Crumbling pipes and tainted water have continued to plague communities of color across the nation. The subsequent lead poisoning that comes with the corrosion of these lead pipes is at the forefront of the conversation around environmental justice issues.
In places like Milwaukee, Wisconsin, we see the detrimental effects of this lead poisoning. 2018 Wisconsin blood testing data for children under the age of six were collected into a report by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The results are alarming; in certain jurisdictions, the percent of children with more than 5 mcg/dL of lead in their blood is as high as 9.5%. This proves to be a significant anomaly from the expected percentage when we look at the many other jurisdictions in Wisconsin with less than 4%.
This disproportionate variation between the lead poisoning of children in different jurisdictions can, of course, have many contributing factors not associated with environmental racism. However, a 2019 study done at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee reported that “the risk of elevated childhood blood lead levels is greatest in majority non-White Milwaukee County neighborhoods with high poverty and low homeownership.” The Milwaukee Common Council is now trying to address the obvious unfair circumstances that put communities of color in a more vulnerable position when it comes to lead exposure. “Not only do we have inequities for risk for children in Milwaukee, but that’s been compounded by a lack of access to services for children whose blood lead levels fall between 5 µg/dL and 20 µg/dL,” Hellen Meier, associate professor at UWM, says. The Coalition on Lead Emergency’s (COLE) chair, Rev. Dennis Jacobsen, says that more efforts are being made to create programs that certify that properties are lead-safe before they are rented out to people, particularly in low-income or BIPOC neighborhoods.
How harmful is lead actually?
Lead is a very harmful poison that has the ability to affect almost every organ in a child’s body. Even when blood lead levels are at the lowest measurable values, the toxin can still compromise the child’s reproductive, neurological, and cardiovascular systems. Depending on the amount and duration of exposure, lead can cause “gastrointestinal disturbances”, such as anorexia, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Lead also has concerning effects on a child’s neurological development. Researchers say that, globally, lead accounts for approximately 10 percent of intellectual disability cases that are categorized to have an unknown origin. A 2009 study also estimated that up to one in four cases of ADHD amongst 8 to 15-year-old children may be attributed to lead poisoning. These statistics make the regulation and mitigation of lead exposure even more pertinent as it shows the serious impact lead has on the physical and neurological development of young children all over the world.
How are we working towards mitigating this issue?
The long-term solution to ending this harmful exposure to lead is to replace the lead pipes that are corroding and causing this neurotoxin to be digested in people’s drinking water. However, the dismantling and replacement of this lead-based pipeline infrastructure would take years and a large budget. The more feasible option is to figure out how much lead is actually coming into people’s homes through tap water so we can find more effective ways to mitigate this issue. This past October of 2020, researchers from the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis officially came up with a solution using acid. Senior Elizabeth Johnson and graduate student Weiyi Pan tried many different methods but eventually discovered that slowly passing an acidic solution through a commercial filter would free 100% of the lead captured by that filter. They have come up with the most accurate method to date that would help researchers collect data to see just how much lead would be potentially entering households.
In the conclusion of their research report, the scientists stated that “additional experiments are needed regarding different tap water conditions and PbO2 solids.” They encouraged residents to send their used filters to laboratories so more in-depth data could be taken in a variety of conditions. These field studies would help researchers and utilities select reliable methods for analyzing Pb exposure and corrosion control effectiveness in the pipeline infrastructure. With this new method, we could potentially move one step closer to mitigating the lead exposure amongst young children and lessen the harmful effects it has on their development.
Welcome back to Good News Friday, and happy Earth Month! Today we are covering positive news from the Canadian Supreme Court, President Biden’s offshore wind energy plans, and a plan to use coffee waste in low-income housing construction.
Canada moves closer to a universal carbon tax: Last week, Canada’s Supreme Court ruled that the federal government has the authority to impose a carbon tax in provinces that oppose it. Canada initially passed the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act in 2018 and was set to begin enforcement of the tax in 2019, but the federal government faced pushback from some provinces, in particular oil-producing provinces like Alberta. Due to the opposition, an uneven carbon tax has been implemented, with some provinces paying into the revenue-neutral program and others refusing to implement it. The Supreme Court’s decision changes all of that, however, paving the way for a universal realization of one of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s key campaign pledges.
