Bruins For the Future

Before completing this challenge, I thought that 'use by' and 'best by' dates were hard deadlines on when a food would stop being edible. After doing some research, I found out that neither of these dates is actually a safety deadline, rather, they indicate when the food is at its peak texture, quality and taste. Learning about what these dates...

The past couple weeks have had me going out of my way to recycle as much as I can, making a personal vow to the sustainability cause. I looked up what qualifies to go in the recycling bin and made sure my roomates and I were fully on board with only putting recyclable items in the bin. I started by making separate bins in my apartment to...

I feel that environmental quality positively influences my sense of community because it makes me feel that my community is working to improve the climate and that a greater change can be achieved. Through researching farms and produce that is grown organically in my area I have found a network of support, education, and resources concerning...

I noticed that while I was eating mindfully I could be more conscious of the food I was consuming and how full I felt. Usually when I eat a meal by myself I will watch a show or scroll through social media while eating. While I assumed that using screens while eating was probably not good for my health, I didn’t realize it includes all types of...

I found a women owned bakery and bagel shop last Summer and have since consistently returned and supported this business. I began going because it was all gluten free, but my family has always believed in supporting small businesses, especially those owned by women and people of color. Supporting such businesses are important to me because...

During my research on waste I decided to contribute to cleaning the beach in Santa Monica where many trash was found such as plastic, styrofoam, and even sanitary products. It was a nice way to spend time with friends and it made me realize that many people are willing to help our planet since there was a huge crowd waiting to help along with...

I have always aimed to take at least a few daily walks each week. Starting this challenge, I aimed to be more intentional with my walks and observant of my surroundings. I have noticed things like the temperature, the sounds of birds chirping, and different smells as I pass different restaurants in Westwood. I have enjoyed these walks as they...

Throughout the week, I tried to reduce the amount of meat I consume and implement other alternatives. For instance, I tried to incorporate more tofu, nuts, beans, and additional fruits and vegetables. I found this switch to be great as I diversified the meals I typically ate and focused on types of food I liked. Additionally, I was able to...

For this Eco Challenge, I committed to starting a compost bin at home. I decided to use just an old food container to use for composting. I began by collecting kitchen scraps like fruit peels, coffee grounds, and vegetable remains. The process was surprisingly straightforward, I just had to remember to put them in my little composting bin...

For this Eco Challenge, I set aside 180 minutes to explore and appreciate a natural area near my home. I chose to visit a hiking trail that is very close to my house. While I had been there many times, I wanted to go again and experience it without any distractions. I made sure to not bring my headphones and made sure to walk and appreciate my...