Eating Green in more ways then one.....

                    11.17.11

Green Cuisine 
Eco-friendly eating is as easy as 1-2-3. 


One of the simplest and most effective ways to go green is by adjusting your diet. This habit not only will make an impact on your environment.  That’s not to say tossing out your favorites and filling your fridge with flax and grain, it simply means making wiser choices. These three simple steps will make green eating fun and easy!

1.    Choose Organic & Eat Simply
This may seem obvious, but by buying organic foods, you are cutting down on the chemicals you ingest. This will not only help your body by aiding in digestion and preventing disease, but it will help the Earth as well. The chemicals that are used to treat non-organic food sources often lead to the deterioration of soil, overtime, rendering that soil unharvestable. When you choose organic, none of those chemicals is going into the ground or your body, so both will remain healthy for a long time to come. If organic options are not available, choose items that have the fewest ingredients. Oftentimes, foods with a laundry list of ingredients are chockfull of harmful chemicals.

2.    Brown-Bag It!
Our hectic schedules often lead us to simply grab takeout for many of our meals.  This has played HUGE dividend on my personal health & have been doing this habit for most of my life.  However, by planning ahead and preparing your meals at home, you can reduce packaging and waste. Most takeout food items take packaging to the extreme, placing each item in an individual wrapper then bagging it for delivery. As we know, Styrofoam releases toxins into the air and plastic bags can take up to 500 years to break down. By preparing meals at home and carrying them in reusable containers, you are reducing your eco-footprint. Not to mention, you will save a pretty penny, too!

3.    Buy Local
From fuel consumption to packaging to chemical preservation, the stress put on the environment by shipping food across the country is immeasurable. Luckily, with farmers’ markets popping up all over the country and most supermarkets offering locally raised meat, dairy, produce and eggs, buying local is easier than ever. Not only does local food taste better because it is fresh and less chemically preserved, but you will be doing your part to help your local economy.

We don’t always recognize the toll our system of food production and delivery takes on our eco-system, from the poisonous chemicals used to preserve food to the tremendous amounts of gasoline used to power refrigerated trucks and planes. By making these simple choices, you are guaranteeing a better and brighter future for you and your loved ones.