The Biden administration plans offshore wind expansion: This week, the Biden administration ahead of its announcement of a major infrastructure plan signaled its support for a significant expansion of offshore wind power generation along the East Coast. As part of the expansion, the administration aims to install an additional 30,000 megawatts of offshore turbines by 2030, which it says would create jobs, power millions of homes, and reduce carbon emissions. It has already moved to prioritize an area of water between Long Island and New Jersey for offshore electricity-generating capacity. Currently, the United States has an offshore wind generating capacity of approximately 28,500 megawatts, meaning Biden’s plan would effectively double existing offshore generation capabilities.
Colombian startup aims for sustainable construction: The company Woodpecker SAS is attempting to change the face of affordable and sustainable building. Using a mixture of coffee husks and recycled plastics, Woodpecker manufactures prefabricated buildings that can be easily assembled and made cheaply. This has made the company an excellent supplier of low-income housing and has attracted attention from the Colombian government, which has previously partnered with Woodpecker to quickly provide shelter for displaced citizens after natural disasters.
That’s all for this first week of Earth Month! As always, we welcome you to check out our previous editions of Good News Friday and to contact us if you have any positive environmental news to share!
Welcome to the second stop on the Plant-Based Food Tour of Princeton! While we may not have traveled in a long time, this tour will be taking you around the world over the next couple of weeks. This week we are featuring Asian cuisine in Princeton and how you can eat plant-based at these restaurants. We are going to give you our take on these restaurants and their plant-based dishes, using metrics like price, taste, and creativity. Don’t forget to check in next week for the next part of our international cuisine tour as we explore Mediterranean and Mexican meals!
Chennai Chimney – Best Takeout Experience and Most Creative ‘Doughnut’
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★
On the second stop of my plant-based food tour, I went to Chennai Chimney, an Indian restaurant on Chambers Street. This restaurant has an extensive menu, so I decided to eat vegan (with one exception) to narrow down the choices. I got khadar sabzi for my main, sambhar vada as a side, and non-vegan garlic naan. I really enjoyed my experience, and I recommend the sambhar vada of what I tried.
The khadar sabzi was great. I am not someone who seeks out spice, so I ordered the mild heat, and it was the perfect level of slightly challenging spice. The menu describes this dish as “seasonal vegetables tossed with peppers, onions, tomatoes, [and] crushed coriander,” and that is very accurate. I loved the variety of fruits and vegetables; there were more than I could identify. The dish came with basmati rice that made it a more filling meal. The liquid was a little oily, which I didn’t mind, but others might want to avoid. I also can’t say it had a lot of protein, so try something else if that’s what you’re looking for.
My favorite dish I tried at Chennai Chimney is the sambhar vada, found in the “Chennai Specials” section of the menu. The website described this dish as “South Indian deep-fried lentil doughnut immersed in sambhar, onion, and crisps.” I had never tried sambhar vada before, so I didn’t quite know what to expect, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The doughnuts were very filling and bites of them dipped in the sambhar were delicious. Once again, the spice was perfect for me and you can increase it if you’d like. In the sambhar were peppers which added color and flavor to the dish. It was $6.95 and I recommend it to all eating at Chennai Chimney for their first time.
Lastly, I tried the garlic naan out of the breads section of the menu. The naan was beautifully charred with ample garlic spread on top. I personally would have liked a little more salt, but otherwise it was some good naan. Add this onto your order if you’d like a little more food for just $3.75.
Overall, I was quite impressed with Chennai Chimney. The food tasted great, the takeout was steaming hot after a 15 minute walk from Nassau Street to Whitman, and they didn’t give me any napkins or disposable utensils like I requested. For the most value, get the sambhar vada and experience a whole new meaning of doughnut.
Chennai Chimney offers a 10% discount on both dine-in and takeout for Princeton students. They have indoor seating, takeout, and delivery. The only plastic waste came from the bowls of food and plastic wrap to keep it hot. Find this restaurant across from Milk and Cookies on Chambers Street off of Nassau.
KBG Korean Barbeque and Grill – Most customizable
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★
KBG was very easy to make plant-based because they primarily offer build-your-own bowls. They have tofu as a protein option (and shrimp tempura for the pescatarians out there). They have a plethora of veggies to add to your bowl; however, there were not a ton of seasoning differences between the various veggies. I will also say if you prefer a crispy tofu this is not your place. They do have a wide variety of sauces that you can spice things up with! The portion size was pretty big, but the vegetable spring rolls were also a nice addition to the meal.
