How To: Earth Day For Food Lovers
According to the Earth Day Network's website, there are currently over 95 million "Acts of Green" registered with the network for this year's Earth Day, April 22. Across the U.S., organizations of all shapes and sizes are putting on events to celebrate the planet from hikes to donation pledges and from community gardens to classical music concerts. But some of the most fun ways to celebrate Earth Day, in our opinion, happen to revolve around food.
On a grand scale, Starbucks is offering a free cup of coffee all day on April 22 if you bring in your own reusable mug.
The addictive (and delicious) Magnolia Bakery (in NYC and LA) will host their one-day "eat a sweet,
(Photo courtesy of Flickr/Muy Yum)
Chicago's Prasino restaurant is celebrating all week by offering 10% off your bill for bringing in recyclables and serving a Tree-tini with VeeV Açai Spirit, fresh agave, club soda, white cranberry juice, lime, and mint. (It's also an easy cocktail to replicate at home for your own Earth Day celebrations.) For every Tree-tini sold, prasino will plant a tree in the Indian rain forest.
VeeV's Tree-tinis will be available at a number of bars and restaurants across the country, from Arizona to Florida and from Michigan to Texas. Click here for a full list of Tree-tini purveyors.
Picnic for the Planet is a national organization that helps everyone "take the planet out to lunch." They get picnic recipes from chefs from across the country and help people organize picnics of their
Pike Place Market for a special picnic that you can order ahead of time from some of the city's best cafés. Join a pre-planned picnic or register one of your own. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/Carl Wainwright)
Of course, the easiest way you can be green and celebrate food this Earth Day is to make sure you're dedicated to eating locally sourced food. You could also celebrate April 22nd by starting a garden at home with herbs and vegetables you already like to cook with. If you don't have a green thumb, visit one of America's greenest restaurants this weekend instead.