Meet Art Eggertsen, Vegan Chef and Food Coach

Art Eggertsen is definitely the type of chef I'd like to have whipping up a bounty of vegan 'South of the Border' delights in my kitchen one day (as he recently has for actress Andie MacDowell!). The former congressional lobbyist spent years fighting nutrition education reform, running his own restaurant, and can now be found dishing out healthy, homemade meals and sharing his all-natural, whole food philosophy across the country. Not to mention, his line of organic, vegan meal-replacement PROBAR bars.

Art understands the vital connection between high-vibe foods and a cleaner planet. Enter his latest vision and development, Entelechy, a farm-based organization in Idaho that offers both programs on nutrition, disease prevention and produces organic foods and medicinal plants.

Planet Green: How did you get into this line of work?

Art Eggertsen: I started out in nutrition, wellness and prevention advocacy.

PG: What was your "a-ha" moment?

AE: When I realized that human health and the health of the planet are inseparably connected.

PG: Who is your green hero?

AE: Ralph Nader.

PG: What is your ultimate green goal?

AE: To facilitate cooperative economics and community self-sufficiency. The power to change this world is in the hands of ordinary people--not politicians. When communities come together and organize to become self-sufficient it creates the necessary strength for transformation and opens up the future to endless possibilities. Currently, I am developing the Entelechy Institute, a not for profit, education foundation focused on developing community based, cooperative programs for the sustainable production of food, clothing, shelter and fuel. Learn more here: www.discoverentelechy.com.

PG: What is your motivation?

AE: My motivation comes from the desperate need for change. I know we can do better!

PG: What is most important to you, ecologically speaking?

AE: The shift to a plant based food supply.

PG: What is the most challenging part of your job?

AE: Inspiring others and sharing a hopeful vision of the future. If we don't see where we need to go, it is very difficult to get there!

PG: What is the most rewarding?

AE: I feel most rewarded when I see "the lights go on" in another person's mind at the moment when change is understood and embraced.

PG: Of the people you have worked with, who impresses you most?

AE: Cancer patients. They have a clarity that is inspiring. Facing death seems to help bring an understanding of what is important and what is trivial.

PG: What green thing do you do everyday?

AE: I eat plant-based foods. It conserves vast amounts of water, prevents the build up of greenhouse gasses and preserves vital rainforest.

PG: What do you wish you could do?

AE: I wish I could share a message of inspiration and hope with everyone. The world is desperate and hungry for direction and inspiration.

PG: What is your biggest eco-sin?

AE: Driving a car. Every gallon of gas burned is a pound of pollution thrown out into the environment.

PG: If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

AE: If I could change one thing in this world it would be animal agricultural practices, I would like to see it all end.

PG: What is your best green advice?

AE: Be real and just do something. Look around, do some studying and pick an issue that resonates with you. We know ourselves what motivates us; we can choose to make changes that we know we can stick with and start there. If it means one less cheeseburger a month, that is a great start. We need to pick a starting point and get on with it no matter how big or small. Just start!

Change Makers is series of interviews with people famous and obscure who are creating a more sustainable world through their work. Meet more Change Makers here.