Talking Super Food Sustenance With Essential Living Foods (VIDEO)

I took a quick break from my liveblogging to interview Kip Stroden and Amrit Khalsa of Essential Living Foods (which oh-so-adorably acronyms into ELF. And yes, I just used "acronym" as a verb.) ELF (as I will continue to call it for the remainder of this post) is what Kipp likes to call a "Super Food Company" -- super foods being any foods that are full of antioxidants or high in nutritional content. [In other words: super foods are foods that I am probably not eating. And also, in case you're wondering (because I was), an antioxidant is - in layman's and/or Kipp's terms - "something that prevents oxidation of the body." And oxidation is BAD.] Anyway, Kipp, Amrit, and ELF were gracious enough to donate their time, effort, and sustainable sustenance to keep all those working in and passing through the Oasis well-fed and feeling good.

They were also gracious enough to let us film them at work and while interviewing, so I'll start you off with that.

And here's more of what Kip and Amrit had to say...

So, how did you get your healthy eating start? Or have you just always been this way?

Kipp: I've been eating healthy most of my life. My mom went macrobiotic when I was 12 and began feeding us macrobiotic food. And my mother is such an exceptional chef that everything tasted so good. My sister and I just immediately felt better - we both lost weight and felt energized - so we were quick converts. And I've been eating health food, mostly organic food ever since then!

Amrit: I became a vegetarian in college - mostly due to health reasons - but for environmental and ethical ones as well. I got into yoga and the practice and then became a yoga teacher. After graduate school [Ed Note: Where he got a PhD in aeronautical engineering. What?!] - I got interested in business and so I went to work for Golden Temple - the yogi tea and cereal brand. So, that's how I got into the natural foods arena,and then a year ago I came to Essential Liiving Foods.

Do you ever take a break from your healthy lifestyle?

Kipp: Absolutely! I eat unhealthy food from time to time. Like, if I eat a slice of pizza, I'll eat a huge salad with it. It's all about taking things step by step and not being an extremist. Eat as much fresh foods and super foods as you can in the day, and then it's not so bad when you stray a bit.

What's your go-to bad food?

Kipp: Pizza - I'm from New York City so pizza is in my DNA. And chocolate chip cookies. But that's only a couple times a year.

Do you have any advice for people who want to eat healthy but are concerned about budget?

Amrit: I think that when people look at the price of fruits and vegetables - they're saying, "Apples per pound cost this," but they're thinking of it in addition to all the processed stuff they're buying. So of course that seems like extra money. But macaroni and cheese and all those cheap processed foods are actually going to end up costing you more per nutritional serving.

So, get rid of the processed food and replace some of those bad things with good things.

Kipp: The least expensive way to eat is to buy fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, bulk grains - buy a 25lb of rice, and beans. And always, if you can, shop at a farmer's market.

A great, cheap lunch would be fresh salad with raw vegetables - think dark greens, avocado, carrots, onions. Then squeeze fresh lemon juice on it, drizzle some olive oil. And then I'd have some basmati rice on the side with some dhal - which is a lentil stew.

You guys travel all over the world to find these "Super Foods" - what's the coolest trip you've taken, and why?

Kipp: Well for me, it was a recent trip to make a presentation to the Achuar people, an indigenous tribe that lives in the Amazon on the border of Equador and Peru. It took almost 3 and a half days of travel from La to get to this village, called Washintsa. They don't speak English or Spanish, they live in thatch huts - the men wear these awesome feather head-dresses.

Essential Living Foods imports forest-grown wild peanuts from the Achuar. We sell those raw and they're free of aflotoxins and fungus and molds - and those are the things that make people allergic to peanuts.

We buy directly from the Achuar and in that way we're supporting their community. The money goes directly to them. The food goes directly from the forest to the shelves. There is no middle man.

We pay them in cash which it allows them to have non-destructive employment that still brings some income into their tribe. And that's important because they need cash for their school and their teachers, because education is the most important, and then a bit for fuel and ammunition for hunting.

What's the most important thing you'd want readers to know about ELF?

Kipp: People should know that eating organic and vegetarian is one of the biggest contributions they can make towards healing the planet. And even if its just reducing the amount of animal products you eat - that helps reduce global warming. And, of course, to remind people that you are what you eat.