Nassau Sushi – Most Creative Veggie Sushi
Price: $$
Bang for your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★★
I loved my experience at Nassau Sushi. A lot of restaurants can be pretty boring with their veggie sushi options, but Nassau Sushi is definitely putting in the effort to be more creative with their vegetarian and vegan-friendly sushi. I tried the oshinko roll and the sweet potato roll; both were delicious. Oshinko is a type of yellow radish and I love the crunch; other veggie sushi I have tried have been kind of soggy so I appreciated the oshinko roll. The sweet potato roll was really fun with both its presentation and flavor, as it featured stingy fried sweet potato. I also thoroughly enjoyed the vegetable tempura and the tofu teriyaki appetizers. You can never go wrong with fried foods! I was definitely expecting the tofu teriyaki to be more firm and even crunchy, but the flavor was unbeatable, I can’t lie. I felt super full after this heavy meal, so I would recommend not doubling up on the fried foods in the future, but it was still a delicious experience! I highly recommend Nassau Sushi, especially in the warmer months, as they have great outdoor seating.
The Mint – Most Menu Options
Price: $$
Bang for your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
The Mint is an Indian restaurant with a huge menu, featuring plenty of plant-based options. I tried the vegetable samosa—turnovers stuffed with spiced potatoes and peas—and the palak paneer—cottage cheese in a creamy spinach puree, served with a side of rice. The two samosas were generously sized and stayed nicely crisp on the outside while plush on the inside. I would definitely recommend eating these with the mint and tamarind chutneys that they come with, which balance out the richness of the samosa with notes of freshness and sweetness. I appreciated the creaminess and strong spinach flavor of the palak paneer, although there was far more puree than paneer and I found the cheese to be a bit bland. On the whole, I was really impressed by the extensive number of vegetarian options at The Mint and the overall variety of its menu. There is a special Vegetables section on the menu with 26 items and ingredients including paneer, lentils, and chickpeas. Although vegetarian dishes are far more abundant, there are also seven items marked as vegan. I would definitely recommend exploring the menu at The Mint! With so many options, ranging from entrees to breads to desserts, there’s definitely a way to satisfy your taste buds while eating plant-based as well.
Amazing Thai – Most Unique
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★
I really went out on a limb with the food that I decided to try at Amazing Thai. They have so many cool options I wanted to try it all. I got their pad thai fried rice (fun, right?!), drunken noodles, and mock duck. The pad thai fried rice was an extremely interesting experience; I think pad thai flavor belongs with noodles, not rice, but it was still such a fun dish to try. The drunken noodles feature wide noodles, similar to pad see ew, which I love so I enjoyed this dish. It wasn’t the most flavorful noodle dish I have had, but it wasn’t bad by any means. The highlight of my experience at Amazing Thai was the mock duck. They did an excellent job replicating duck from the flavor to the texture. I am a huge duck fan and had high expectations and Amazing Thai did not disappoint. I would highly recommend.
Thai Village – Most Consistent
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
Image Credit: Leena S. via Yelp.com (left) and Joy L. via Yelp.com (right)
Thai Village offers the option to make most of their entrees with tofu or just vegetables, so it is super easy to get a tasty, plant-based meal. They offer a wide variety of noodles, curry, and rice dishes – plus other creative specials. I had the pad thai with tofu. There was a large amount of tofu and it was well-prepared. Their to-go service is super quick and you get a better deal on prices if you call them and place the order rather than using an online ordering platform. Their to-go packaging is mostly plastic, which is not the most sustainable option, but they did ask if/what utensils I needed in order to minimize excess waste. Thai Village is a little bit of a ways down Nassau, but it is well worth the trip!
Schouse Szechuan Cuisine – Most Creative
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★★★
Plant Forward: ★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★
While I wouldn’t say that Schouse has a “plant forward” menu, a vegan or vegetarian can definitely easily find something to eat here. The restaurant has a section of their menu which is just vegetables prepared in different ways (probably meant to be sides) which I really appreciate, as often I don’t want anything super fancy; I just want a nicely cooked vegetable! I ordered the eggplant with garlic sauce and the lou mein with vegetables (with no egg!) It was my first time ever trying eggplant so I was definitely hesitant but the dish ended up being super flavorful! If you like eggplant, you would definitely like this dish. The lou mein was solid and plentiful, definitely a go-to if you’re looking for a staple noodle! Overall, though Schouse has a pretty meat-heavy menu, they totally surprised me with their delicious vegan options!
Ajiten – Coziest!
