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I recently wrote a letter to my two state Senators as well as my Congresswoman concerning the affects that US food production has on energy and agriculture. In summary, the key is to “grow local, go local,” meaning grow your crops for the local community and shop within the community. This philosophy, if supported by the communities around the United States, can have a large impact on the direction our environment is headed in. If you’d like, feel free to copy my letter and address if to your representative. It is also easy to copy and paste the letter into the “Written Contact Form” found on your Representatives personal website, which saves you paper and a stamp! Thanks for your support; let’s keep working to educate our community about the importance of growing locally (and organically!).

Dear Honorable [Representative's Full Name]:

I have travelled the world choking on exhaust fumes on the island of Curacao and fighting my way through thick layers of pollution in Mexico City and each time my trip is over, I appreciate so much the fact that I can come home to a clean environment, the United States; much of this is thanks to you and lawmakers alike for continuously striving to raise our standards of practice. I am writing today to inform you of the environmental concerns that I have for the food production industry in our country and how we can change the destructive fate of our beautiful environment for generations to come.

In statics, most would agree that 50% can make a tremendous difference, so in order to make a noticeable difference in our environment, for simplicity’s sake, we are going to reduce our country’s energy output by 50% in this example. Let’s assume that some variables are out of our control, such as individual’s daily caloric intake, which on average is 3,800 (if we lower that number to 2,500 we can cut energy output from food production by 30%). Also, the consumption of junk food can only be controlled by the individual so we have little control unless new legislature slows the production and marketing of it; it is commonly agreed upon that consuming products like such should be reduced at least 80%. These shifts in reducing caloric intake and junk food consumption would greatly reduce our food production, processing and packaging, and transportation costs and energy that is quickly destroying our country, and our planet’s, beautiful environment that I appreciate every time that I return back home. Since these are variable we can control, production, processing and packaging, and transportation, these are the variables I would like to discuss.

“What does it mean, to cut energy by 30%, by 50%, by 80%, what is this energy you are talking about?” This was my first question when entering into a higher-level education about the affects that food production has on our environment. Production is the piece of the puzzle, in which we aim to reduce by 50%. This can be done if we allow U.S. subsidies to encourage farmer’s to grow more than one crop, including livestock (for this example). Livestock alone produces over forty five million tons of nitrogen from manure and when they are kept together at feed houses, their manure goes to waste, leaving our country with the second best option, to manufacture chemical fertilizers. Introducing legislation that encourages and supports farmer’s to grow and distribute locally can drastically reduce the energy created from the manufacturing of chemical fertilizers, in addition to the energy used in transportation because farmers are encouraged to only produce one crop (the average energy output from the distance a crop travels before it is processed is 400x the amount of calories the crop and packaging contains).

Processing and packaging is also a variable we can control and is directly related to the way farmer’s produce their crops. If we could encourage and support U.S. farmer’s to grow multiple crops and distribute them locally, we can cut down on transportation and packaging costs and energy dramatically, because everything would be done in-house, or at least close to home. When we package and preserve our crop in steel cans, there is about as many calories of energy used to make the steel can as there are calories in the crop being contained (about 320 calories for a 16 oz. can). If we sell our crops locally, there is no need to preserve and can our food items because there is no worry about spoilage since the crops are not travelling to another part of the country, or world. Processing and packaging in addition to transportation is a variable that we can reduce also by 50% in supporting local farming alone.

By supporting legislation that encourages and supports farmer’s to grow more than one crop as well as distribute their product locally can and will greatly affect the energy output of our country. This will keep our country as beautiful as you and I remember it every time we step outside and can see clearly for miles and jog on trails without having car exhaust completely engulf our lungs. Thank you for taking the time to care for our environment and show your support via legislation for the bettering of the future of our environment.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Ingredients:

1 sweet potato (yam will work too)

1 2/3 cup rolled oats (Bob’s Red Mill makes a great Quick rolled oats that you can find in the cereal isle)

1/3 cup raw coconut nectar (alternative for agave; it has a sweet caramel flavor that I prefer)

1t cinnamon

1.Start off by baking a whole sweet potato (or yam) in the oven at 420 Farenheit for 30-40 minutes. Check the potato occasionally, you want it to be perfectly squishy, without any burning. I flip my potatoes over 20 minutes into the baking process.

2. Place all of the ingredients in a medium size bowl.

3. Once the potato is cooked and cool, peel the skin off of the potato and place the potato in the bowl with all of the ingredients. Mash all of the ingredients together until everything is thoroughly mixed.

4. Place parchment paper over a shallow dish and pour mixture into dish. Spread the mixture evenly.

5. Place dish in the freezer for 45 minutes and then cut the frozen mix into bars before you serve. Tip: Keep them thinner so the bars are easy to cut through (think, Quaker oatmeal bar thickness).