Amrit: I want people to be healthy physically from eating our foods, but I also want to have a healthy business. I like the fact that we're sustainable - that's important and central to our mission, but also in in a business-sense. I want to have a company that will survive and progress and grow and set an example. Business is a vehicle for social change. Businesses need to be a part of the solution - capitalism and economics not just need to but can help solve the world's problems.

Comments

[Jabbadaslut]

that guy kinda looks like one of the bad guys from an Indiana Jones movie....COOL!!!

[1sunnyday]

It's interesting to note that pizza gets such a bad rap.
I've been thinking of following a low carb diet. Although the guys from ELF seem to be promoting a vegetarian plan, their carbs certainly do seem to be of the health-building variety. In my research into this subject, I've come across a site where experts debate numerous subjects of interest - not only diet.
The topic which caught my attention is: "Are Low Carb Diets Healthy?". Each expert seems to be saying that the quality of the foods eaten is more important than the category. However, what really caught my attention is the fact that one of the experts mentions that that In a global sense, the adoption of sustained low carbohydrate diets which come primarily from animal foods create significant challenges for the planet and also other health issues for humans such as antibiotic resistance.” I'n wondering what he means by that. Does anybody have any ideas? http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/are-low-carb-diets-healthy

[aristippe]

Some have criticized the inefficient use of feed, water, and land to raise livestock. The nutritional value is a net loss and causes environmental damage. According to the USDA, growing crops for farm animals requires nearly half of the U.S. water supply and 80% of its agricultural land. Animals raised for food in the U.S. consume 90% of the soy crop, 80% of the corn crop, and 70% of its grain. [8]. In tracking food animal production from the feed through to the dinner table, the inefficiencies of meat, milk and egg production range from a 4:1 energy input to protein output ratio up to 54:1. [9]

The residue of Antibiotics and steroids used to protect livestock from disease are believed by some to carry over into humans who consume a lot of meat.

http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/1/28

[aristippe]

Some have criticized the inefficient use of feed, water, and land to raise livestock. The nutritional value is a net loss and causes environmental damage. According to the USDA, growing crops for farm animals requires nearly half of the U.S. water supply and 80% of its agricultural land. Animals raised for food in the U.S. consume 90% of the soy crop, 80% of the corn crop, and 70% of its grain. [8]. In tracking food animal production from the feed through to the dinner table, the inefficiencies of meat, milk and egg production range from a 4:1 energy input to protein output ratio up to 54:1. [9]

The residue of Antibiotics and steroids used to protect livestock from disease are believed by some to carry over into humans who consume a lot of meat.

http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/1/28

[PatA]

I cannot believe that they say that pizza isn't a "good" food. I am with the poster above who also makes it healthy. Nothing like fresh slices of tomatoes with a basil leaf under each one, fresh mozzarella, onions, bell peppers, garlic and fresh homemade dough. And I have an organic beer with it. :-)

[Susej]

Pizza often gets a bad rap, mostly from the fast food industry.
Anyone can make a delicious and healthy pizza at home:
All you need is whole grain dough, fresh tomatoes, herbs, low fat cheese in moderation. Of course you can add other kinds of vegetables or seafood.
I like mine with tuna, artichokes, kalamata olives, fresh diced peeled organic tomatoes, thin slices of low fat cheese and some fresh herbs. A little drizzle of olive oil before eating gives the pizza a little healthy dose of fat. Tuna or anchovies can be added after cooking to avoid burning or drying.

[johnnygoodwud]

every morning i start the day with a giant fresh smoothie. blueberries, bannana, yogurt, pineapple, mango, peaches, and cranberry juice. i feel great. on those rare occassions when i have a sweet roll instead, i feel not so great. you are what you eat.

[Triangle1]

I hate to tell the writers, but "super foods" aren't super. They're just regular foods the way they were intended to be eaten - raw, unprocessed and uncooked. Cooked foods lose 80% of their nutritional value. The reason for rampant obesity, diabetes, cancer and a thousand other ailments has to do with the fact people eat "dead food." The food you eat should be alive on a cellular level, like fresh fruits and vegetables, to get the full benefit. Instead of medicating the masses because they have an unhealthy diet, the masses should eat REAL food. http://mespace.wordpress.com

[WilliePilgrim]

it would be pertinent to note that there ARE diets that when followed in an exacting fashion can guarantee humans will live to be 150 years old...and if not, it will sure feel like it.
Fortunately for Italians we've evolved and have been naturally selected to thrive on pizza. Now that's an intelligent design!