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant-Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease Of Access: ★★★★★
Ajiten, with its unassuming storefront right down the street from Rockefeller College, is a rather quaint Japanese restaurant with a cozy atmosphere. Currently their indoor dining space is open, but somewhat limited; if you’re visiting with more than four people, it’s worth considering ordering takeout instead of dining inside. Their main specialities are ramen and sushi, both of which are unfortunately not vegetarian. While lacking a sizable vegetarian menu, they did have a handful of options; I tried the server’s recommendation of the vegetable croquette curry [$13.00], as well as the cucumber umeboshi (pickled plum) rolls [$7.50]. The curry could have had a bit more substance to it, but the flavors were good, and the vegetable croquette was very light and crispy. As for the rolls, they were somewhat basic, but well-made nonetheless. Ajiten would be a nice excursion with a small group, with its short distance from campus and straightforward menu.
Sakura Express – Most Enticing!
Price: $$
Bang for your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
Sakura Express is smack dab in the middle of Princeton, located adjacent to Hinds Plaza on Witherspoon Street. While the menu boasts mostly of seafood or meat options, there are also a number of different vegan/vegetarian options to entice you. I was in the mood for sushi when ordered from Sakura, and I therefore opted for the veggie roll, which comes with 18 pieces of avocado, spinach and cucumber sushi. 18 pieces is more than enough to fill you up but I was also intrigued by the seaweed sushi roll, so I added that and the vegetable gyoza to the cart for good measure. I was blown away by the vegetable gyoza, which honestly forced me to wonder why I had ever ordered meat and seafood versions in the past. I would have loved to see a bit more creativity and flavor flair with all of the veggie sushi options; however, they were definitely worth the money I paid for them. Ultimately, Sakura Express is definitely worth your time, and will fill you with a relatively inexpensive plant-based meal!
This series is a collaboration between student group, Greening Dining and the Princeton EcoReps
*** We are not food critics, but food enthusiasts. This is in no way intended to be a formal critique or review of any restaurant in Princeton, merely a way to encourage students to try more plant-based options when dining out.
This series is also on our Instagram (@tigersgogreen)! To check out the video version of this plant-based food tour, click here.
Yogurt parfaits are a quick, easy, and customizable breakfast or afternoon snack. You can use your choice of fruits, nuts, granola or other toppings; mix it up and experiment! The general process of putting a parfait together is the same regardless. Try going for organic products, which have a number of positive environmental impacts compared to conventional agriculture. Notably, organic food is not grown with harmful synthetic pesticides and prevents toxic runoff from polluting air and water. Organic agriculture also employs a number of farming practices like crop rotation and natural fertilizers to preserve soil health.
For this recipe I used:
~¾ cup strawberry yogurt
For a vegan alternative, there are plenty of non-dairy yogurt products out there. I would recommend So Delicious Coconutmilk Yogurt, but feel free to try different brands to find one that you like, or use one that you’re already familiar with!
6 oz blackberries
1 banana
1 handful of chocolate chips
2 handfuls of almond granola
Of course, portions will likely vary depending on your preference and choices of toppings.
Steps:
Step 1: Once you have your ingredients ready, you’re all set to start making your parfait. Simply layer in alternating layers of yogurt and your toppings.
Step 2: To avoid your crunchy toppings getting soggy, put them in the upper layers, while your fruits stay on the lower levels.
Step 3: For your last layer of toppings, feel free to add some garnish or decorative flair! (I’m a fan of fruits so I tossed all my extra fruit on the top.)
This series is brought to you by student group, Greening Dining
One of the defining features of environmental injustice is that disadvantaged communities often take on a disproportionate share of environmental impacts, despite not being at fault. This unfortunate trend can be seen on a very local level by comparing Trenton and Princeton. Though only a 20-minute drive apart, these two communities have tremendously different levels of privilege and share very different levels of environmental burden. This post will use US Census Data and the EPA’s EJSCREEN – a tool designed to facilitate environmental justice mapping and screening – to explore this trend.
The difference between the number of people of color and the median income in Princeton and Trenton is stark. Some key statistics, including the percentage of Black or African American people, the percent of people of Hispanic or Latino origin, the percent of persons in poverty, and the median family income, have been summarized in the table below.
As seen above, Trenton has more than 8 times a greater Black population than Princeton, and nearly 1/4th the median family income. Unfortunately, it is communities like Trenton that are low income and underrepresented populations which often face the brunt of negative environmental impacts.
