Project GreenHouse Video Summary

Hosted by Josh May

Episode 1: The Invisible Man
Josh May, a self-described “typical American guy” and smoker has decided to go green for 30 days and become an “invisible man.” This means that he will wear eco-friendly clothes, eat local, eco-friendly foods and live in a green house. He will become carbon neutral – he won’t burn fossil fuels, he won’t release greenhouse gases from his grill or cigarettes and he will produce less garbage and waste.

In this episode, Josh visits the doctor for the first time in several years and finds out that he is overweight and has a blood pressure of 150 over 100, which is high, especially for a person his age. By going green, he hopes he will improve his health.

Episode 2: My Green Crib
In this episode, Josh takes us on a tour of his green house. Some highlights include:

Eco-friendly art
Green kitchen, with energy-efficient appliances and an eco-pod used for recycling
Organic bed sheets
Organic beauty products
Garden
Solar panels
Bike, which can go up to 23 miles an hour

Episode 3: Hunting and Gathering
An important part of being green is eating locally. Josh goes to the supermarket with Sheila Kelly, a registered dietitian, to discuss how to satisfy his appetite. Sheila’s suggestions include:

Add more substance to vegetable dishes. An easy way to do this is by adding potatoes. Potatoes provide carbohydrates and fiber, which keeps you full.

Eat fruit. Strawberries, blueberries, melons and cherries provide a wide range of nutrients as well as a lot of fiber.

Eat breakfast. Before Josh began living green, he drank two large iced coffees for breakfast. Sheila recommends pairing fruit and yogurt from a local dairy. Omelets are another filling breakfast option. And to get extra fiber, Sheila suggests making hash browns from diced potatoes with the skins.

Episode 4: Josh’s Mid-Month Check Up
In this episode, Josh returns to the doctor for his mid-month check-up.  Josh has stopped smoking and started eating locally. He has also refrained from driving, using his bike instead.

Josh discovers that he gas actually gained three pounds. This is normal, however, as people who stop smoking may gain some weight. But there is good news – although it is still high, Josh’s blood pressure has gone down to 130 over 94.

Episode 5: Josh Goes Clam Digging
Joined by Nancy Atlas, Josh goes digging for clams in Montauk in this episode. Nancy shows Josh how to use a clam rake. He catches 18 clams and heads home to learn how to cook them.

Episode 6 (Part 1): Cooking with Katie Lee
Josh is joined by former Top Chef host Katie Lee to learn how to prepare his local ingredients for breakfast.

Frittata
Ingredients:
12 eggs, beaten
Mushrooms
Herbs (parsley, chives, rosemary), chopped

Preparation:
1. Heat a 10-inch, ovenproof skillet to medium-high heat and add a small amount of olive oil.
2. Add mushrooms and cook for a few minutes.
3. Add fresh herbs and cook for about 30 seconds.
4. Add the eggs and cook for seven-to-eight minutes. As the frittata cooks, use a spatula to push in the edges to prevent it from sticking.
5. Place the skillet in the oven at 400 degrees for seven-to-eight minutes.
6. Let it cool for a few minutes and flip it onto a plate.

Episode 6 (Part 2): Cooking with Katie Lee
Katie Lee shows Josh how to make a clam stew with the clams he caught.

Clam Stew
Ingredients:
Clams (about one dozen per person)
Garlic
Olive oil
Diced tomatoes
Basil and parsley
Salt
Pepper
Pasta (optional)

Preparation:
1. This dish can be served on pasta or alone.
2. Put a pan over medium heat and add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once the oil is heated, add three cloves of garlic, chopped. Cook about two-to-three minutes.
3. Dice six tomatoes and add them to the pan. Allow the mixture to cook down.
4. Tear up basil and add it. Also add parsley and a small amount of salt and pepper. Be careful not to over-salt as clams have a natural sea salt flavor.
5. Cook for about five-to-seven minutes until fragrant.
6. Add clams (12 per person).
7. Cover the pan and allow it to cook for 10 minutes until the clams open.

Episode 6 (Part 3): Cooking with Katie Lee
Katie Lee shows Josh how to make a simple chicken dish: chicken paillard.

Chicken Paillard
Ingredients:
Chicken (one breast per person)
Salt
Pepper
Olive oil
Vinegar (infused with rosemary, peppercorns and garlic)
Arugula
Diced tomatoes

Preparation:
1. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Put a little olive oil on the chicken and rub it on both sides. Place the breasts on the grill and grill for four minutes on each side.
2. Wash your hands and use a new cutting board to make a salad. Roughly chop some arugla and place it in a bowl with the diced tomatoes.
3. Make a dressing for the salad with a small amount of olive oil and about a tablespoon of vinegar. Toss the salad and add salt and pepper.
4. Place the chicken breast on a plate and serve the salad on top.

Episode 7: The Final Day
After spending 30 days living in an eco-friendly house, Josh May makes another visit to his doctor. He finds out that he has lost 10 pounds. His blood pressure is 134 over 90, which is less than it was at his first visit.

After moving out of the green house, Josh has continued to eat healthier foods and exercise. He has also made small changes to his daily routine to make it more eco-friendly, such as turning off the water while he brushes his teeth and riding his bike.

HealthiNation offers health information for educational purposes only; this information is not meant as medical advice. Always consult your doctor about your specific health condition.
Author: Ms. Diane Ross
Host Reviewer:  Mr. Josh May
Last Review Date: January 6, 2010
Reviewed by: Dr. Preeti Parikh

Sources:

1. Benefits of Quitting Smoking.  Washington, D.C.: American Lung Association.2009. (Accessed October 19, 2009, at http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=33568.)
2. How to Tell if You Have Pre-Diabetes. Alexandria, Virginia. : American Diabetes Association.2009. (Accessed October 19, 2009, at http://www.diabetes.org/pre-diabetes/pre-diabetes-.)
3. Quick Stats General Information on Alcohol Use and Health. Atlanta, GA.: Center for Disease Control. (Accessed October 19, 2009, at http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/quickstats/general_info.htm.)
4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Health Consequences of Smoking. A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Executive Summary Surgeon General’s Report Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2004.
5. Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking. Atlanta, GA.: Center for Disease Control. (Accessed October 19, 2009, at http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/2004/index.htm.)
6. Health Hazards Associated with obesity in adults. Waltham, MA. :UpToDate. (Accessed October 19, 2009, at http://www.utdol.com/online/content/topic.do?topicKey=obesity/2127)