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I’ve been enjoying the earth friendly tips in various newspapers and journals in the celebration of Earth Day. I try to be conscious in my habits, and I like getting new ideas.
I’ll bet that most of my readers have good earth friendly tips too. It would be fun to share pointers. I’ll get the list started – please feel free to add to it at any time. After all, while Earth Day is a good day to stop and remember, these are every day kinds of habits.
- Take your own bags into stores (not just grocery stores!) I have a couple lovely, big baskets that I love to shop with; it just feels good!
- Skip the plastic veggie bag if it’s not needed, reuse when it is, or make (or buy) reusable bags.
- Buy fresh and local as much as possible. Join a CSA (community supported agriculture/farm box) and shop your local Farmers Market. Encourage your local grocery stores to carry local foods.
- Consume and waste less. Buy in bulk to avoid packaging, use a menu to buy just what you need, and use leftovers. My husband laughs when I save a few bites of vegetable – but I like having it for lunch the next day.
- Get a water filter and carry reusable bottles. There are a number of good metal ones available. Avoid refilling plastic bottles if you can help it; extra use can increase the leaching of chemicals.
- Purchase free range or grass fed poultry and meats.
- Buy imperfect produce. Tristram Stuart, in his book Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal, says that 30% of food crops grown by farmers are rejected due to cosmetic imperfections. He also says that 50% of all food produced in the US is thrown away!
- Use earth friendly cleaning products. There are lots of good products available, and you can even use simple things like vinegar and baking soda. I mop my tile floor with vinegar and water.
- Start paying attention to what you put on your skin. You can see how safe the products you use are at: http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com.
- You’re on next? What do you do or suggest?
Find more nutrition information, my Mindful Eating CD, and my monthly newsletter on my website: http://healthyhabitscoach.com.
Eat well!
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