greetings everyone I’m so honored to be here to speak with you tonight I am from
here to speak with you tonight I am from
here to speak with you tonight I am from right around here Denver Colorado
right around here Denver Colorado
right around here Denver Colorado born and raised I’m a Denver native and
born and raised I’m a Denver native and
born and raised I’m a Denver native and in recent years I’ve learned that I’m a
in recent years I’ve learned that I’m a
in recent years I’ve learned that I’m a double native because I am also native
double native because I am also native
double native because I am also native to one of Denver’s Northeast and her
to one of Denver’s Northeast and her
to one of Denver’s Northeast and her food deserts now for those of you that
food deserts now for those of you that
food deserts now for those of you that don’t know what a food desert is a food
don’t know what a food desert is a food
don’t know what a food desert is a food desert is a neighborhood where residents
desert is a neighborhood where residents
desert is a neighborhood where residents have to travel more than a mile to get
have to travel more than a mile to get
have to travel more than a mile to get to a food source I feel like that’s
to a food source I feel like that’s
to a food source I feel like that’s pretty ridiculous and then most of the
pretty ridiculous and then most of the
pretty ridiculous and then most of the food that is accessed within a food
food that is accessed within a food
food that is accessed within a food desert neighborhood is below par my
desert neighborhood is below par my
desert neighborhood is below par my relationship with food is extensive and
relationship with food is extensive and
relationship with food is extensive and intentional in fact that coupled with my
intentional in fact that coupled with my
intentional in fact that coupled with my passion for food has propelled me in a
passion for food has propelled me in a
passion for food has propelled me in a lot of capacities from educator to
lot of capacities from educator to
lot of capacities from educator to consultant urban farmer and chef and I
consultant urban farmer and chef and I
consultant urban farmer and chef and I would say the most significant thing in
would say the most significant thing in
would say the most significant thing in my food history happened about 25 years
my food history happened about 25 years
my food history happened about 25 years ago when at that time my daughter Blair
ago when at that time my daughter Blair
ago when at that time my daughter Blair was one years old she’s 26 now on her
was one years old she’s 26 now on her
was one years old she’s 26 now on her first birthday I had given her her first
first birthday I had given her her first
first birthday I had given her her first cup of whole milk and literally moments
cup of whole milk and literally moments
cup of whole milk and literally moments later she had the most horrible violent
later she had the most horrible violent
later she had the most horrible violent reaction I’ve ever seen
reaction I’ve ever seen
reaction I’ve ever seen mucus was streaming from her nose and
mucus was streaming from her nose and
mucus was streaming from her nose and mouth uncontrolled
mouth uncontrolled
mouth uncontrolled lovely she was developing hives she was
lovely she was developing hives she was
lovely she was developing hives she was thrashing around and developing
thrashing around and developing
thrashing around and developing breathing problems and at this time we
breathing problems and at this time we
breathing problems and at this time we lived in the in the Whittier
lived in the in the Whittier
lived in the in the Whittier neighborhood and Children’s Hospital was
neighborhood and Children’s Hospital was
neighborhood and Children’s Hospital was in the neighborhood on Downing Street so
in the neighborhood on Downing Street so
in the neighborhood on Downing Street so we rushed over there got her stabilized
we rushed over there got her stabilized
we rushed over there got her stabilized and then later I learned that this is
and then later I learned that this is
and then later I learned that this is not your typical food allergy she’s not
not your typical food allergy she’s not
not your typical food allergy she’s not lactose intolerant she’s allergic to the
lactose intolerant she’s allergic to the
lactose intolerant she’s allergic to the protein in milk and eggs and in fact if
protein in milk and eggs and in fact if
protein in milk and eggs and in fact if she eats that in any farm even as an
she eats that in any farm even as an
she eats that in any farm even as an ingredient it’s life-threatening
ingredient it’s life-threatening
ingredient it’s life-threatening well that shocking revelation really
well that shocking revelation really
well that shocking revelation really upset my whole food world especially at
upset my whole food world especially at
upset my whole food world especially at home and so the way we thought about
home and so the way we thought about
home and so the way we thought about snacks and and food and what we were
snacks and and food and what we were
snacks and and food and what we were eating how they repair being prepared
eating how they repair being prepared
eating how they repair being prepared all of that had changed I learned about
all of that had changed I learned about
