Friends Lunch

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You can't help noticing the current buzz about buying local, re-inspired by deep concern for the environment and the necessities of the economic slowdown.   Restaurants are proudly announcing more locally-grown foods on their menu, and many of our friends announce their decision to shop smaller specialty retailers instead of chain discount stores.

Aside from the warm fuzzy feeling you get from helping your neighbor, there are some strong tangible benefits to buying from local merchants.  Buying local is beneficial to the environment in a number of different ways, while at the same time boosting the local economy. There are also political implications to your buying choices. Here are a few of the ways your family wins when you buy local.

1. Reduced shipping distance equals lower environmental impact

When you buy goods in your home town, you reduce carbon emissions and fossil fuel consumption by virtue of the simple fact that no one has to ship the goods to you from a long distance. When you purchase industrially-grown produce, for example, it typically travels 1,500 miles1 or more before reaching your dinner table. The environmental impact is staggering. A 2009 study2 revealed that in the state of Iowa alone, fuel consumption could be reduced by up to 346,000 gallons per year if 10% more of the state's food were grown locally. The same study stated that annual carbon dioxide emissions would likely decrease by up to 7.9 million pounds.

2.Local dollars stay in your community

When your dollars go to local merchants, they are much more likely to buy from other local merchants than large corporate-owned stores. Most larger merchants are contractually obligated to buy from suppliers outside the towns where they operate. They often buy in bulk from central locations. The increased number of steps in the supply chain not only adds no intrinsic value, but often results in lower product quality. The reinvestment of business revenues into other local businesses generates local tax revenues.

3. The economic boom and bust cycle stabilizes over the long term

A locally-based economic infrastructure is less likely to suffer radical oscillations, due to the fact that it doesn't depend on a small number of large businesses for the majority of its revenue. For example, suppose a factory moves into town and employs a large number of the town's residents. The newly created jobs will attract more people and create a swell in house prices. Then, if economic conditions force the factory to close down or move offshore, there will be no cushion to absorb the economic impact of these lost jobs. The real estate market will decline, leaving affected families underwater on their mortgages.

When a local economy derives its income from a large number of small businesses, economic recessions are less extreme. Since small businesses move into town one by one, and economic growth occurs at a slow, natural pace, the likelihood of a sudden "gold rush" drops off, and prices are less likely to artificially spike.

4. Communities have a greater say in their own future

Economic dependency on a few large businesses shifts political leverage away from the local community. Companies who dominate local economies tend to get their way, whether citizens of their host communities like it or not.  Your everyday decision to buy from small grassroots entrepreneurs or big-box stores has an impact on the power structure governing your home town.

5. Local  pride increases as revenues improve the local environment

A Google search can show you exciting evidence of nationwide support for local independents.  Innovative Chambers of Commerce and merchants' associations are implementing downtown revitalization projects, local currencies, networking events, joint advertising and community education efforts to bring small towns back to life.

"Shop Local" campaigns are so successful that Corporate marketers are climbing onto the local message bandwagon.  They may use terms like  "shop nearby" or "your local _____."   It's a trend that's widespread enough to have gained the name "local washing."

So how can you tell who is REALLY LOCAL in your home town? They are locally-owned AND independent,-and committed to making their community a better place to live. There are also many franchises with local owners that are important to support as well, keeping money in the community.

Just pause and think before you shop-can I get this from a locally-owned business? Help others become aware of the value of buying locally.  If you see the value, share it with a friend. I just invited a friend to lunch and said, "Let's go to New World Coffee House for lunch; it's good food and local-owned."  Share your stories of buying  local!

- Martin Brossman - Success Coach / Trainer / Author

By Martin Brossman
Success Coach / Trainer / Author
See: Professional Networking on-line

Take Time to Eat Lunch and Lose Weight

Losing weight is hard work, and a lack of focus can keep us from getting the results we want.  While breakfast is the most commonly skipped meal of the day, some of us blaze through lunch carelessly without paying attention to what we put into our bodies.  It's essential to give this midday meal just as much attention as we do any other meal we eat.  Many times our lunchtime habits sabotage our success.

Most of us work, meaning that we can only have lunch at certain times throughout the day.  What's even worse, some people are so busy that they grab a quick bite and eat at their desk, never allowing the body to rest, relax and enjoy a nutritious meal.  The best thing you can do for yourself is to take a lunch break at the same time every day.  Get out of the office if possible.  Go for a walk afterwards if you have enough time, to kick start quick weight loss.  But stop working long enough to concentrate on your meal.

Another bad habit we get into is eating out every day.  While it may be convenient to slip down to the cafeteria or vending machine to grab a bite, this can wreak havoc on our waistline.  Or sometimes, in an effort to be social, we go out with friends during lunch.  Try to keep your lunchtime outings to once a week, and pick healthier foods when you do eat out.  Always know where your local grocery store is, and if you have to go out, hit the salad bar or deli instead.  This option is much healthier and many times less expensive than a sit-down meal.

Lastly, try not to bring leftovers from last night's dinner to work for lunch.  For many of us, dinner is the largest meal of the day, and consuming the same food for lunch and dinner can pack on the pounds.  When grocery shopping, choose light nutritious foods like yogurt, fruit and nuts.  Many create healthy wraps instead of using bread, and some opt to bring only salad.  Keep from overeating with a natural appetite suppressant like hoodia, and keep portions down to reasonable levels.

About the Author

Susan Patterson has been studying alternative medicine and health for over 10 years. She loves to write to help others, especially in the area of quick weight loss, which can be accomplished safely. She has found several herbal remedies to be effective in her journey to better health without the side effects that medications cause. She is particularly passionate about hoodia for weight loss. Other interests include exercise, yoga and meditation.

How should i get a really annoying kid to not sit with my friends and i at lunch?

he is soooooper annoying and the teachers know he has a.d.h.d. and he make makes fun of everyone and he thinks we are his only friends.
how can i make him leave!!!?!?!??!?!

you've already been nice to the kid, and he's making perverted comments and threatening you. Ignore him.

He's got £27m and five people to drive after a five-hour lunch - so what is Viscount Linley's solution? Breathe in ...
Somewhat surprisingly, David Linley picked a classic Fiat 500 to drive his wife, daughter and two friends home after enjoying his father's birthday lunch.

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