Adalyss Solorzano is participating in the Drawdown Ecochallenge 2026!

Ecochallenge.org

Drawdown Ecochallenge 2026

Adalyss's points

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
507 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

38

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

581

minutes

being mindful
UP TO

707

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

55

minutes

spent learning

Adalyss's actions

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Food Waste

Reduced Food Waste

I will keep a daily log of food I throw away during Drawdown Ecochallenge, either because it went bad before I ate it, I put too much on my plate, or it was scraps from food preparation, and commit to reducing my food waste throughout the challenge.

COMPLETED 13
DAILY ACTIONS

Buildings

Research Heat Pumps

High-Efficiency Heat Pumps

I will spend at least 25 minutes researching heat pumps to see if installing one makes sense for my home/building.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Eat Mindfully

Reduced Food Waste

I will eat all of my meals without distractions, e.g., phone, computer, TV, or newspaper.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 25 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Smaller Portions

Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Reduce Animal Products

Plant-Rich Diets

I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meals each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Transportation

Go for a Daily Walk

Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 20
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

REFLECTION QUESTION
Buildings

Why is taking action on climate change important to you? Why do you care?
Adalyss Solorzano 3/26/2026 1:47 PM

Taking action on climate change is essential, especially as global warming occurs at an unnatural pace that could lead to natural disasters. It is vital to act now to prevent these disasters from destroying our wildlife, sea creatures, and agriculture. I believe every human being on this Earth deserves to go outside without the fear of getting sick while walking around or taking their children to the park. We deserve to breathe fresh, clean air. Our planet is a gift that we must take responsibility for; therefore, our voices need to be heard. By taking action, we can restore our green planet, clean our air, and prevent our homes from being destroyed.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?
Adalyss Solorzano 3/26/2026 1:42 PM

Rather than throwing things away based solely on a date, we should verify if they are actually expired. Some items have a date listed but are still perfectly good. It’s important to check expiration dates so you can use products before they expire, rather than letting time pass and tossing them because they are 'past due.' With makeup specifically, it is essential to use products within the recommended months; you don't want to take risks with things used on your face. Additionally, only open a product if you are actually ready to use it. Understanding the difference between 'use by,' 'sell by,' and 'best by' is crucial they all mean different things and will help you make better decisions instead of just letting items expire on the shelf.

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Adalyss Solorzano 3/26/2026 1:33 PM

It's going really well! I have learned so much, especially about smaller portions. Now, I only take what I know I will eat rather than over-serving myself and leaving food on the plate. I’ve learned that portioning not only helps your health, but it's also a necessity to avoid leftovers. I’ve even started telling my parents about this and taught them to save leftovers so someone else can eat them later. For example, this morning my sister didn't eat her breakfast, so I ate it myself before school. It saved me time and prevented food waste!

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Why do people in richer countries eat more meat than people in other places? How does eating more meat affect our bodies, our planet, and other people?
Adalyss Solorzano 3/26/2026 1:27 PM

People in wealthier countries eat more meat than those in other regions because it is expensive and they have the means to afford it. Consuming excessive meat affects not only the environment through greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation but also our bodies, leading to health issues like heart disease, stroke, and high cholesterol. For those with limited income, meat is often a luxury they must limit since it tends to be expensive most of the time.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

While dishing food out, we tend to load our plates with more than we need. Using smaller plates helps to mitigate this. Aside from the environmental benefits, what other benefits might come from eating/serving smaller portions?
Adalyss Solorzano 3/26/2026 1:21 PM

Yes, there are other benefits to eating smaller portions, such as improving our physical health. It is important to eat smaller portions throughout the day to maintain a balanced diet, rather than eating large, unmeasured portions that can lead to diabetes or other health issues.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

An average American throws out about 240 lbs of food per year. The average family of four spends $1,500 a year on food that they throw out. Where would you rather use this money?
Adalyss Solorzano 3/26/2026 1:19 PM

I would rather give to charities or donate that money to those who have nothing to eat, rather than wasting it on food I know will be thrown away. That waste is preventable. I’d prefer to give away leftovers or make a meal with leftovers that benefits someone. I would also rather save that money for a future emergency or for buying necessities.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use

Mindful eating is healthier for us than eating with distractions. How does your eating experience differ when practicing mindfulness?
Adalyss Solorzano 3/26/2026 1:07 PM

It really does differ. Not only am I enjoying my food, but I'm also listening to the conversation with my family. This is unlike when I use my phone; then, I don't really pay attention to those around me and I eat my food too fast. Sometimes you don't even notice what you’re actually eating because being distracted by a device makes you lose your train of thought.

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Adalyss Solorzano 3/17/2026 12:17 PM

Rather than wasting my food, I actually left it on the table before leaving for school so my mom could eat rather than just assuming she won't want it and throwing it away.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Transportation

What have you noticed on your daily walks? What have you enjoyed? What infrastructure changes could make your walks more enjoyable or possible?
Adalyss Solorzano 3/17/2026 12:13 PM

I have noticed beautiful butterflies, trees, and birds while on my walks, which brings me peace. This motivates me to make a change for the environment; I wouldn't want the trees to be destroyed or creatures to be affected by natural disasters that could be prevented. I know this is off-topic, but when I went to Lake Tahoe a year ago, I saw how many trees were burnt down due to a massive fire. It not only destroyed the pine trees, but also many animals died, which affected the population. Do we really want our Earth to look destroyed, without living creatures or plants? Walking is truly a time of reflection.

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Adalyss Solorzano 3/15/2026 6:18 PM

I did not get to do my 30-minute walk goal due to the heat outside. I tried walking to the mail box that's around the corner, but I just went straight back home after; it was way too hot. I instead did some activities with my sisters and just cleaned around the house, making sure to wash before 3 pm.

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