EJSCREEN pools publicly available data to explore the intersection of environmental and demographic indicators. Of the program’s 11 environmental indicators, 5 revealed immediately visible differences between Princeton and Trenton. I generated maps to highlight these differences, which can be viewed in full at the end of the document.
In short, Trenton residents face an increased potential for lead exposure, an increased risk of being exposed to an accidental chemical release, higher levels of diesel particulate matter in the air, increased negative impacts of living near highly trafficked roads, and an increased chance of encountering hazardous waste due to proximity to a hazardous waste treatment facility. Additional information on these environmental indicators can be found in the technical documentation for EJSCREEN.
All of the disproportionate environmental burdens mentioned are associated with adverse health effects, such as increased risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological damage, and more.
Unfortunately, Princeton University is not guiltless when it comes to this environmental justice issue. The waste we produce across campus is sent to the Trenton area landfill, and our tiger transit buses are stored in Trenton overnight without servicing any communities along the way. In this way, we are directly contributing to the disproportionate environmental burden between Princeton and Trenton. To Princeton students, waste magically disappears after it is thrown down a trash chute or collected by Facilities staff. Unfortunately, this is not the case for the people who live near these landfills and must face all associated environmental and health impacts directly – even when it is not their waste.
As the university rapidly develops and expands, it is becoming increasingly urgent to recognize and address our shortcomings when it comes to environmental justice. We should be supporting and uplifting nearby communities – not standing in their way.
There is undoubtedly a long way to go in tackling the disproportionate environmental impacts faced by underrepresented communities. The Office of Sustainability recently released a draft environmental justice framework, which lays out short- and long-term action items for addressing environmental justice issues. The framework also invites feedback from all members of the campus community. This call to action is a start, but we are only at the beginning of a very long road, and making progress will require many different perspectives.
“Demographic Index” is an average of percent minority and percent low incomeThe potential for lead paint exposure is based on the number of occupied housing units built before 1960. Elevated blood lead levels are a known public health concern that can cause neurological damage and more.Closer proximity to Hazardous waste treatment/storage/disposal facilities increases the chances hazardous substances could reach residents through the atmosphere or migrate into groundwater.Risk Management Plan (RMP) facilities are those required to file risk management plans because of the potential for release of flammable or explosive substances. An accidental release from such a facility puts nearby resident’s health at risk.Particulate matter from diesel can have adverse health effects if inhaled.Living near highly trafficked roads is related to an increased risk of various adverse health outcomes due to the release of pollutants and loud noise generation.
Welcome back to another edition of Good News Friday! We hope that these positive tidbits will help make your day better and give you a more positive outlook on the future of sustainability.
New EPA head has an ambitious climate agenda: The Senate recently confirmed Michael Regan as the new head of the EPA, making him the first black man to lead the agency and a promising appointee in the eyes of environmental activists. Regan is a former EPA employee with big plans to rebuild the agency in the wake of a new administration. Regan has also had first-hand experience with environmental injustices, having previously lived close to an industrial hog farm. He puts climate change, environmental justice, and water quality on the top of his priority list.
First large-scale offshore wind farm: The interior department recently endorsed a project to build a large-scale wind farm off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, MA. This 2.8 billion dollar project would be a huge step forward in the transition to clean energy. It will consist of up to 84 turbines that could generate enough electricity to power about 400,000 homes.
Making paper from wheat straw:A new paper mill in Washington state makes paper not from trees, but from wheat straw, the agricultural residue left over after grain harvesting. Currently, three billion trees per year are used to make paper packaging, so a treeless paper-making process is a promising development for conservation and climate mitigation.
Thanks for reading another trio of positive environmental updates! As always, we hope that we’ve brightened your day and that you come back next week for some more good news. In the meantime, feel free to take a look at previous posts or share some good news with us!
Welcome to the first stop on the Plant-Based Food Tour of Princeton! Every week for the rest of the semester, we are going to show you how to eat plant-based in Princeton, NJ. You may think that Planted Plate or an acai bowl are the only way to get in your plant-based fix, but you’d be surprised what the town of Princeton has to offer for all you vegan, vegetarian, sustainability-minded, or simply food curious folks out there! This week, we will be reviewing noodle and pasta dishes from a range of restaurants, each bringing something unique to the table. We are going to give you our take on these restaurants and their plant-based dishes, using metrics like price, taste, and creativity. We hope you’re ready for another EcoReps x Greening Dining collaboration, because it’s going to be a fun ride. And be sure to check back next week as we dive into our international tastings!
