The key message: I’m going back to the start. Last night was a monumental night on so many levels. The Grammys were spectacular; however, the ground-breaking message that was delivered during the must-see special was the real showstopper. Chipotle’s epic commercial featuring Willie Nelson covering Coldplay’s “The Scientist” effectively confronted an extremely troublesome issue in a creative and tasteful way. This was not an ordinary advertisement; it was a plea for extreme change within our current food system.

Chipotle took the audience on a sad, yet hopeful journey of how traditional farms have negatively transitioned into dark industrial-driven farms. These appropriately named “factory farms” operate as factories in which they treat animals like machines in order to make the highest input at the lowest cost. These “cost savings” come at the expense of animals’ health which in turn comes at the expense of our health as well as our planet’s health. Animals are treated in inhumane ways while being pumped with antibiotics and hormones. Ironically, the cost skyrockets from the decline in our overall health and well-being.

Chipotle took a gigantic leap forward to stand up against the meat and dairy industry, albeit in a subtle way. This is a problematic issue that is not widely understood or known due to the hidden truth. The meat and dairy industries do not want the public to have exposure to what goes on behind closed factory farm doors. Thus, I fear many people do not fully comprehend Chipotle’s key message of “going back to the start.” For this very same reason, I was ecstatic to see Chipotle take a bold stance against the untold secrets of current animal food production.

My message to Chipotle: Thank you for securing a lengthy, prime-time television spot in front of an audience that is hungry and capable of change and thank you for being at the forefront of promoting food with integrity.

Coldplay’s words say it best, “questions of science, science and progress do not speak as loud as my heart.” Let’s work together to “get back to the start” and bring down the factory farm walls.

Did you watch the Chipotle commercial? What was your reaction? Please share your thoughts below.

In my last post, I wrote about the detrimental farming practices in the meat and dairy industry. Fortunately, there are smaller farms that are dedicated to producing healthy food through respectable and responsible farming methods. My husband and I recently found one on a Hawaiian island of all places.

We had the great pleasure of visiting and touring Kauai Kunana Dairy farm. On our guided tour, we learned about the farm’s organic practices, animal husbandry, and sustainable farming systems. Additionally, we tasted exotic fruit such as noni fruit, breadfruit and starfruit, we bonded with lively and friendly goats and chickens and we walked through the beautiful and perfectly lined vegetable gardens. Below, I have included pictures and fun facts from our delightful and unforgettable experience.

My husband’s smile says it all! Nothing gets better than freshly sliced avocado!! The orchard had more than four different varieties.

The exotic farm was abundant with fruit trees, including lemon, lime, grapefruit, starfruit, breadfruit, mango, papaya, etc. No harmful fertilizers or pesticides were found on these beauties. We were lucky enough to taste the fruit right off the tree.

Noni fruit, my new favorite fruit because of its healing superpowers. It is known to treat skin disorders, build immunity, and even help fight cancer.

It’s a “cure all.” My husband and I both rubbed noni lotion on our bug bites and just like that – no itch or redness!

Happy dairy goats, all of which have a name. They live on a lavish green pasture and enjoy human interaction. They are only milked twice a day. They voluntarily lineup outside the milking room during breakfast and dinner time.

This was one of my favorite goats! These healthy goats are not confined in small spaces, tortured or injected with hormones and antibiotics. They are treated with respect and they are living the good life, which in turn makes healthy goat milk and cheese. Trust me – the cheese was incredible!

These happy chickens are not mistreated and stuffed in small cages with injured wings, beaks and feet. They freely roam in the warm tropical sun among the banana plants. Oddly enough, they help keep the plants strong and healthy too – bonus!

A tropical dream garden; this is just one of the many gardens. It includes arugula and musclun greens. Dark leafy greens are packed with disease-fighting nutrients.

Have you been to a dairy farm or any other type of farm? If so, please share your experiences.

My husband and I just finished watching an eye-opening, change-provoking documentary called Vegucated. It is a stimulating film that challenges three people to take on a vegan diet (no meat, dairy or animal products) for six weeks. On their troublesome journey, they are exposed to a different side of the “cult-like” veganism movement. They learn more about “why?”

Here are two life-chainging reasons why more people are moving to a plant-based diet:

1. Increased animal-food consumption is linked to increased disease. The majority of the standard American diet (SAD) is made up of animal products, processed foods and potatoes – shockingly all other fruits and vegetables are almost non-existent. Thus, a variety of vitamins and nutrients are completely void of peoples’ diet, which makes them susceptible to disease. Additionally, the food that is being eaten is not high quality, which leads into the second point.You are what you eat.
2. Current practices for dairy and meat production are downright frightening and devastating in every way. The way animals are raised, tortured and slaughtered is not only inhumane, but it is literally a massive threat to our overall health and well-being. Not to mention, these inefficient, costly and gut-wrenching practices are in the process of irreversibly destroying our planet. There is a reason no one can actually see how the majority of animal products are produced; if people were exposed to it, I guarantee there would be an immediate food revolution against the meat and dairy industry. (This blog is my attempt to help make it happen!!).

“If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.” – Sir Paul McCartney

I’m not writing this blog to promote veganism or vegetarianism. In my opinion, it is important for every person to find the diet that works best for them, whether it includes meat or not. What I am advocating for is quality food made with integrity. I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE you to either watch this movie or do your own research on current meat and dairy practices. The majority of our meat does not come from the highly marketed picturesque farm with a glowing green pasture and iconic red barn.

Now, I want to leave on a high note! I’m excited to follow this blog post with an example of a dairy farm that screams integrity. Stay tuned…

Have you seen the movie Vegucated? If so, what were your key takeaways?