Get ready for some good eats in this issue of Green Living. I love to cook at home, but when it’s 110 degrees outside, the last thing I want to do is crank up the oven and stress our aging AC. For someone who doesn’t dine out much, the seemingly endless restaurant options can be a bit overwhelming. Where does a cook-at-home gal go to satisfy her taste buds? Our writers set out to solve this dilemma—searching for restaurants that offer healthy eating options throughout the state.They discovered an array of options from comfort food to exotic dishes. They even found a place that exemplifies locally sourced—a Native American spot that harvests cholla buds and other indigenous ingredients right from the desert. So if your heat meter is telling you to get out of the kitchen, try one of the restaurants we have featured in the following pages.
For those of you who prefer to stay indoors, we have a cool culinary solution. Chef Sara has shared some raw vegan recipes that are sure to satisfy. For dessert, the Burkharts have evaluated frozen treats for you in their He’s Green She’s Green column.
The theme of staying cool continues with ideas for indoor entertainment at some of the state’s many museums. Whether you are intrigued by the Sonoran desert or space travel, fossils or fine art, you are sure to find a location that suits your interests.
If you are considering local travel this summer, we have featured Tucson in our eco-travel piece. Those who live in Tucson may recognize a local bicycle business we focused on in our work section. The shop serves as a hub for bicycle maintenance, education and art. We also celebrate a church in the Valley that has become the first in Arizona to receive special designation for its dedication to sustainability.
Trends explored in this issue include the shifts in solar energy and in rating the energy efficiency of your home. We also have more green home products for you to try, and our Cool and Outrageous Stuff continues to be just that.
This month our nation celebrates its independence. We hope that some of our stories will inspire you to find your own independence (from things like processed foods and high energy bills) and encourage you to make choices that contribute to a healthy lifestyle and healthy planet. Happy Independence Day!
Cheryl Hurd
Editor-in-Chief
