Thursday, October 14, 2010
Finding Safe Products
Now that I've scared you (or hopefully at least made you aware of the dangers) with the videos about the chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products, I'm going to share a very useful resource to use for researching all of these chemicals and find out what's safe and what isn't and find manufactures who do produce safe products. The website is http://www.safecosmetics.org/. It's full of information that is necessary for any consumer wanting to buy safe products for their families. Check it out!
Need Green Tips at Home?
If you're looking for a great resource with lots of information on green living....check out the book "It's Easy Being Green" by Crissy Trask. Not only does it give you tons of tips for things you can do at home, at work or on the go for being eco-friendly, but it also gives lots of facts and information on how living green can impact the environment in a great way, it gives suggestions on how to go about getting involved in small ways to make an impact on the Earth conscious movement and it also gives lots of different resources (including stores, websites and organizations) who promote being green or who offer green alternatives to regular services.
Monday, October 11, 2010
"Organic" Doesn't Always Mean Organic
So "Organic" doesn't always mean organic...sounds confusing right?
If you've read my previous post, you'll know that I'm all for eating organic foods. However, one of the most important things I've discovered about organic foods, is that just because the label says "organic" doesn't mean that it is, in fact, organic. Food labeling has very few regulations, so some manufacturers can actually claim that their product is "organic" or "all natural" or whatever when it isn't. So I suggest looking into what the labels mean when buying organic foods and to know what the regulations are that need to be met to call something "organic", to ensure that you are getting what you pay for. Here are a couple of websites that I have found useful:
fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&...
www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004446&...
www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/Food-Label-Decoder...
www.faqs.org/nutrition/Ome-Pop/Organic-Foods.html
In addition to knowing what the labels mean, and what the regulations are in calling something "organic", I also suggest that you should buy locally and from people you know or grow your own whenever possible. Because buying foods in the store that are organic and do meet the criteria for being organic, doesn't mean that they are grown free from pesticides and other harmful chemicals. See this link for some of the unknown facts about "organic" foods: http://www.biotech-info.net/deadly . I think it's important to know as much as we can about the foods we consume. And sometimes things aren't always what they seem...even when they claim to be the best for us!
All in all, the best thing you can do is to grow your own...because only then do you truly know what it happening to your foods! But if you can't, at least do the necessary research to ensure that you are getting the best food possible.
If you've read my previous post, you'll know that I'm all for eating organic foods. However, one of the most important things I've discovered about organic foods, is that just because the label says "organic" doesn't mean that it is, in fact, organic. Food labeling has very few regulations, so some manufacturers can actually claim that their product is "organic" or "all natural" or whatever when it isn't. So I suggest looking into what the labels mean when buying organic foods and to know what the regulations are that need to be met to call something "organic", to ensure that you are getting what you pay for. Here are a couple of websites that I have found useful:
fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&...
www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004446&...
www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/Food-Label-Decoder...
www.faqs.org/nutrition/Ome-Pop/Organic-Foods.html
In addition to knowing what the labels mean, and what the regulations are in calling something "organic", I also suggest that you should buy locally and from people you know or grow your own whenever possible. Because buying foods in the store that are organic and do meet the criteria for being organic, doesn't mean that they are grown free from pesticides and other harmful chemicals. See this link for some of the unknown facts about "organic" foods: http://www.biotech-info.net/deadly . I think it's important to know as much as we can about the foods we consume. And sometimes things aren't always what they seem...even when they claim to be the best for us!
All in all, the best thing you can do is to grow your own...because only then do you truly know what it happening to your foods! But if you can't, at least do the necessary research to ensure that you are getting the best food possible.
The Organic Nazi :)
Sometimes called the "organic nazi" by my husband, I am a firm believer in eating healthy, organic foods. Call me crazy, but I want to know that the food that I am giving my family will not only nourish their bodies, but will also be free from chemicals and other harmful ingredients! So I have made it a personal mission of mine to research foods and their manufacturers, read labels, and buy locally whenever possible...in order to buy the best, chemical free, freshest foods I can. Not only do I know that I'm giving my family the best food possible, but I can also testify that by eating organic foods, we feel better, we seem to experience less fatigue, we don't get sick as often as most people and we just have a general sense of well-being.
