The Real Food Rehab Holiday Gift Guide: Greg Christian

Greg Christian is the Obi-Wan Kenobi of Chicago's sustainability movement. Each encounter I've had with Greg, whether in person, or via email, ends with a sincere directive, encouraging me to stay the course, to believe that my contributions to the cause are good ones, and to never give up and I love that about him. This man's passion is palpable and I have a feeling, that wherever he goes, he's subtly tutoring us all in the ways of The Force...



WHO Entrepreneur, chef, author, and caterer, Greg Christian is the owner of Greg Christian Consulting, a consulting firm focused on helping food service companies become more sustainable. Greg is at the forefront of his non-profit organization, The Organic School Project, an initiative he launched in 2005 to provide school children with positive food choices. Greg is considered a leader in green business and a pioneer in the foodservice industry's zero-impact movement.

















THE GIFT I often find that a gift is better remembered if it's an experience rather than a thing. So, for the holiday season, I recommend that you treat someone you love to a hand-made delicacy, such as these Zeppole (Italian donuts), from Zullo’s, an Italian-inspired vendor at Chicago's Green City Market and soon to be opening at Chicago's new French Market at the Ogilvie Train Station. Zullo’s mission is to honor the environment and connect people to their food source in an affordable way. Their food is 95% organic and locally sourced. The menu is ingredient-driven; they look at what’s available from local farmers on any particular day when deciding what to put on the menu. The food is simple and delicious.

A Personal Message From Greg Christian

Love yourself more
Forgive yourself more
Open your hearts more
Try to move your daily routines towards sustainability.
Every little bit makes a difference.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE? Oak Park, IL.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU? People inspire me. People who have beautiful, open hearts. People who pour their essence into passionate projects. People who partner that essence with clear intention. These types of people inspire me.

GO-TO DISH WHEN COOKING FOR YOURSELF? Anything that can be made in one pot!

Power To The Pantry: Introducing The Pantry Essentials Guide

Dear Readers,

Perhaps you've noticed that quality, authenticity, satisfaction, beauty and pleasure are all running themes of Real Food Rehab. And perhaps you've been subtly sparked by some of the ideas here and hopefully it's added to your life in good ways.

As many of you know, I began doing in-home kitchen makeovers and cooking lessons this year and it's definitely a life-changing experience for those who can afford it. But since it is my mission to educate and inspire others to experience the pleasures and life-giving effects of Real Food, it was important for me to develop something that could be available to everyone. So, I wrote The Real Food Rehab Pantry Essentials Guide. It's an indispensable tool for stocking your kitchen with an arsenal of high quality ingredients and storage staples for making healthy and delicious meals. The Guide is divided into four sections: Foundation Ingredients, Baking Basics, Perishable Staples and Ethnic Staples and is perfect for beginners and accomplished cooks alike. The Pantry Essentials Guide is also completely committed to sustainable, chemical-free food choices which you'll see reflected in the many suggestions throughout its pages.

The Guide is 9 pages of detailed descriptions and includes recipes, kitchen tips, web resources and brand recommendations. It's designed to create more pleasure, health, ease and satisfaction in the kitchen. It also includes checklists for each section that can be printed out and taken to the grocery store. And I should note, it's a guide to be experimented with over time; It might help to start by stocking the Foundation Ingredients first, along with some of the Perishable Staples and work from there.

The Guide is only $9.95 and can be purchased HERE or by clicking the orange link at the top right of the blog. The Guide is in a printable PDF format and gets sent to you via email.

Lastly, I want you to know how committed I am to what I do: I have chosen time and time again not to place ads and links that don't jibe with the values of Real Food Rehab and equally important, I want your experience on this site to be aesthetically beautiful. I take into careful consideration everything that goes up and that it meets the standards of beauty I preach here so often. Do I want to make money? Absolutely, but I want to do it by being true to myself, to you, and only offering things of value.

I do believe with all my heart that beautiful food is your birthright and I hope that my Pantry Essentials Guide will make a difference for you and those you love and feed around your table.

Thank you so much for being here,

Dana Joy