Day 2 – Greener Days: My Earth Week Journal

Before I understood sustainability, I learned what it felt like to be out of sync with my body, hormones, and energy. PCOS was my wake-up call. My symptoms were loud: fatigue, irregular cycles, and mood swings. I felt like a stranger in my own body. I started searching for answers, and all signs pointed back to food. The very thing that nourished me had become a source of confusion and the root of my imbalance.

So I managed what I could: I started with my plate.

At first, I thought healing meant restriction. But what I learned was that true healing isn’t about removing everything. It’s about returning to the basics. I began incorporating more whole, nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods. Lentils replaced boxed meals. Leafy greens took up more space than bread. I leaned into anti-inflammatory ingredients, probiotic-rich ferments, and meals that felt colorful and alive. My body responded with gratitude. Slowly, my energy came back. My skin began to glow again. My cycles found some rhythm. And most importantly, I felt grounded.

But what I didn’t expect was how healing my plate also started to heal my perspective.

I began to see how closely connected food is to the Earth. The foods that supported my hormonal balance (oats, vegetables, legumes) were the same ones that demanded fewer environmental resources. They weren’t heavily packaged or chemically altered. They were grown in soil that, when tended to with care, gave back in abundance.

Sustainable eating isn’t a trendy aesthetic, it’s a quiet, powerful form of advocacy. Choosing seasonal produce supports local farmers and reduces emissions. Eating more plants cuts down on the environmental burden of industrial animal agriculture that takes place in CAFOs. Cooking at home lowers packaging waste. Even storing leftovers mindfully can be a small act of love for both yourself and the planet.

Food justice and environmental justice are intertwined, too. Access to fresh, healing foods is a privilege many communities still don’t have. Low-income neighborhoods are often flooded with ultra-processed, nutrient-deficient options. And let’s be honest, those foods are more affordable, more accessible, and aggressively marketed to marginalized groups. That’s not a coincidence. It’s being pushed and the system.

So part of my journey now is not only healing my plate, but helping others do the same.

Whether it’s through this blog, my nonprofit goals, or community gardens and food pantries, I believe everyone deserves access to food that supports both their health and the Earth’s.

This Earth Week, I’m committing to deepening that alignment. I’m not here to preach perfection. I still have lazy days and convenience meals (remember to give yourself grace). But I move with more intention now, with a deeper awareness of how my healing is part of something so much bigger.

Until then, I’ll leave you with this question: What’s one small change you can make on your plate that supports both your body and the planet?

“The health of our planet depends on the health of its ecosystems, and sustainable agriculture is key to maintaining that health.” – Jules Pretty