I think that we, as Americans, have become a society of people who are complacent when it comes to our food. If it's convenient or fast or easy or cheap or tastes good, then we eat it...not even taking the time to think twice about whether it's good for us, what is in it or anything! I know that it's so easy to eat fast food when we are all on the go....or to throw in a frozen meal when we don't have time to cook, but these kinds of foods are filled with growth hormones, pesticides, preservatives and many other harmful things that can have a lasting effect on our bodies. Need proof? Want to see for yourself? Check out some of these links to things that have influenced me and given me knowledge about food.
http://www.foodincmovie.com/
hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/chem-chim/food-aliment/index
http://www.tuberose.com/Chemicals_in_Food.html
With that said, I encourage all of you to take a step out of the comfort zone, go beyond quick and easy, and put a little effort into the foods you eat....the foods you feed to your children!! It may take a little extra time, it may cost a little extra money and it may even taste different from the foods that you are used to eating, but I can assure you, that by eating organic, homemade foods, you will not only know that you are providing quality food as nourishment to your family, but it will also make you feel so much better (both mentally and physically)! Take the time to research the manufacturers of your foods, become better informed of the things that are put into everyday foods, find grocery stores that carry organic foods, know what labels mean, shop local farmer's markets...take the initiative to know your food and know it's safe! I've included just a few of some useful websites to reference in researching foods and also what terms to look for that mean danger in your foods! But I encourage you to do more research, because there is so much more to know!
www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/fnrb
www.sweetpoison.com/food-additives-to-avoid.html
www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm
www.organicfoodinfo.net/what_is_organic_food.html
I hope that one day, as a society, we can stand up to manufacturers and insist that only the best products be put into our foods which will allow all of us to eat healthy, no matter what we buy or where we buy it! But until that day, we need to take a personal initiative to ensure on our own that the foods we eat are the best!
Throughout the course of this blog, I plan to share some of my favorite organic recipes, tips to organic food shopping (including couponing for organic food for the frugal mom) and just some overall knowledge about some of the things I've learned about organic foods. Until then, I hope that I've given you some useful information to get started on your path to being your own "organic nazi"! :)
I think that we, as Americans, have become a society of people who are complacent when it comes to our food. If it's convenient or fast or easy or cheap or tastes good, then we eat it...not even taking the time to think twice about whether it's good for us, what is in it or anything! I know that it's so easy to eat fast food when we are all on the go....or to throw in a frozen meal when we don't have time to cook, but these kinds of foods are filled with growth hormones, pesticides, preservatives and many other harmful things that can have a lasting effect on our bodies. Need proof? Want to see for yourself? Check out some of these links to things that have influenced me and given me knowledge about food.
http://www.foodincmovie.com/
hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/chem-chim/food-aliment/index
http://www.tuberose.com/Chemicals_in_Food.html
With that said, I encourage all of you to take a step out of the comfort zone, go beyond quick and easy, and put a little effort into the foods you eat....the foods you feed to your children!! It may take a little extra time, it may cost a little extra money and it may even taste different from the foods that you are used to eating, but I can assure you, that by eating organic, homemade foods, you will not only know that you are providing quality food as nourishment to your family, but it will also make you feel so much better (both mentally and physically)! Take the time to research the manufacturers of your foods, become better informed of the things that are put into everyday foods, find grocery stores that carry organic foods, know what labels mean, shop local farmer's markets...take the initiative to know your food and know it's safe! I've included just a few of some useful websites to reference in researching foods and also what terms to look for that mean danger in your foods! But I encourage you to do more research, because there is so much more to know!
www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/fnrb
www.sweetpoison.com/food-additives-to-avoid.html
www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm
www.organicfoodinfo.net/what_is_organic_food.html
I hope that one day, as a society, we can stand up to manufacturers and insist that only the best products be put into our foods which will allow all of us to eat healthy, no matter what we buy or where we buy it! But until that day, we need to take a personal initiative to ensure on our own that the foods we eat are the best!