all of that had changed I learned about veganism and started preparing her foods
veganism and started preparing her foods
veganism and started preparing her foods that way all her meals and snacks but
that way all her meals and snacks but
that way all her meals and snacks but then I had this habit I had to read
then I had this habit I had to read
then I had this habit I had to read every single label of every food item we
every single label of every food item we
every single label of every food item we would buy and in the course of that
would buy and in the course of that
would buy and in the course of that exercise that led me to the practice of
exercise that led me to the practice of
exercise that led me to the practice of just not even buying processed foods I
just not even buying processed foods I
just not even buying processed foods I couldn’t believe how many foods have
couldn’t believe how many foods have
couldn’t believe how many foods have forms of milk and egg in them plus
forms of milk and egg in them plus
forms of milk and egg in them plus things that are foreign to us the
things that are foreign to us the
things that are foreign to us the problem that I’m seeing a lot today is
problem that I’m seeing a lot today is
problem that I’m seeing a lot today is that people are disconnected from what
that people are disconnected from what
that people are disconnected from what real food is they don’t know how to
real food is they don’t know how to
real food is they don’t know how to prepare it they don’t even know what the
prepare it they don’t even know what the
prepare it they don’t even know what the benefits of real food are to your body
benefits of real food are to your body
benefits of real food are to your body there’s even the disconnection of where
there’s even the disconnection of where
there’s even the disconnection of where or how to even buy these kinds of foods
or how to even buy these kinds of foods
or how to even buy these kinds of foods and this this disconnection that we have
and this this disconnection that we have
and this this disconnection that we have to real food it is facilitated on a day
to real food it is facilitated on a day
to real food it is facilitated on a day daily basis if we are watching TV if
daily basis if we are watching TV if
daily basis if we are watching TV if we’re listening to the radio if we pick
we’re listening to the radio if we pick
we’re listening to the radio if we pick up something in print if we notice a
up something in print if we notice a
up something in print if we notice a billboard tooling around town while
billboard tooling around town while
billboard tooling around town while we’re in the grocery stores their
we’re in the grocery stores their
we’re in the grocery stores their strategic propaganda in the grocery
strategic propaganda in the grocery
strategic propaganda in the grocery stores that influence our buying habits
stores that influence our buying habits
stores that influence our buying habits you know fast food and convenience food
you know fast food and convenience food
you know fast food and convenience food is more prevalent than a grocery store
is more prevalent than a grocery store
is more prevalent than a grocery store or a healthy food option and that not to
or a healthy food option and that not to
or a healthy food option and that not to mention the constant messaging that
mention the constant messaging that
mention the constant messaging that we’re bombarded with day in and day out
we’re bombarded with day in and day out
we’re bombarded with day in and day out you know consuming these unnatural foods
you know consuming these unnatural foods
you know consuming these unnatural foods and Edie and snacks and then when we
and Edie and snacks and then when we
and Edie and snacks and then when we read labels and we we pass over items
read labels and we we pass over items
read labels and we we pass over items that we can’t pronounce and we just kind
that we can’t pronounce and we just kind
that we can’t pronounce and we just kind of forget about that those foods
of forget about that those foods
of forget about that those foods accumulate they’re stored in our body
accumulate they’re stored in our body
accumulate they’re stored in our body they don’t go away because it’s foreign
they don’t go away because it’s foreign
they don’t go away because it’s foreign to our body so our body just stores it
to our body so our body just stores it
to our body so our body just stores it it becomes love handles or extra fat but
it becomes love handles or extra fat but
it becomes love handles or extra fat but it also turns into gunk that’s stored in
it also turns into gunk that’s stored in
it also turns into gunk that’s stored in our bodies and then this gunk creates
our bodies and then this gunk creates
our bodies and then this gunk creates the perfect foundation for disease
the perfect foundation for disease
the perfect foundation for disease overconsumption Asst of these foods
overconsumption Asst of these foods
overconsumption Asst of these foods happens a lot in food desert communities
happens a lot in food desert communities
happens a lot in food desert communities and so therefore the top four health
and so therefore the top four health
and so therefore the top four health disparities in these neighborhoods are
disparities in these neighborhoods are
disparities in these neighborhoods are cancer diabetes obesity and