Health benefits: Sweet potatoes are low in Sodium and contain no Saturated Fats or Cholesterol. With 7 grams of Fiber per serving, they are a great source of Dietary Fiber, Protein, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Manganese. Cinnamon also contains 4 grams of fiber per serving, which really helps to fill you up, in addition to containing significant amounts of Vitamin K and Calcium. Oatmeal also has a very high Fiber content, weighing in at 5 grams per serving, with 7 grams of Protein per serving, in addition to being a large source of Iron. Raw coconut nectar, as far as sweeteners are concerned, are very low on the glycemic index, which has placed it as one of the lowest natural sweeteners on the market. It is extremely similar to agave without the distinctive flavor; the texture and taste are very similar to caramel.

Note: These bars can remain in your freezer for the remainder of their short life spans. If you plan to eat them on-the-go, wrap the sliced bars in saran wrap and throw it in your bag for a healthy and filling snack during the day.

I recently watched the Oscar award winning documentary, “The Cove,” which documents the slaughtering and shipment of beautiful bottle-nose dolphins in what’s referred to as, the cove, in Taiji, Japan. Richard O’Barry, the dolphin trainer for the once popular TV show, Flipper, demonstrates a massive amount of courage in his gripping documentation of the fate of these dolphins in Japan. Each year in Taiji, the Japanese “fishermen” slaughter 23,000 dolphins in one cove alone! These dolphins, which are extremely high in mercury (toxic levels) are either sold to places like SeaWorld to live in captivity for the remainder of their lives, or they’re slaughtered among their brothers and sisters and intentionally mislabeled as a high quality fish in the markets including being fed to children in the school lunch programs.

I often encounter people that choose to not eat “meat” which they categorize as coming from land animals; “The Cove,” presents a totally new perspective on our fishing industry and how healthy seafood actually is for humans due to the high mercury levels that fish consume through their food chain (which humans in turn consume). The FDA should require that the tender cuts of meat that we see nicely packaged in the store be required to have an attached DVD on fishing and farming practices throughout the world; because so much killing happens behind closed doors, we must spread the word and expose to the people around the world just what they are consuming and supporting when they choose to consume what was once living, breathing, playing, and loving.

Documentaries like, “The Cove,” are always a great reminder that we all share this planet and even though we are all from different countries, this Earth belongs to all of us. I highly recommend watching this documentary and supporting the dissemination of this critical information to all of the people you love and care about.

This documentary is available for rent on Netflix, and the website is available here: The Cove

Other important websites to visit are:

Save Japan Dolphins

Dolphin Slaughtering in Taiji (Ocean Preservation Society)

Contact Authorities, the Japanese Consulate, local dolphinariums, and SeaWorld

Thank you for being so caring!

This is my new favorite t-shirt. It says, “Animals are my friends.”

Sunflower Restaurant in Vienna, VA had an amazingly delicious vegan booth.

Grow your own mushrooms in 7 days! Love. Food for thought: What do you call a 12 inch mushroom? …A ‘fungi’ to be with!

Vegan dessert. My weakness! Good thing the line was outrageously long and I have no patience.

Admittedly so, I had to think for a while about where on earth my local firehouse was. With the help of this handy website, I found it in a snap: http://www.localfirehouse.com/departments

Join me in celebrating and remembering the lives our American heroes this Sunday.

God Bless America!

I recently was featured on the Madison Plus website as their new Fresh Face. I really am honored to be a part of a such a beautiful movement; where models can be themselves–happy and healthy. Madison Plus is based out of New York City and offers a common ground for the fashionable, modern, and average/plus-sized woman. I really appreciate website’s like Madison Plus because the site doesn’t define or label you by your size or shape, but rather offers a common ground for all women of all sizes.

http://madisonplus.com/mp-insider/mp-fresh-face-emily-nolan-nyc/

Another website/ blog I really love is www.plussizemodelsunite.com (PSMU). I have had the pleasure of becoming close friends with the website’s co-founder, Angela Jones, (who looks like a hybrid of Cindy Crawford and Martina McBride) and I refer to their site and Facebook page almost daily. I love to read their model’s interviews from around the world and see what they’re up to, as well as meet interesting people who believe in coming together and uniting as healthy individuals; PSMU is about defying all of the labels and definitions that the media has indicated that everyone should live by.

http://plussizemodelsunite.com/

This holiday, I’m grateful for many things, like the opportunity to live out my dream as a professional model, and stand-up for all the young women who aspire to do the same. Most of all, I’m grateful that a ‘home’ has been built for women, like myself, through wonderful people like the women at Madison Plus, Plus Size Models Unite, my agencies–Click +, Dorothy Combs, and The Campbell Agency– my beautiful fellow model friends (all of which have absolutely tormented my older brother and close guy friends), and my dear family who has supported me and allowed me to blossom as I am.

