What do you do when you've forgotton your healthy snacks and your only option is...nothing but fast food joints? Do you give up and go eat the greasiest, cheapest burger and fries and then throw away a bag full of garbage? Your excuses to indulge in unhealthy and unsustainable fare are dwindling. These days, there's lots of diet-friendly options at most fast food purveyors, and they are also making strides towards being healthier for the planet too (some more so than others, so read on).

Consult Greenopia's newly released Fast Food Ratings Guide to find out which of your fave quick-stop meal joints have the lowest impact. We've rated which fast food restaurants are making strides to be more sustainable, considering back-end practices, packaging, and transportation and we've noted the number of veggie and vegan choices and typical meal calorie ranges for each chain too.

According to the guide, when faced with a growling belly, your best bet is to go with a smaller chain whenever possible, like: Pizza Fusion, Burgerville (39 locations in the Pacific Northwest), Le Pain Quotidien (30 national locations) or Evos; each earned between a 3 and 4 leaf rating for initiatives like serving local and/or organic foods, offering biodegradable cutlery, choosing green buildings for new restaurants, or offsetting with wind credits.

Fast Food Ratings Guide

Article © Starre Vartan, Greenopia Picture © Greenopia
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April 22, 2009 marked the 39th Earth Day, but the festivities are not over. Find a Earth Day event happening near you this weekend at the Earth Day Network.

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Seminar: Building Green: Making Your Home More Energy Efficient

Join Design Forward's Lisa Swan in Glendale on May 30, 2009 for a Building Green seminar for home owners.

Class Description: Whether you are interested in a new house, remodeling your existing home, or just adding a few sustainable features, this innovative class will give you an in depth review of green building and sustainable architecture. Learn about solar and wind energy, wall systems such as straw bale, insulated concrete forms and foam insulation, natural and recycled materials, efficient windows and appliances, and more. Also learn how you can save money through State and local rebates.
Reference Class: SI011

Instructor: Lisa Swan is the owner of Design Forward, a residential design firm, specializing in sustainable and green projects. She is an Honors' graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology, with a Bachelor of Architecture and has an MBA from Norwich University.

Date & Time: May 30, 2009 9:30am - 12:30am

Cost: $35, plus $10 materials fee is payable to the instructor in class.

Location: Glendale, CA - Garfield Campus of the Glendale Community College

Register Begins March 1, 2009: http://www.glendale.edu/cse

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