HIMAJA VENDIDANDI
"I hope to make small changes to my daily life that both create less waste but potentially also make my life more sustainable in all aspects of life. "
POINTS TOTAL
- 0 TODAY
- 0 THIS WEEK
- 246 TOTAL
participant impact
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UP TO130minutesspent exercising
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UP TO31milesnot traveled by car
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UP TO12meatless or vegan mealsconsumed
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UP TO38pounds of CO2have been saved
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UP TO20more servingsof fruits and vegetables
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UP TO31milestraveled by bus
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UP TO10zero-waste mealsconsumed
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UP TO3.0lightbulbsreplaced
HIMAJA's actions
Electricity
Choose Renewable Energy or Purchase Renewable Energy Credits
Onshore Wind Turbines, Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaics
I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option. If my utility does not offer one, I will purchase Renewable Energy Credits to match my usage.
Electricity
Choose LED Bulbs
LED Lighting
I will replace 3 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.
Action Track: Healing & Renewal
More Fruits And Veggies
I will eat a heart healthy diet by adding 2 cups of fruits and vegetables each day to achieve at least 4 cups per day.
Action Track: Healing & Renewal
Explore My Area
Sometimes protecting nature requires feeling connected to nature. I will invest 10 minutes in exploring and appreciating a natural area in my region, whether a forest, wetland, coastal area, or somewhere else.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Reduce Animal Products
Plant-Rich Diets
I will enjoy 2 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.
Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
Zero-waste Cooking
Reduced Food Waste
I will cook 2 meal(s) with zero-waste each day
Action Track: Healing & Renewal
Go for a Daily Walk
Walkable Cities
I will take a walk for 16 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.
Transportation
Use Public Transit
Public Transit
I will use public transit 2 mile(s) per day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.
Participant Feed
Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.
To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?
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HIMAJA VENDIDANDI 2/10/2023 9:39 PMIt's been 2 weeks since I've had any meat product in my diet and I think this is something I can definitely do for a lot longer! The hardest parts of these two weeks was when I was eating at a restaurant with friends. Especially when eating with friends, we tend to share and I realized just how much meat I eat without even giving it a second thought. I also think it is going to be especially difficult to say no to when my mom cooks meat for my family. Saying that, I don't think the point of this challenge is to force you to change forever but instead show how a few changes throughout the week can lead to a more sustainable lifestyle. Starting this week I am going to aim for 2/3 of my meals every day to have no animal product!-
shirleya williams 2/10/2023 11:16 PMHi! I think this is a really great start. I have been eating a vegan/ vegetarian diet for over a year now and I can definitely say it is challenging when going out to restaurants with friends. I agree that it's not about making a complete change, but to learn and understand the benefits that accompany these changes. I am really excited for you and your new goal, I hope you enjoy the journey!
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HIMAJA VENDIDANDI 2/10/2023 9:26 PMI traveled both to and back from work using the metro today and I have to say I love not having to spend $30 on an Uber every time. Before our challenge, I usually take the bus to work but end up getting an uber back to my apartment because it's dark or I just don't feel like waiting for the bus. Today, I feel like I got lucky because right when I left work, a bus was going to be at the bus stop in 4 minutes! Sure it was dark and it didn't smell great in the bus but I can't get over how nice it was for me to not have to double and triple check that the Uber was driving in the right direction and just relax while waiting for my stop. I definitely do wish that there a higher frequency in buses because I feel like if I didn't have to wait 30-40 minutes at 7-8pm I feel like I would use public transportation more often. -
HIMAJA VENDIDANDI 2/01/2023 1:15 PMThough I love being able to spend < $5 on a round trip using public transport what would've been a pretty expensive uber ride but I think I find the scheduling of buses and the inconsistency that sometimes comes along with it so frustrating. Yesterday I waited in the cold for almost an hour when the bus I was waiting for drove past me and I had to call an uber anyway. I think it's times like these I wish we had a more robust public transit system with greater frequency in buses so even if you missed one, you know there would be another chance in a few minutes.-
CRISTIAN GONZALEZ 2/01/2023 6:34 PMYes! I wish the public transportation system here was more reliable. I have also had multiple experiences where the bus comes very late or does not stop, to the point where I've wondered if I am at the correct stop. The expense of taking public transportation versus the expense of taking an uber/lyft is motivating enough for me to continue my use of public transportation but it definitely is not perfect. If I have to be somewhere at a certain time and I do not want to run the risk of being late I will take an uber. I definitely agree that if there was a greater frequency of buses arriving, I would be more likely to rely more on public transportation.
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HIMAJA VENDIDANDI 1/18/2023 5:02 PMI had never thought about the waste the meals I make myself inherently create. For example, the empty can of beans, or the plastic box that comes with spinach. Today I tried to make all 3 of my meals 0 waste and it was surprisingly difficult. I had to go out of my way to purchase produce without plastic or wrapping around it while also looking into if I could compost any food waste present. This is something I hope to do once or twice a week but it opened my eyes to how much waste I create through what I eat without even thinking about it.-
Madeleine-Michelle Flores 2/10/2023 11:27 PMThis is also something I have not though to much about. I eat a lot of microwavable food items and that builds up so much waste and I haver never though too much about it. Thank you for enlightening me.
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HIMAJA VENDIDANDI 1/17/2023 4:17 PMI think the hardest part of eating vegetarian is when people on my family make food and it have meat in it. Not only is it difficult to say no to family but it's even more to difficult to explain why I'm not eating their food. I've been trying to eat a mostly plant-based diet and I know I don't need to be perfect to make progress, I think I'm going to work to keep that in mind going forward. -
HIMAJA VENDIDANDI 1/17/2023 2:04 AMGrowing up in a town that wasn't very walkable, I have found walking to campus and back to my apartment a really rewarding time where I can relax from a long day. It's about a 25 minute walk every day and I feel like it's even nicer than using the bus when I can. In addition, walking to get groceries is something I have been doing for the past 2 months and tho the walk back can be a little difficult, I have found it to be, as a whole, a much better experience than having to find parking.-
HRIPSIME DUMANYAN 1/18/2023 11:01 PMI agree with you!! finding parking, especially in LA is pain. I grew up in LA and as we all know it is not a place for walking, I often grew up having to take the car or the bus everywhere. I also want to try walking a lot and I believe it is also beneficial in many many ways. -
Natalie Manzo-Silva 1/17/2023 8:48 AMHi, I completely agree! I also grew up in a town where I couldn't really walk or enjoy a day out in nature unless a drive was connected to which never truly allowed me to realize how enjoyable walks could be. I recently started trying to make walks a daily part of my life and although it has been difficult I can already start noticing ways in which these walks are able to make my days feel more enjoyable and productive. -
Lisa Yan 1/17/2023 8:41 AMI definitely agree that walking to class and walking to buy groceries can be a good way to get exercise in and let your mind wander! It is also much more cost-effective in the long run. My family in China talk about how they walk to buy groceries daily (although this relies on the convenience and accessibility of produce in America), which not only allows for daily exercise, but also helps to promote eating fresh foods and reducing food waste, as they really only buy what they need. This is understandably difficult to do in America, where grocery stores can be miles away and our lives as college students can get quite hectic, but it is a nice option to think about when possible.
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