Method to the Madness

As I've been converting products slowly to their greener counterparts, I've run into some difficulty finding a body wash that does the trick: until NOW.

I'm a big fan of Method products (hand soap, cleaners, detergent, etc). With such a cute introductory website story, what's not to love?

Here is their manifesto.

Anyway, I was scanning the body wash aisle of Target, only to find one body wash with a 100% recycled container, containing zero scary looking chemicals. Enter Method's Refresh Mint body wash. My preferred scent. So fresh, it gets me out of my tired, end of day funk.

Environmentally friendly products are all well and good, as long as they do their job. This body wash does not disappoint. Skin is still as hydrated and smooth as ever. Excellent.

Here's a little more insight if you're super interested.

The Secret World of Trader Joes

School starts again on September 1st. While I am dreading the end of summer and beginning my 5th!?! year of teaching, the commute up north does have one perk: I will be in the neighborhood of my beloved Trader Joes once again.

We are running dangerously low on our TJ staples, and I'm excited to get back into the swing of things. In the meantime, here's an interesting article, courtesy of A and J.

In other news, I may have to go gluten-free. No definite verdict as of yet, but expect to see some G-free advice and tips on here as I try to replace my irreplaceable bread products. Hopefully my return to TJ's will yield some good finds. Here are 3 frontrunning products so far:

1) Udi's Gluten Free with online coupons, always a bonus

2) Annie's Homegrown pretty good g-free mac and cheese

3) Tinkyada  rumored to be the best rice pasta on the market. I made a baked ziti with their shells and it actually was quite tasty.

Now, if only they weren't so expensive...

Green Energy for the Tri-State

Despite our best efforts, sometimes our carbon footprints are larger than we think. A lot of the impact comes from energy we use in our homes. I've turned into my parents, frantically turning off lights that aren't in use. I've changed all my lightbulbs, use less heat in the winter/AC in the summer when I have control of it, etc. Carbon offsets were a consideration, but to be honest I find they are kind of confusing.

I've recently caught wind (you'll get the pun later) of a power company that offers green energy to our area. Viridian offers environmentally sustainable energy at a savings to its customers. New Jersey mandates that every electrical supplier obtain around 8% of their electrical load from renewable resources. Viridian's rate plans claim to obtain a minimum of 20% from renewable resources, and also has a 100% renewable resource option.

I believe it's a win-win for everyone: lower your impact while saving some green. We plan to switch to Viridian once we buy one of these (which is hopefully soon!)

Attention all IPhone users!

As I continue to make my life greener and healthier, I've begun to realize how difficult and confusing this can sometimes be. So many product labels claim to be "natural" or "organic" when they do not have the proper certification to make these claims. Even those labels and brands that are reputable still have an ingredients list that I cannot pronounce. Often times I come home and scour the Internet to make sure that I am not being greenwashed.

My friend Elena offered up a solution. GoodGuide, a free IPhone app, allows users to scan barcodes of the products they are purchasing to get instant ratings on health, social responsibility, and environmental impact. It also gives an overall rating, taking all of these elements into account. Makes me want to run out and buy an IPhone right now!

Not sure if other smart phones have apps similar to this...anyone?

Road Trip to Connecticut

I travelled up to Washington Depot CT (hello, small town living!) to visit one of my wonderful friends from California. Her mom is years ahead of me in terms of greener, healthier living, and I came back with a few tips and resources to spread around.

1) Food Inc. - If you haven't already seen this documentary, I would recommend it. Exposes the meat and farming industries in a pretty big way. Of course, you have to take all documentaries with a grain of salt, but I was shocked at some of the footage, and it made me continue to reflect on the types of food I put into my body.

2) Omnivore's Dilemma - A friend of mine recommended this book, and others by the same author (Michael Pollan). Then, I went to CT and Meg's mother and a girl at the farmer's market both mentioned it and said it was definitely worth the read. So, that's next on the library list (after Kathy Griffin's autobiography, because let's face it, I need to mix in some laughs with my "research").

3) Bragg's Amino Acids - An alternative to soy sauce, this stuff is seriously good. And good for you. Meg's mom cut up tofu into "steaks", squirted some of this stuff on them with some garlic powder, salt and pepper, and pan fried in olive oil them for 3-4 minutes a side. Amazing.

Mix all of this together with fresh, home grown raspberries (hello pie!), a lovely health food store, a sporadic farmer's market on the side of a windy road, and wonderful company, and you've got yourself a great time in small town America.

Book Review #1

I've been taking out books from the public library, conveniently located across the street from my apartment (a green act in itself, walking to the library, renting books instead of buying). The first book I read is a very concise, yet fact-filled guide to living a smarter, more environmentally and health conscious life.

Do One Green Thing by Mindy Pennybacker is now on my high recommendation list.

The book is separated into four parts: Food and Drink, A Green and Healthy Home, Personal Care and Apparal, and Transportation. Each part has pertinent chapters, which highlight the link between our personal health and the health of our planet. Each chapter begins with a simple suggestion of "One Green Thing" related to the given topic; generally something easy that everyone can do without much thought or impact on their day-to-day lives. Pennybacker then answers FAQ's about the topic, and includes (my personal fav) "Choose It/Lose It" lists. These lists highlight green choices you can make, and non-green choices to avoid, including rationale for each.

Throughout the writing, there are also sections explaining the science behind why certain products or choices are greener (ie better for your health, the planet, and/or social justice), sample shopping lists (!), the author's top picks, and explanations of the differences between truly green labels vs. "greenwashing" labels (which I found to be very helpful/eye-opening).

