Get Foodsmart – 21-Day Challenge

STOP WASTING FOOD, SAVE EARTH

Eat Green. Waste Less. Save More.

How To Participate

In commemoration of Earth Month (Apr 9—Apr 30), join JKYog and RKT Dallas in saving our planet from being engulfed in greenhouse gas emissions through wasted food! Take the 21-Day Get Foodsmart Challenge on the Radha Krishna Bhakti App. 

Please note: The challenge will also be available permanently past Apr 30 on the app; you can take it anytime!

Why You Should Participate

In the spirit of sacrifice (yajna) and surrender to God, we must responsibly utilize the abundant blessings of nature that He has bestowed upon us, for they all belong to Him. Such selfless sacrifice to the Supreme Lord pleases the celestial gods, who then create favorable conditions for the prosperity of all living beings, such as rain, wind, crops, vegetation, minerals, fertile soil, etc. 

Swami Mukundananda states that, all elements of nature are part of God's creation. Each part of the system contributes and benefits from the whole. Life on Earth depends on the stability, heat, and light provided by the sun. The earth produces food and essential minerals. The air moves life force and sound energy. Humans are also part of this system. We rely on the air, earth, water, and light for survival. However, we also have responsibilities towards this system. According to Shree Krishna, we should fulfill our duties in God's service and participate in nature's creative force. Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita:

iṣhṭān bhogān hi vo devā dāsyante yajña-bhāvitāḥ

tair dattān apradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ

Translation: The celestial gods, being satisfied by the performance of sacrifice, will grant you all the desired necessities of life. But those who enjoy what is given to them, without making offerings in return, are verily thieves. – Chapter 3 Verse 12

Using and discarding natural resources for our enjoyment without regard to how they affect God’s creation amounts to stealing from Him and disrespecting His blessings. Food waste is one of the insidious ways in which we unwittingly damage His creation. Naturally, this is not conducive to the prosperity of current and future generations.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), food loss and waste in the United States alone produce 170 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. This is equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of 42 coal-fired power plants! Food waste significantly exacerbates the climate change crisis. 

WE MUST ACT NOW! 

How This Challenge Will Help

Let us join hands to prevent food waste. In the following three categories of this challenge, we will present you with various techniques in a simple yet structured way to do so daily on the Radha Krishna Bhakti App.

Eat Green

Waste Less

Save More

Eat Green: Opting for locally grown and seasonal foods helps reduce the energy used in transporting food across the global supply chain. Adopting a plant-based diet lowers greenhouse gas emissions and enhances overall well-being. This challenge will teach you simple ways to benefit the planet through sustainable dietary practices such as meal planning.

Waste Less: Shockingly, over 40% of food purchased from the grocery store ends up in the trash! Learn to revive salty, wilted, stale, burned, and overcooked food. Educate yourself on food product dating and minimize throwing away usable groceries. Learn to compost food waste in your backyard to fertilize the soil instead of sending it to decay in landfills and add to greenhouse gas emissions. Give away excess food to those in need.

Save More: Learn how to refrigerate, freeze, and pickle foods to increase their shelf life. Organize your pantry to keep food fresh and tasty. Consume only what you need and save money.

  Here’s Your Step-by-Step Guide to the Challenge:
 

• Register for the challenge. You will receive critical information related to the challenge, resources on minimizing food waste, and app-specific guidance. 
• Join the Whatsapp Group: Join a community of like-minded individuals and receive daily inspiration to stay committed through the challenge!
• Install and Onboard: Start by installing the Radha Krishna Bhakti app. Follow the onboarding flow to familiarize yourself with the app, leading to the homepage.
• Join the Challenge: On the homepage, find the Challenge section and click the “Join Challenge” button.
• Daily Challenge Overview: You’ll see a list of the challenge days. Click “Get Foodsmart Day 1” to view the first day’s tasks.
• Engage in Daily Activities: Each day, you’ll have simple tasks listed under “Eat Green”, “Waste Less”, “Save More”. 
• Task Completion: After engaging with each task, use the back arrow to return to the Challenge Day page to proceed with other tasks.
• Marking the Day Complete: Click the “Mark as Done” button once all tasks are done.
• Track Your Progress: After completing the day, return to the all-days list to see your progress. The system grays out the completed days.
• Continue the Journey: Return the next day for new tasks and repeat the process from Step 2 to 6.

Spread the Word, Invite Others!

Share a video on social media of your daily experiences doing the challenge with hashtags #GetFoodsmart #JKYogEarthMonthChallenge and invite 3 others to take it up.