"I don't have time to go green" or "It's just too hard to make the commitment." Excuses, excuses. As a mother of two and a business owner, I know it can be a challenge to make eco-friendly changes. However, if you make it part of your everyday life, it becomes a routine and the payoff is worth it!
A regular family discards juice boxes, zip-close bags, water bottles, disposable utensils and other common household items daily. Why not use reusable containers and utensils? In my household we minimize our investment by buying food packaged in reusable containers that we can wash and use again later. For example, a ham or turkey container is great for packing leftovers.
What about the food itself? "Organic foods are just too expensive for my budget" or "I'm too busy to stop at my local Farmers Market." Again, more excuses. Consider joining a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA). These programs have become popular ways for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer and the advantages are many:
• You can at ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits.
• You get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking.
• You usually get to visit the farm at least once a season.
• You find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm, even veggies they've never been known to eat.
• You can develop a relationship with the farmer who grows your food and learn more about how food is grown.
CSA will allow you to join a local farm and receive a sampling of each season's bounty. Visit www.LocalHarvest.org for more information.
The eco-friendly options we have inside our homes are endless. A simple change can actually save you time and money and who wouldn't want that? I know I do!
A regular family discards juice boxes, zip-close bags, water bottles, disposable utensils and other common household items daily. Why not use reusable containers and utensils? In my household we minimize our investment by buying food packaged in reusable containers that we can wash and use again later. For example, a ham or turkey container is great for packing leftovers.
What about the food itself? "Organic foods are just too expensive for my budget" or "I'm too busy to stop at my local Farmers Market." Again, more excuses. Consider joining a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA). These programs have become popular ways for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer and the advantages are many:
• You can at ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits.
• You get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking.
• You usually get to visit the farm at least once a season.
• You find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm, even veggies they've never been known to eat.
• You can develop a relationship with the farmer who grows your food and learn more about how food is grown.
CSA will allow you to join a local farm and receive a sampling of each season's bounty. Visit www.LocalHarvest.org for more information.
The eco-friendly options we have inside our homes are endless. A simple change can actually save you time and money and who wouldn't want that? I know I do!