Commons Café

Have you heard of the concept of seed saving? 🌱

Every November, Bon Appétit Management Company takes the time to reflect on the rich cultural heritage of Native Americans, whose deep ties to the land have cultivated traditional knowledge systems over centuries.

In particular, Indigenous farming practices like seed saving not only ensure the survival of important crops but also cultivate connections to rituals, food traditions, ancestors, and the surrounding ecosystem.

What is seed saving?
The practice involves harvesting and preserving seeds from the current harvest to shape and allow for future plantings. Often, this would involve saving seeds with the most desirable traits like the longest ears of corn, the juiciest kernels, and the most vibrant colors.

What about commercial agriculture?
Due to industrialization of the food system and the commercialization of seed production, crop biodiversity has plummeted. Seeds are selected for uniformity and transportability, and farmers and community members are limited in their ability to save their own seeds.

Saving seeds is about more than just food.
In indigenous communities, seeds are an emblem of cultural heritage, survival, and autonomy, and the fight for seed sovereignty is ongoing as large agribusinesses continue to make seed saving more difficult.

#NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #NAHM #SeedSaving #IndigenousFarming #FoodSovereignty #SeedSovereignty ...

Are you tired? Rundown? Listless? The answer to all your problems is to boost energy — the natural way! Instead of reaching for that afternoon cup of coffee, follow these five ways to keep you feeling energized:

🍳 Break the fast. Start your day with a filling breakfast of protein and complex carbs to get your metabolism going and stabilize your blood sugar. (Get some ideas at the link in our bio!)

🚰 Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Keep the water (or unsweetened beverages) flowing to stave off dehydration, which causes fatigue.

⚖️ Balance your lunch. To avoid the afternoon slump, make sure your plate is half fruits and vegetables, one quarter lean protein, and one quarter whole grains. Incorporate some fat to stabilize energy and slow digestion.

🍠 Complex is best. Whole grains and starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes and squash are digested more slowly than refined options (meaning more consistent energy levels)!

🥜 Snack smartly. Eat every 3-4 hours to avoid getting hangry and tired. Try fruit with a nut butter or vegetables with hummus!

A final note: Sleep is key to productivity. Get at least 7-8 hours per night to improve your energy balance. #BoostEnergy #NutritionTips #SnackIdeas #EnergyBalance #ProductivityTips ...

Boost your brain power with this plant-based dish filled with walnuts and greens: walnut spinach linguine! 🍝

Makes 4-6 servings

INGREDIENTS
1-1/2 cups walnuts, raw
4 tablespoons walnut oil or olive oil
4 shallots, finely diced
3-5 cloves garlic, minced
2 bunches of spinach, coarsely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound linguine, or other pasta of choice

DIRECTIONS
Toast walnuts in a skillet over medium heat for 5-8 minutes stirring to prevent burning. Set aside.

Heat oil over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in spinach, salt, and pepper and stir while cooking until leaves have wilted, about 5 minutes.

While spinach is sautéing, cook pasta in boiling salted water about 10 minutes (al dente). Drain and save 1/4 cup pasta water. Add pasta and reserved pasta water to spinach mixture. Stir in walnuts, drizzle with olive oil.

#PlantBased #BrainFood #PlantBasedEating #PastaRecipes ...

Pump up the (productivity), pump it up 🎶

Emphasizing health and wellness in your day-to-day life can help you with your to-do list more than you would expect. Here are 7 ways to pump up your productivity:
1️⃣ Start with breakfast. Aim to eat something within an hour of waking up for your brain to function properly.

2️⃣ Eat regular meals that include a source of protein, fat, and fiber. Aim to eat a meal or snack every 3-4 hours.

3️⃣ Fill up on brain boosting foods like salmon, walnuts, and blueberries.

4️⃣ Fit in exercise, even as little as 15-20 minutes or a brisk walk!

5️⃣ Shut down at the end of the day. Prioritize recovery and rest in order to give your body and brain a break.

6️⃣ Make a plan for your meals in advance. (Check your café’s menu on cafebonappetit.com. 😉)

7️⃣ When burning the midnight oil is unavoidable, keep fueling yourself as you would during the day!

#ProductivityTips #HealthyHabits #DailyRoutine #SelfCare ...

What is local seafood? 🤔 This National Seafood Month, we`re highlighting not only how our chefs abide by Seafood Watch guidelines but also how chefs are encouraged to seek out locally caught or raised seafood through our Fish to Fork program!

Fish to Fork grew out of a desire to expand our local purchasing program to include nuanced, specific guidelines for local, small-scale seafood:
👉 Fish must be caught or raised within 500 miles of the kitchen (and limited to 100 miles out to sea per trip)
👉 Vendors need reliable systems of traceability and consideration for species preferences

Learn more about this unique program by reading about two of our most reliable local seafood partners:
1️⃣ Green Prairie Aquafarm (Western Alabama)
Established in 2001 by David Teichert-Coddington as a first of its kind saltwater shrimp farm, they focus on farming shrimp without pesticides or antibiotics. Although only a Fish to Fork partner since 2022, our yearly agreement to purchase a portion of their shrimp harvest has developed into a mutually beneficial relationship with staying power.

2️⃣ Fishing Vessel St. Jude (Pacific Northwest)
They have been a beloved Fish to Fork partner for over a decade, offering our teams high quality wild-caught albacore tuna. They are committed to responsible fishing methods, including avoiding bycatch.

Learn more about local seafood sourcing from the lens of these two Fish to Fork producers at the link in our bio! #LocalSeafood #NationalSeafoodMonth #SeafoodWatch #FishToFork #SustainableSeafood #SupportLocalFishermen ...