cancer diabetes obesity and
cancer diabetes obesity and cardiovascular problems as a food desert
cardiovascular problems as a food desert
cardiovascular problems as a food desert resident I decided I wanted to be a part
resident I decided I wanted to be a part
resident I decided I wanted to be a part of the solution for my neighborhood and
of the solution for my neighborhood and
of the solution for my neighborhood and so six years ago I created a small
so six years ago I created a small
so six years ago I created a small traveling farmers market called mo
traveling farmers market called mo
traveling farmers market called mo bettah green marketplace and I began in
bettah green marketplace and I began in
bettah green marketplace and I began in the Five Points neighborhood and
the Five Points neighborhood and
the Five Points neighborhood and currently I service many food desert
currently I service many food desert
currently I service many food desert neighborhoods throughout northeast
neighborhoods throughout northeast
neighborhoods throughout northeast Denver
Denver
Denver looking at the work that I’ve done over
looking at the work that I’ve done over
looking at the work that I’ve done over the past six years and meeting so many
the past six years and meeting so many
the past six years and meeting so many people and talking about food and their
people and talking about food and their
people and talking about food and their diet and their goals what I’m realizing
diet and their goals what I’m realizing
diet and their goals what I’m realizing is that if people could be connected to
is that if people could be connected to
is that if people could be connected to more real food a lot of their health
more real food a lot of their health
more real food a lot of their health would change a lot of their health would
would change a lot of their health would
would change a lot of their health would change so the goal of my farmers market
change so the goal of my farmers market
change so the goal of my farmers market is to connect every single visitor to
is to connect every single visitor to
is to connect every single visitor to what I call Integris food now I know
what I call Integris food now I know
what I call Integris food now I know you’re like what the heck is Integris
you’re like what the heck is Integris
you’re like what the heck is Integris food well it’s food with a traceable
food well it’s food with a traceable
food well it’s food with a traceable origin it’s food that’s organic it’s
origin it’s food that’s organic it’s
origin it’s food that’s organic it’s local it didn’t travel hundreds or
local it didn’t travel hundreds or
local it didn’t travel hundreds or thousands of miles to get to the market
thousands of miles to get to the market
thousands of miles to get to the market and most importantly it’s delicious so
and most importantly it’s delicious so
and most importantly it’s delicious so now you can all say you’ve been told and
now you can all say you’ve been told and
now you can all say you’ve been told and it’s up to you to decide what kinds of
it’s up to you to decide what kinds of
it’s up to you to decide what kinds of foods do you want to be consuming and as
foods do you want to be consuming and as
foods do you want to be consuming and as I say connection to real foods is key to
I say connection to real foods is key to
I say connection to real foods is key to the quality of life that we are living
the quality of life that we are living
the quality of life that we are living because if we have if we if our health
because if we have if we if our health
because if we have if we if our health is broken everything that we think we’re
is broken everything that we think we’re
is broken everything that we think we’re doing and everything we wish to do has
doing and everything we wish to do has
doing and everything we wish to do has come to an abrupt stop moving forward I
come to an abrupt stop moving forward I
come to an abrupt stop moving forward I want you all to question everything
want you all to question everything
want you all to question everything that’s going in your mouth do you know
that’s going in your mouth do you know
that’s going in your mouth do you know where it came from
where it came from
where it came from do you know what’s in this food because
do you know what’s in this food because
do you know what’s in this food because something you need to think about you
something you need to think about you
something you need to think about you have control of how you feel and it
have control of how you feel and it
have control of how you feel and it begins by what you’re putting in your
begins by what you’re putting in your
begins by what you’re putting in your mouth and if you know the origins of
mouth and if you know the origins of
mouth and if you know the origins of your snacks if you know the ingredients
your snacks if you know the ingredients
your snacks if you know the ingredients snacks this is important our bodies are
snacks this is important our bodies are
snacks this is important our bodies are precious our bodies are the only thing
precious our bodies are the only thing
precious our bodies are the only thing we have to help us fulfill our missions
we have to help us fulfill our missions
we have to help us fulfill our missions to live our dreams to do our things
think about this
think about this you deserve the best so eat integra