Tiger Noodles – Most Variety of Tofu
Price: $
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★
Taste: ★★★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★
My dinner tonight was General Tso’s Tofu with steamed rice and a scallion pancake. I wanted a plant-based entrée that had some protein in it, which limited me to rice with tofu. Still, there were a whopping eight (!) tofu options in total to choose from. Luckily, my (ethnically Chinese) roommate quickly came to my rescue and advised me on General Tso’s and also told me to try the scallion pancake. I was very happy with the tofu: fried to a perfect golden spot between crunchy and chewy, its crust scooped up the sweet, sour, and slightly spicy sauce, leading to mini flavor-explosions in my mouth as I bit into it. The steamed rice served well to balance out the intense flavor of the sauce. As for the scallion pancake, my roommate – a harsh critic of Chinese cuisine – declared it non-authentic, but it still hit all the right dopamine-triggering buttons in my brain by virtue of being fried dough. I would highly recommend Tiger Noodles if you are looking for a wholesome and tasty, yet inexpensive, lunch or dinner experience, and if you are on campus, you get a nice ten-minute walk in! The restaurant does not seem to be very vegan/vegetarian-oriented though, so maybe not the best if tofu or avocado sushi are not your plant-based thing. Still, dinner at Tiger Noodleswas a blast for me, and you should consider coming to support a Princeton business! (I will probably be back to try more varieties of tofu).
Lan Ramen – Most Creative Fries
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★
Creativity: ★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★
Ease of Access: ★★★
On the first stop of my plant-based food tour, I ate at Lan Ramen. This restaurant has a great location across the intersection from the Princeton Public Library and offers several options for vegan and vegetarian food. Though this week we are trying noodle and pasta restaurants, I actually overlooked the one vegan noodle entree because it’s somewhat buried in the menu. Know that there is the Scallion and Ginger Noodles as a vegan noodle option. Since I didn’t see this option in the moment, I tried the Shanghai bok choy, eggplant fries, and vegetable potstickers.
The bok choy was beautifully fresh and green. It felt like a very healthy meal, being just a few simple ingredients combined with the steamed baby napa. The bok choy with rice and the soy sauce included with the potstickers I ordered was very tasty, but I actually ran out of soy sauce before I finished it all. Know that there’s no protein such as tofu included. If you get this entree, make sure to ask for at least one extra soy sauce container; it brings most of the flavor!
I also tried Lan Ramen’s eggplant fries and crispy potstickers. I had to try the eggplant fries when I saw them on the menu; I’ve had sweet potato fries, green bean fries, and more, but never eggplant fries! The dipping sauce for the fries really made it for me, and once again I ran out just a little before I finished the food. The use of eggplant for fries is very creative, so I commend Lan Ramen for that. I do prefer the sweet potato and green bean fries I’ve tried at other restaurants.
The crispy potstickers were the highlight of my meal. In the container came 5 potstickers with beautiful gold coloring. I ate these with the sauce that came with the fries, and they were delicious. They had baby napa, mushrooms, tofu, and baby bamboo wrapped inside. I loved the look of the inside of them and, paired with the sweet sauce from the eggplant fries, this is the item I would recommend.
Though I wasn’t able to try these this time, Lan Ramen also has an “Original Cucumber,” and a “Lotus Root Salad” as plant-based appetizers. For entrees, there is the one vegan option I mentioned earlier and a whole list of vegetable options you can view in the ramen and vegetable section of the menu. It is easy to miss the plant-based options outside of the vegetable section as there are many more meat items and there isn’t a mark to signify that something is plant-based. I would really appreciate it if Lan Ramen added some marks to make it easier to signify these options!
Lan Ramen impressed me with the packaging for their rice, putting it in a sturdy brown paper container endorsed by the green restaurant association. All the other dishes, however, came in a mix of plastic and styrofoam, so I’d really like to see this improve. If you do eat here and you’re comfortable dining indoors, I recommend doing so to reduce waste. Also included in my takeout bag were plastic utensils and two sets of chopsticks. If you don’t need disposable utensils, let the restaurant know when ordering online or by phone!
Lan Ramen is located kitty corner to the Princeton Public Library at the intersection of Hulfish and Witherspoon. It’s about a fifteen minute walk from Whitman College. There is indoor seating and takeout, though outdoor seating is temporarily unavailable.
