so I have time to chew and feel full. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth More Fruits and VeggiesWhat do you think contributes to people in North America eating more meat than any other places, and what does this say about North American values and ways of living? How can we start shifting from a meat-focused food culture to a more plant-based one?
Johnna Mendenall 10/10/2018 5:27 AMMaybe this doesn't play to large of a factor but I think it may play a little bit at least. I think that it's common in our culture to want to prove yourself or be the manliest or the toughest... at least in my family, the more meat you eat the manlier you are....even if it hurts a lot after. When you travel to places like Japan or Germany, yes, they have meat and they do like to eat it but in moderation. Food in general to them isn't as big of a deal as it is here. The sizes are smaller and the food has more possibility of being locally sourced so in turn it's healthier. Even though they are eating meat just like us it's different because the portion sizes are smaller, the meat is often local and they aren't jammed full of hormones and chemicals etc. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth Take ControlHow do environmental health, community health, and your personal health intersect?
Johnna Mendenall 10/10/2018 5:22 AMTaking care of your health is extremely important because you are taking care of the body that carries you through life. The same goes for the environment and the community. When you take care of those things you are taking care of what surrounds you and what you live in, play in and see day to day. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONHealth HappinessHow does/can practicing gratitude keep you centered and motivated to work for a better world?
Johnna Mendenall 10/10/2018 5:20 AMWhen practicing gratitude you are being completely unselfish and showing others that they mean something to you. That is always a good feeling and a spirit lifter for sure. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Whole Foods DietMichael Pollan states that "it is better to pay the grocer (our edit: or the farmer!) than the doctor." What are your thoughts on this?
Johnna Mendenall 10/08/2018 11:21 AMkeeping yourself healthy and away from the doctor is a HUGE thing. My whole (almost) family struggles with diabetes. Recently I was with my Uncle (one of the effected) and I asked him why he continues to eat the unhealthy food that he does, such as minute rice, tons of brown gravy etc. when he could take care of his body and just cook for maybe 10 min. longer. He could make food just as delicious (if not more) and way healthier for him with just a little bit more effort and thought and it could literally save his life. His answer "I'm not planning on living my life without eating the foods I want. I would rather deal with the shots and surgeries." To me, that seems like a shorter life with terrible quality.... I'll stick with the long life and energy and health to do as I please. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Meet My Local FarmersWhen you know who produces your food, you are connecting personally to your complex regional food system. What are the advantages of knowing who produces your food and where it comes from? Do you think this might enable someone to advocate for a better quality of life for those who produce their food, both near and far?
Johnna Mendenall 10/08/2018 11:16 AMI actually didn't visit a farm today, but I did yesterday. It's always very interesting to go to the local farms and really get a first hand look at the work that gets put into everything. I lived in Japan for a while and I often drove past rice fields and that was a serious eye opener. You don't always think that things like rice come from farms or that it can be a "fresh" item but just as much work goes into something like this as let's say... a cucumber. The men and women who worked in these fields are ankle - knee deep in water all day and bent over for hours on end. It's literally back breaking work and something I think about often. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Advocate for More Food OptionsGiven the impact of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers on both the natural world and our food systems, what do you think about the use of these products in agriculture?
Johnna Mendenall 10/08/2018 11:13 AMI believe that a lot of these products can link back to health issues that we see in our modern day societies such as autism, cancer and Down Syndrome. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Smart Seafood ChoicesMany states and countries have advisories on eating fish. Find out what is advised for your region. Do you think your diet choices fall within these guidelines? What steps do you need to take to make sure that they do?
Johnna Mendenall 10/08/2018 11:11 AMI think that my diet meets Washington's specific advisories. I love shrimp, snow crab and Dungeness Crab and those are all on the okay lists. I did learn that I need to make sure I'm aware of what kind of Salmon I'm eating because the avoid list had a few different varieties. -
Johnna Mendenall 10/08/2018 6:34 AMI'm ready to start strong today with 5 food actions!-
Nate Jessen 10/08/2018 11:03 AMTake it to the food action limit.
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