loveiscontagious

I graduated from high school a few months before my senior year was over, and I began working at a health-food sandwich shop by day while pursuing my music career by night. My experiences at that shop helped establish the healthy eating habits that I have maintained to this day. Before that, while still in high school, I had a three or four-month stint of eating at fast-food restaurants.

It was the only period in my life of unhealthy eating. At the time, I was vaguely aware of the negative effects that kind of food had on my body. I would frequently order not just one fast-food meal, but owing to my unbounded energy, I would order two. They usually consisted of two big, double burgers, two large orders of fries, and two chocolate shakes. And I was still hungry even after scarfing down those two loads of garbage for my gut. Again, I did not have much of an understanding of why these foods were bad for me. But the details of what this food was actually doing to my body escaped me.

When I landed the job at the health-food sandwich shop, I had no idea what a grace from above that serendipitous moment held. It was the beginning of one of many paradigm shifts that I would go through in my life. I was immediately hooked on healthy eating and healthy concepts, especially after tasting the delicious food. The passionate store manager began to teach me about why this food was so much better for me than what I had been eating for the past four months. The store also sold books about healthy eating, and she would recommend various selections for me to read. As I gathered information, I found a new love and a penchant for learning about healthy eating. I also noticed a real difference in my energy levels and my health. This new way of eating took me to new heights! Through the work of Urban Farming, we have raised a lot of awareness about the importance of growing one’s own food, as well as the spectacular health benefits that fresh, high-quality food brings to our bodies, minds, and spirits. – From The Root, A Memoir and A Philosophy for Balance in Our World, pp 44.

How has healthy eating affected your life, your mood, and your creative ideas?

If you don’t believe that great food can nourish your body, mind, and soul, then I submit that you have likely not eaten at these four restaurants:

Peoples Organic: https://www.peoplesorganic.com/ Peoples Organic is growing across the country! They offer vegan and non-vegan repasts, all meat is nitrate-free, grass-fed, free-range, etc. I LOVE the Peoples Organic vegan “Beyond Burger” -it is absolutely amazing! Served on a 100% sprouted organic wheat bun, also served with sweet potato waffle fries or organic green salad. Yummy! You may also select the grass-fed burger at Peoples Organic. You can’t go wrong on this menu which also features breakfast served all day!

Mama Lombardi’s Restaurant: (400 Furrows Rd, Holbrook, NY 11741- next to Brookhaven, NY.) http://www.mammalombardis.com/

Everything is homemade! I love the Minestrone Soup, the Sautéed Spinach with garlic and oil, and the Chicken Tantillo (I am 98% vegan, but this Chicken Tantillo was a part of my 2% non-vegan moment, and ahh…what a delicious moment…)

GreenSpace Café: https://greenspacecafe.com/ ( 32867 Woodward Ave
Royal Oak MI 48073) This is another amazing vegan restaurant! Owned by noted Cardiologist, Dr. Kahn, and his family. The Cauliflower Wings are amazing! And, try the Black Bean Burger, or the Barbecue Bowl with Barbecued Tempeh, caramelized onions, cole slaw, roasted sweet potato, baby kale and avocado.

Urth Café: https://www.urthcaffe.com/ (10 locations in California and in Las Vegas) The Urth Match Tea latte- sooo smooth and delicious. The Urth Farmer’s Salad is excellent, excellent, excellent! And don’t even get me started on their baked goods, because I can’t go there…just too good! (I’m rehearsing my new show and cutting way down on sweets…)

Who would imagine how important a community garden of free food could be…I am so grateful that I was moved to start Urban Farming. As I have mentioned in a prior blog, this “calling” changed my life for the best. I have learned so much about our world and how we are all so intricately connected. Below, I will share an excerpt from my book, From The Root:

On this particular day, in the very beginning, we stood at the first official Urban Farming Community Garden on the corner of Collingwood and Cascade on the west side of Detroit. This was the same garden that would be featured on the Montel Williams Show only weeks after this encounter. A young woman approached me and told me how happy she was to be able to pick free food. Her voice was saddled with burden, and her face was visibly battled. Her story unfolded as we talked. She told me that she was desperately trying to transition out of homelessness. Our free garden gave her the ability to eat any time, day or night.

She shared how soothing this was for her, as she pulled me aside and spoke in a soft undertone, offering more of her story. Many times she had been so hungry she’d had to beg for food. Tears welled up in her eyes as she told me that she had recently asked a man to help her buy some food. He demanded that she perform a sexual act in exchange. She felt dirty and worthless, with an increased broken trust in men. That man saw a woman in need and instead of protecting her and helping her, he took advantage of her. Clearly he was also a broken spirit, and likely from similarly rooted circumstances. The young woman broke down and cried, letting me know that the garden was a place where she could go to eat without compromising her dignity. That was why it was of such special importance to her that our gardens provided free food and free access 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. I was moved and shaken.

–Page 44 and 45 of From The Root, A Memoir and A Roadmap for Balance in Our World.