D’Angelo Italian Market – Best Classic Pasta
Price: $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★
The restaurant is located within the Italian grocery market, which is just a few minute’s walk from Fitzrandolph Gate. From their broad selection of classic pastas, I chose the Pesto Genovese. The sizable portion of penne pasta featured liberal amounts of pesto, olive oil, and parmesan cheese, and was tasty and satisfying! The staff is cordial, seating is available both inside and outside, and the store has a cheery ambiance, with many customers coming and going during lunchtime. Definitely stop by D’Angelo Italian Market if you are craving a great traditional pasta!
Lil Thai Pin- Most Vegan Options
Price $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★★★★
I ordered the edamame appetizer, the Vegetable Pad See Lew and the Vegetable Lo Mein Lover. I was super impressed in general with how many vegan/vegetarian options and alternatives there were on this menu! Almost every item has the option of being made vegan and that warms my heart. The edamame appetizer was a classic and for the price, they give you so much! For the entrees, the Vegetable Lo Mein Lover was definitely my favorite of the two. It came with broccoli, onions, and tofu and while the flavor wasn’t overwhelming, it was perfect for a grab and go bite that filled me up. The Pad See Lew came with bok choy, baby corn, and chinese broccoli. Typically, Pad See Lew is one of my favorite dishes to get at thai restaurants, and while I really appreciated the restaurant having an automatic option to leave out the egg, I don’t feel like the dish was packed with strong flavor. The service was super speedy and conveniently located right next to my apartment, and I ordered through the snack pass app which allowed for no waiting time at the restaurant, which is everything I could ask for in COVID times! I really appreciate how conscious Lil Thai Pin is to offer plentiful vegan options, and with its convenience I will definitely be going back!
Purinsu Ramen – Most Likely to Leave Feeling Like You Got Your Money’s Worth
Price $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★★★
Creativity: ★★
Plant Forward: ★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of access: ★★★★
I tried the Vegetable Wonton-Men, taking the traditional ramen to the next level with the addition of vegetable wontons. This ramen comes in a miso vegetable broth with noodles (obviously), bean sprouts, mushrooms, and scallions. Oh, and don’t forget the vegetable wontons, which for me make this dish worth it. My initial impression was that this wasn’t the most flavorful ramen I’d ever had, but the wontons added that extra kick I was looking for. They also made the dish really filling. I definitely finished my meal feeling like I’d gotten my money’s worth. I also tried the scallion pancake appetizer, which was delicious with the sauce they give you; this definitely fulfilled my fried food craving, but didn’t feel too heavy or oily at all. I would absolutely recommend Purinsu Ramen for some veggie wontons!
Ramen Stop – Most Likely to Fool You Into Thinking You’re Eating Meat
Price $$
Bang For Your Buck: ★★★
Creativity: ★★★★
Plant Forward: ★★★★
Taste: ★★★
Ease of Access: ★★
I was really excited to see that Ramen Stop offered impossible meat, which I hadn’t seen at a ramen restaurant before. I ordered the Impossible Ramen with vegan miso broth, vegan noodles, impossible meat, wood ear mushrooms, cabbage, and green onions. The impossible meat didn’t disappoint; it added a great umami flavor to the noodles and had a texture that reminded me exactly of real meat. I also really liked the generous amount of vegetables in the ramen, especially the green onions, which were crisp and brought some brightness to the dish. The broth was a little salty for my taste, but it definitely had plenty of flavor. For an appetizer, the edamame tofu nuggets caught my eye and I was curious to see what they would taste like. I was concerned that they’d be soggy after a twenty minute walk back to my dorm, but I was pleasantly surprised to find them still nice and crispy. While the portion size wasn’t huge and the nuggets weren’t very flavorful on their own, I enjoyed them paired with the side of ponzu sauce. Overall, I loved the vegan and vegetarian options at Ramen Stop—they have at least one plant-based dish in every category (ramen, bao, donburi, mazemen) and they use a variety of meat alternatives, including tofu, impossible meat, and edamame. Half of the appetizers are either vegan or vegetarian, so I would especially recommend trying them out! A bit far from campus, but definitely worth a visit.
This series is a collaboration between student group, Greening Dining and the Princeton EcoReps
*** We are not food critics, but food enthusiasts. This is in no way intended to be a formal critique or review of any restaurant in Princeton, merely a way to encourage students to try more plant-based options when dining out.
This series is also on our Instagram (@tigersgogreen)! To check out the video version of the plant-based food tour, click here.
Welcome to another edition of Good News Friday! If the extra short spring break has got you down, we hope that some positive news will help cheer you up.
