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Greenfare Vegan Restaurant Review

Hi, Angels Working on Earth Family!

The most sustainable way to eat is to be vegan and choose organic, local and seasonal produce. A 2012 study showed that plant-based diets are better for the environment than those based on meat because it can reduce climate change. Eating vegan can reduce carbon, save emissions, and requires less land to grow food. A vegetarian diet requires two-and-a-half times less the amount of land needed to grow food, compared to a meat-based diet (Worldwide Fund for Nature, n.d.).  Do you like “Vegan Pizza?” I have never tried Vegan pizza made the Green Fare way until today. I’ve eaten cauliflower crust before, but it’s not the same experience. Green Fare specializes in Vegan cuisine. They offer a 21-day kick-start program that helps the participant transition to a whole plant food diet. Participants receive organic whole plant entrees, blood tests, lifestyle assessments, weigh-ins, and healthy eating classes. This program was created to help people lose weight, reduce cholesterol, increase energy and transition to plant-based diet.

The cafe is located in Herndon, Virginia, near Loudoun County, Virginia. One can find local sources of eco-friendly and cruelty-free products. Loudoun county will host Veg Fest in October 2022. People will learn about the science behind the benefits of plant-based diets. There will be expert speakers, cooking demos, vendors, and animal rescues.

The cafe was cozy and slow, as they handle mainly online orders on Saturdays but will also serve customers as they trickle into the establishment. The cafe is closed on Sunday. The vibe is amiable and compassionate. Cozy.

Vegan Pizza

My review was a spur-of-the-moment decision. I walked into the establishment just to make a quick order and record my experiences. The owner, Gwen Whitaker, was so friendly and offered to answer any questions I had about plant-based foods. She even allowed me to order the Vegan Pizza, which wasn’t on the menu during that time as it had to be pre-ordered. Her kindness impressed me because she went out of her way to accommodate my request. I ate in the area outside of the restaurant as I wanted to practice social distancing. It was a lovely day to be outside!

Let’s talk about the food! I have tasted vegan food before. I previously participated in the Vegan Kick Start program and learned much about the Vegan lifestyle. I decided to increase the number of whole foods I eat, especially concerning meat and dairy. The vegan pizza is visually stunning, and I was hoping to taste the cheesy goodness of pizzas I regularly eat. Is that even possible? No! The flavors are uniquely different. Significant in different ways. It’s plant-based and made from onions, peppers, mushrooms, rosemary, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, vegan cheese, and a mystery vegan crust. The flavors and textures are fantastic. Light, flaky, sweet, and creamy. I know I am fueling my body with healthy nutrients that will increase good health rather than provide poor health.

What exactly is a plant-based diet, also known as whole foods? (Lair, C. 2016) has a beautiful way of defining whole foods. (Lair, C. 2016) wants us first to ask ourselves where the food comes from and what its life was like before it was placed on the grocery store shelf. (Lair, C. 2016) says the best way to know if a food is whole or not is to consider these questions: 1. Can you imagine it growing? 2. How many ingredients does it have? 3. What’s been done to the food since it was harvested? 4. Have any edible parts of the plant been removed, and how long has the food been known to nourish humans? 

The above questions are essential to ask yourself when determining whether a food is a whole. Why? 1. Whole foods can be grown (Lair, C. 2016). The author jokingly said that you couldn’t pick Froot-Loops from trees, nor can you imagine a field of marshmallows (Lair, C. 2016). Although it is possible to imagine those things, it’s a funny way to contrast something natural vs. unnatural. 2. Whole foods have one label (i.e., themselves) and not a list of ingredients one might find on a cereal box (Lair, C. 2016). 3. Non-whole foods have been bleached, refined, and chemically treated (Lair, C. 2016). 4. Some foods have been stripped of their edible parts, and the body will crave the parts it doesn’t get (Lair, C 2016). Lastly, we must beware of artificial foods that haven’t been around long, as most whole foods have been served on the table for centuries (Lair, C. 2016). 

(Lair, C. 2016) has written a book comprised of recipes and a food map for whole foods eating. This food map comprises whole grains, dairy, fermented & cultured foods, fruits, vegetables, nuts & seeds, legumes (i.e., beans, peas, lentils, and fermented soy), and poultry & meat. A whole food diet can be described as plant-based foods or foods of the natural constitution. 

According to the literature, the two benefits of a whole-food diet contribute to preventing chronic diseases, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Clinical trial results from (Etherton, K et al., 2019) demonstrated clear benefits of omega-3 fatty acid intake for cardiovascular disease risk, with significant reductions in risk of heart attacks, other major cardiovascular events, and cardiovascular disease death. The literature recommends at least one to two fish/seafood servings per week to prevent diseases like heart disease and diabetes. For the general population and those with diabetes, about one g/d of omega-3 fatty acids reduced the risk of both death from CVD and having an MI (Etherton, K et al., 2019).  

In conclusion, for people with chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, healthy eating can help manage these conditions, prevent complications, and live longer. It’s vital to find enjoyable foods in Lair’s food map and create recipes that activate the taste buds. If the food is flavorsome, then eating it will become a fulfilling habit. A healthy habit will lead to a healthier lifestyle.

Eating at Green Fare Organic Cafe will increase your longevity. The owner has superior knowledge of plant-based diets and health trends. Would I go there again? Yes. The excellent quality of the food and wholesome attitudes of the restaurant showed through that day.

Recommendations

If you want to eat a sustainable diet, then take part in a vegan 21-day kickstart program. This program will introduce you to the science, and cuisine of veganism. When you are done, then you will have a different perspective because of the experience.

I hope you all had a great day, and I will post a video of my experience at AWE-TV on my main YouTube channel.

References

Kris-Etherton, P. M., Richter, C. K., Bowen, K. J., Skulas-Ray, A. C., Jackson, K. H., Petersen, K. S., & Harris, W. S. (2019). Recent Clinical Trials Shed New Light on the Cardiovascular Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal, 15(3), 171-178. https://doi.org/10.14797/mdcj-15-3-171erences

Lair, C. (2016). Wholesome Family Eating. In S. Roxborough (Ed.), Feeding the whole family: Cooking with whole foods: More than 200 recipes for feeding babies, young children, and their parents. (pp. 79). Sasquatch Books.

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