you deserve the best so eat integra
you deserve the best so eat integra sleep take a step back get back to the
sleep take a step back get back to the
sleep take a step back get back to the basic
take a step back get back
take a step back get back is the basis
is the basis
is the basis take a step back get back to the base
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] something else I want you all to think
something else I want you all to think
something else I want you all to think about this word healthy is divided is is
about this word healthy is divided is is
about this word healthy is divided is is defined on an individual basis and it’s
defined on an individual basis and it’s
defined on an individual basis and it’s defined by how we live our lives day to
defined by how we live our lives day to
defined by how we live our lives day to day how are we managing our stress how
day how are we managing our stress how
day how are we managing our stress how much multitasking are we doing how much
much multitasking are we doing how much
much multitasking are we doing how much time are we taking to rest and regroup
time are we taking to rest and regroup
time are we taking to rest and regroup ourselves and of course what are we
ourselves and of course what are we
ourselves and of course what are we eating because if we feel that we don’t
eating because if we feel that we don’t
eating because if we feel that we don’t have time to eat you know then we’re
have time to eat you know then we’re
have time to eat you know then we’re creating opportunity for disease and so
creating opportunity for disease and so
creating opportunity for disease and so remember that every sip every bite that
remember that every sip every bite that
remember that every sip every bite that you consume throughout your day is
you consume throughout your day is
you consume throughout your day is either doing something to you or
either doing something to you or
either doing something to you or something for you and truly you have the
something for you and truly you have the
something for you and truly you have the power to make that decision also I think
power to make that decision also I think
power to make that decision also I think about my journey with food and it began
about my journey with food and it began
about my journey with food and it began with loving and caring for my daughter
with loving and caring for my daughter
with loving and caring for my daughter and I and having to be intentional with
and I and having to be intentional with
and I and having to be intentional with her diet then that scaffold it into my
her diet then that scaffold it into my
her diet then that scaffold it into my personal habits of being an intentional
personal habits of being an intentional
personal habits of being an intentional eater and then tonight I came here
eater and then tonight I came here
eater and then tonight I came here because I can’t miss an opportunity to
because I can’t miss an opportunity to
because I can’t miss an opportunity to share with anyone that’s willing to
share with anyone that’s willing to
share with anyone that’s willing to listen
listen
listen the importance of what you’re eating
the importance of what you’re eating
the importance of what you’re eating that small thing we do each day it’s
that small thing we do each day it’s
that small thing we do each day it’s important and so I’m here out of love
important and so I’m here out of love
important and so I’m here out of love for Denver out of love for a community
for Denver out of love for a community
for Denver out of love for a community out of love for food and sharing
out of love for food and sharing
out of love for food and sharing information and it is my hope that from
information and it is my hope that from
information and it is my hope that from this moment on you’ll never think the
this moment on you’ll never think the
this moment on you’ll never think the same about what you’re eating what
same about what you’re eating what
same about what you’re eating what you’re drinking what you’re buying and
you’re drinking what you’re buying and
you’re drinking what you’re buying and that you’ll pay more attention to how
that you’ll pay more attention to how
that you’ll pay more attention to how you feel your body has information
you feel your body has information
you feel your body has information for you your body tells you I feel great
for you your body tells you I feel great
for you your body tells you I feel great I’m a little sluggish I need a break
I’m a little sluggish I need a break
I’m a little sluggish I need a break and we’ve got to develop that listening
and we’ve got to develop that listening
and we’ve got to develop that listening ear so that we’re in tune with our body
ear so that we’re in tune with our body
ear so that we’re in tune with our body and it literally begins in easy steps of
and it literally begins in easy steps of
and it literally begins in easy steps of what we’re eating what we’re drinking
what we’re eating what we’re drinking
what we’re eating what we’re drinking each day and I like to thank you all for
each day and I like to thank you all for
each day and I like to thank you all for listening and remember throughout your
listening and remember throughout your
listening and remember throughout your day think about what you’re eating
”
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