A push to protect land and oceans: 50 country members of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People recently pledged to protect 30% of the world’s lands and oceans by 2030. The pledge will likely be a headline issue at the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity later this year. The HAC cites the need to avoid a human-driven sixth mass extinction, along with the many economic benefits provided by wildlife preservation, as reasons to prioritize this issue.
Prices for recyclable plastics increase: National average prices for most recycled plastics continued to rise last month, continuing a solid trend of 2021. This increase indicates a higher demand for recycled materials nationally, a positive development that signifies continued growth for recyclables despite China’s refusal to accept most nations’ plastics since 2018 (China had been the world’s biggest recycling market).
Department of Energy revives clean technology loan program: The Biden administration recently announced it would renew a Department of Energy (DOE) loan program designed to boost innovation in sustainable technologies. The initiative, run through the DOE’s Loan Programs Office, would open up as much as $40 billion in loan capacity, to be allocated by the DOE at its discretion. The program previously gave loan guarantees to companies like Tesla, the electric car and renewable energy technology maker.
That’s all for this week! Until next time, check out our previous editions of Good News Friday, thank you to those who submitted news ideas for this week, and contact us if you have any good environmental news to share!
Happy “Spring Break” everyone! Congrats on making it through half of this crazy semester. If you’re feeling drained by exams, essays, p-sets, and/or thesis, we hope that a bit of good environmental news will help lift your spirits.
International Ocean Conservation Agreement: Often, international agreements are determined by major economic powers, who impose their decisions onto smaller nations. However, last December, 14 smaller coastal nations came together to take action and protect their marine ecosystems: Australia, Canada, Chile, Fiji, Ghana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Namibia, Norway, Palau, and Portugal. They agreed to sustainably manage their oceans under national jurisdictions by 2025 as well as set aside 30% of the seas as marine protected areas by 2030. You can check out their report here!
Orange Electricity: Seville, Spain is one of Europe’s most important citrus producers, with over 50,000orange trees. These Seville oranges are far too sour to be eaten conventionally, usually used for marmalades and cooking instead. However, Emasesa, the city’s municipal water company, will actually be using the oranges to generate electricity for the city’s water plant. As the oranges ferment, the methane from the process will power the plant’s generator.
Community restores forest into peace park: Stillmeadow Community Fellowship in Baltimore worked together to turn a neglected forest into a space to contemplate and engage with nature. The church has formed partnerships with the US Forest Service, multiple school groups, and environmental non-profits, bringing the community together to conserve, create, and heal. According to Morgan Grove from the US Forest Service, “It’s healing a forest, but we’re going to be healing a community,” he concluded, noting that “there are a lot of people here who suffer from trauma and stress.”
Thanks for reading and have a great spring break, everyone! Check in next week for more positive environmental news and in the meantime, feel free to take a look at previous posts or share some good news with us!
Sometimes, people may have the misconception that environmental justice communities are determined by socio-economic class rather than race. However, according to data collected by researchers, upper-income (app. $180,000+) Black communities in Pennsylvania are twice as likely to live near an existing power plant than the whitest, lower-income neighborhoods. Additionally, 85 percent of Pennsylvania’s power plants are located in neighborhoods with more low income and Black families than the state median. The fact that these facilities are located in Black communities is not an accident — it derives from centuries of racist policies, and it severely affects the quality of life for individuals in these communities.
The two counties in Pennsylvania with the largest African American populations, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh’s Allegheny County, have the highest risk of asthma in the state, which is largely due to prolonged exposure to high levels of ozone and particulate matter. Within smaller communities in Philadelphia, African Americans endure some of the highest particulate pollution in the country along with the highest rate of childhood asthma hospitalizations.
Dr. Sharelle Barber, an assistant research professor at Drexel University, confirms the origin of these health disparities noting the “striking racial inequalities, especially for Blacks” that are “rooted in structural racism.” Similar patterns are seen in national statistics because, while majority-Black counties account for only 30 percent of the U.S. population, they were the location of 56 percent of COVID-19 deaths.
The wrongs of environmental injustice against communities of color is a serious issue and must be addressed. The racist placement of these power plants reinforces the notion of infrastructural racism that, in this case, could possibly lead to the premature deaths of many. We must work hard to keep our communities safe and healthy, especially during this difficult time riddled with the COVID-19 global pandemic and social injustice.
There is still hope, however. Local advocates and members of grassroots organizations continue to lobby and push for environmental justice reform. See the links below if you are interested in learning more and getting involved!