Throughout the course of this blog, I plan to share some of my favorite organic recipes, tips to organic food shopping (including couponing for organic food for the frugal mom) and just some overall knowledge about some of the things I've learned about organic foods. Until then, I hope that I've given you some useful information to get started on your path to being your own "organic nazi"! :)
Thursday, October 7, 2010
What Does Kermit the Frog know about being green anyhow??? :)
For anyone familiar with the muppets, I'm sure you've heard Kermit's testimonial song about how "it's not easy being green". Well, I've found that actually, it IS easy to be green...if by green, we are referring to living an eco-friendly lifestyle and doing what we can to keep our carbon footprint to a minimum in hopes that our children and generations to follow have a safe, clean world to live in.
I've recently started my own little personal mission on Facebook (and even just in passing conversations with friends or strangers) to provide Green Tips, in hopes that I may reach a few open-minded people who are willing to try some simple things to in order to minimize wasteful living! I think we are all guilty at one time or another of living life without the thought of what the consequences of our actions today might be on the world around us tomorrow...or even 100 years from today! You throw away a plastic bottle thinking, "it's just one bottle", but at the same time, millions of people around the world are doing the exact same thing....and all those bottles soon add up...laying in landfills, floating in oceans or just laying along side the road as we pass by in our cars. So my hopes are that if I can "convert" at least one person into changing at least one thing differently, then perhaps they can do the same for someone else, and eventually the chain reaction can make a huge difference. And if I can reach more than one person, then even better!!!
I've got a few simple things that each and every one of us can do to make a difference. Some require a little effort, but others require no effort at all...just a conscious awareness.
1. Recycle (whether it be sorting plastics, glass, cans and paper into proper bins for curbside pick-up or dropping them off at recycle center or even if it's just collecting alluminum cans for money or using the recyclable bin at your favorite public place...any little bit that doesn't go into a landfill helps!)
2. Use water sparingly. (I know we all need water...and I'm not saying don't drink water or don't use water, but I'm just saying don't over-indulge and be wasteful with it...don't leave it run while brushing your teeth, don't take unnecessarily long showers or fill the bathtub to the brim, or don't leave the water run while you wash and rinse dishes...simple things like this can go a long way and save water!)
3. Turn the lights off! (no, I don't mean you have to walk around in the dark all evening or only use candles...I mean simply turn the lights in a room off if you are no longer going to be in that room. It's an easy thing to do that can save a LOT of energy and reduce power usage.)
And that's it. I'm not suggesting that everyone change their entire lives, I'm just asking that we all make a few simple changes in our everyday lives. If we would all do just these few things, it would greatly benefit our Earth! It really is that easy being green!! :)
I've recently started my own little personal mission on Facebook (and even just in passing conversations with friends or strangers) to provide Green Tips, in hopes that I may reach a few open-minded people who are willing to try some simple things to in order to minimize wasteful living! I think we are all guilty at one time or another of living life without the thought of what the consequences of our actions today might be on the world around us tomorrow...or even 100 years from today! You throw away a plastic bottle thinking, "it's just one bottle", but at the same time, millions of people around the world are doing the exact same thing....and all those bottles soon add up...laying in landfills, floating in oceans or just laying along side the road as we pass by in our cars. So my hopes are that if I can "convert" at least one person into changing at least one thing differently, then perhaps they can do the same for someone else, and eventually the chain reaction can make a huge difference. And if I can reach more than one person, then even better!!!
I've got a few simple things that each and every one of us can do to make a difference. Some require a little effort, but others require no effort at all...just a conscious awareness.
1. Recycle (whether it be sorting plastics, glass, cans and paper into proper bins for curbside pick-up or dropping them off at recycle center or even if it's just collecting alluminum cans for money or using the recyclable bin at your favorite public place...any little bit that doesn't go into a landfill helps!)
2. Use water sparingly. (I know we all need water...and I'm not saying don't drink water or don't use water, but I'm just saying don't over-indulge and be wasteful with it...don't leave it run while brushing your teeth, don't take unnecessarily long showers or fill the bathtub to the brim, or don't leave the water run while you wash and rinse dishes...simple things like this can go a long way and save water!)
3. Turn the lights off! (no, I don't mean you have to walk around in the dark all evening or only use candles...I mean simply turn the lights in a room off if you are no longer going to be in that room. It's an easy thing to do that can save a LOT of energy and reduce power usage.)
And that's it. I'm not suggesting that everyone change their entire lives, I'm just asking that we all make a few simple changes in our everyday lives. If we would all do just these few things, it would greatly benefit our Earth! It really is that easy being green!! :)
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