As a 21st century, modern, California born and raised, Japanese American, Reform Jew, eating consciously is deeply rooted in my soul. There's a Japanese saying, "mottainai もったいない".  It conveys a sense of regret over waste. My Mom taught me this everyday by teaching me creative ways to use every ingredient and every part of a vegetable, so nothing would be wasted...

While being mindful of food waste is important, it's not enough. According to the USDA, 40% of the food supply in the US goes to waste. At the same time, 42.2 million Americans struggle with hunger, and 13.1 million of those people are children. 

My friends over at the hilarious podcast Bay Seasoning are doing something about this. They've just launched a hunger awareness campaign for MAZON. MAZON is a Jewish national advocacy organization working to end hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds in the US and in Israel. The campaign includes some pretty amazing giveaways, if you'd like to enter! We're planning to donate to MAZON for donation day this month, and encourage you to as well. 

In the meantime, here's one of my favorite low-waste weeknight recipes: Stir-fried udon noodles!
 

Head here to visit our Modern Heirlooms web shop, where I've thoughtfully co-created ritual objects with my favorite artisans (in limited runs) to help you elevate your sacred rituals. 

I truly believe that cuisine is the most accessible gateway into learning more about our rich heritages. In addition to food, there are so many ways to celebrate, honor, and even reclaim, our time-honored traditions. I believe ritual objects really help anchor us in these moments-- especially around the table.