Straight or curvy...either way, embrace it and have fun sister!

As I was growing up, I listened to the Dixie Chicks religiously. To this day, I can sing every song they’ve ever released, and with each word, I can vividly remember the emotions, sense of empowerment, and the feeling that I’d get that, knowing that there were other women out there, that were going to be there, for me. For each other.

…Just like my modeling community and the wonderful people who have shaped my life and created so many opportunities for so many more beautiful women in the future.

“I’ve seen ‘em rise, and I’ve seen ‘em fall. Some get nothin’, and Lord some get it all. Some just run while others crawl away. So hold my hand baby don’t let go, I’ve got some front money and I’ve got a next show, and I’m gonna need you down this yellow brick road.” – Dixie Chicks

For all the women who choose to be you, all the women who have united to help create a healthier community and lifestyle, and for all of the young women who are full of hopes and dreams, we are here–I am here–to hold your hand as you walk down your yellow brick road. And what an exciting road that will be!

Happy holidays!!! And may your new year be full of much success and happiness! BIG hugs and kisses.

Warm holiday wishes,

xxEmily

Book review: ‘Unbearable Lightness’ by Portia de Rossi.

Another reason that I truly admire Ellen and Portia, is because they are hugely compassionate about sparing animals from our diets. Sure, you do not have to be a vegan to be healthy, but some people find it healing to practice compassion and advocate for an animal-free diet and lifestyle.  Ellen offers her tips on, “Why Go Vegan?”

Just for kicks–and laughs–I thought I’d include Ellen’s recent CoverGirl commercial where she jokingly asks, “Why do models always look so mad?” …Enjoy!

I was watching CBS WUSA Channel 9 News last night and saw a clip on the rise in popularity of “Laughter Clubs.” …after watching people laugh themselves to tears, I decided this is something that I must try!

Laughter truly is the best medicine! There’s nothing like a good belly-aching, tear jerking laugh that goes on for minutes. I have a girlfriend that makes me laugh so hard, that I always look forward to being around her…as a matter of fact, I think I’ll call her now!

Laughter and love! XoX

It is certainly an exhausting battle that much of the modeling industry is fighting now, advocating that healthy and happy models are what we want our children to grow up idolizing, and how we want our end consumers viewing our respected designer’s clothing lines (that would be us, the one’s standing in line at the store waiting to fork out a pretty penny for those size 10 and 12 dresses–whatever fits your curves). With the full support from the industry’s pioneers, happy and healthy models are on the cutting edge of defining what’s to come for–at least–the next ten years.

Growing up, my Grandma jokingly taught me that, “If you can’t look skinny, look rich.” …The bigger the jeans, the bigger the pockets!

Certainly top designers like Ralph Lauren, Oscar de la Renta, and Karl Lagerfeld have been in the good company of beautiful curvy woman like Emme, Rachel Ray, Raquel Welsh, Tyra Banks, Jennifer Hudson, Christina Hendricks, Oprah, Beyonce, and even Martha Stewart…and hello, most of their pocket books have topped Forbes’ lists year after year. If it were up to me, I’d use models that looked like those women. As a consumer, I interpret the advertisements that use real beautiful women in them as, “we’re healthy and happy women, and you can be too! We’re rich (however you want to define that), happy and healthy!” …and that message is definitely more certain than any fortune cookie.

(As a side, I opened a fortune cookie after dinner last night, and it revealed that, “You will have good luch.” ….oh boy…!)

The reality of it all is, people want to see curves. People want to see reality. Let’s give it to them.

So, I say, let’s all have our cake and eat it too!

Check out some of the beautiful woman who are pioneering this movement:

]]> http://mlestyle.com/haute-and-healthy-women/feed/ 5 http://mlestyle.com/wilhelmina-curves-for-change/ http://mlestyle.com/wilhelmina-curves-for-change/#comments Thu, 14 Oct 2010 20:17:26 +0000 MLEstyle http://mlestyle.com/?p=564 Read the Rest...]]> I was so excited when I found out about Wilhelmina’s “Curves for Change” initiative! Curves for Change is bringing attention to the modeling industry’s bad reputation for using models that are dangerously thin, and promoting the new push for healthy-sized women in the industry. Truly fantastic!

I looked at my schedule to see if I’d be able to make it to the 5k run/walk in NYC this November 20, and it looks like I’m free! Well, not anymore; I’ll be signing up for my first 5k ever!

For the most part, I do my running on a treadmill, but on November 20th, you’ll catch me running outside, in honor of every healthy woman out there! What a beautiful thing!

XoX, Emily