I was particularly impressed by the author's non-judgemental tone throughout the writing. She admits that she is not perfect, does not follow every "rule", and instead focuses on making little, lasting changes that have a large positive impact. Kinda takes the pressure off!

GO READ THIS BOOK. It is extremely user-friendly, and contains a wealth of knowledge for beginners and experts alike.

Bonus #1: There is a recommended reading list at the back of the book.

Bonus #2: It's printed on recycled paper, so I don't feel as guilty for going out and buying it after renting it from the library. I plan on using it as a guide for many of the choices I am starting/continuing to make.

Bonus #3: Ms. Pennybacker also has a blog! http://www.greenerpenny.com/.

Local Growing Love

To piggyback off of my "Dirty Dozen" post, I would like to highlight the importance and deliciousness of getting your grown goods at your local farmer's market.

While it's important for our health to buy organic, it's important to our environment to eat locally when possible. For inclusion in most farmer's markets, food must be grown within 100 to 200 miles of where it's sold. As a result, farmer's markets cut down on greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from fossil fuels burned to transport food over long distances. It also tends to cut down on the amount of packaging materials used for the fruits and veggies, supports your smaller, local farmers, and is generally cheaper to buy most products than the grocery store. It's a win-win for everyone.

The hitch is, not all farmer's markets guarantee organic produce, so it's important to do your research.

I'm looking forward to hitting up my first farmer's markets in NJ this weekend: Point Pleasant and Belmar. I had an amazing market in California within biking distance, where I stocked up on organic fruits, veggies, honey, hummus, tzatziki sauce, and grass fed bison (for the boy). I hold high standards, so I'm hoping the Garden State measures up!

Make sure you bring your reusable bags to tote your loot, and walk/bike ride to the market if you can!

Bonus Fact: In Iowa alone, non-local produce travels an estimated 1500 miles from farm to plate (versus the 56 miles for locally grown food). This translates to 4 times as much fuel and releasing 4 times as much greenhouse gases, according to a 2001 study by the Leopald Institute for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University. (Source: Do One Green Thing by Mindy Pennybacker...more on this excellent book later)

The Dirty Dozen

With summer in full swing, most of us are taking advantage of all of the fresh fruits and veggies available. A study came out in May, conducted by the Environmental Working Group (an organization of scientists, researchers, and policy makers), which highlighted fruits and veggies that contain high levels of pesticides. They dubbed these culprits "The Dirty Dozen", as they contain at least 47 different chemicals when conventionally grown. It is recommended that you try to buy organic for the following products, unless you want to consume a chemical cocktail:

The Dirty Dozen
celery
peaches
strawberries
apples
domestic blueberries
nectarines
sweet bell peppers
spinach, kale and collard greens
cherries
potatoes
imported grapes
lettuce

On the flip side, they also created "The Clean Fifteen", which are safe to consume in non-organic form:

The Clean Fifteen

onions
avocados
sweet corn
pineapples
mango
sweet peas
asparagus
kiwi fruit
cabbage
eggplant
cantaloupe
watermelon
grapefruit
sweet potatoes
sweet onions

I know, it's expensive to buy organic, even at my beloved Trader Joe's. Maybe start with a few on the Dirty Dozen that you regularly purchase to begin the switch. To keep you in check, you can download a free pocket guide to take to the store with you!

Cleaning Green

I don't know how many of you have taken the leap and converted to naturally derived plant-based cleaning products, but I think it is an important step in becoming more environmentally conscious, and here are some reasons why.

I'm here to give you a quick review of the products I've tried and prefer.

1) GreenWorks Natural All-purpose Cleaner (simply tangerine scent) - contains no phosphorus or bleach, great for general cleaning.

2) GreenWorks Natural Biodegradable Cleaning Wipes (original scent) - I like that these are biodegradable, and thus compostable. I'd like them even more if I had a yard and garden for composting. The packaging is also 25% recycled plastic, which is nice. However, compared to cleaning wipes with harsh chemicals, these are definitely a lot drier. I almost always squirt some all-purpose cleaner around before I wipe with the wipes.

3) GreenWorks Naturally Derived Laundry Detergent - leaves clothes clean and smelling great. Enough said.

4) Seventh Generation Natural Tub and Tile Cleaner (emerald cypress and fir) - I really like the scent, and it cleans very well. Again, recycled packaging, always a plus.

5) Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid - I've tried other natural dish soaps in the past, and I always felt like I had to keep squirting more on the sponge to get the job done. This one is very bubbly and foamy, and cleans a sinkful with one liberal squirt.

6) Nature's Source Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner - This is made by Scrubbing Bubbles. Same credentials as the other cleaners, it's my go-to TBC.

7) Nature's Source Natural Glass and Surface Cleaner - Made by Windex, this is the only natural glass cleaner I've tried that that does not leave streaks, which is definitely a must.

I'm so happy that so many companies have jumped on the natural ingredients bandwagon, though Seventh Generation definitely blazed the trail. What's more, I've found that all of these products are comparable price-wise to their chemical counterparts.

Bonus: There are coupons available on the GreenWorks website, and if you become a member of the Seventh Generation Nation, they send you coupons via email.

Trader Joe's love affair

For those that don't know me, I moved out to California right after college graduation and lived there for 3 years. This is significant, because it was there that I began to really examine my life and the choices that I made. This is also where I began my Trader Joe's obsession.

Trader Joe's is a fantastic grocery store. It is small, personal, and people just seem to be happier going there and working there. I mean, the workers all wear Hawaiian t-shirts: how can you not be happy? My first encounter came when I was searching for my go-to neighborhood grocery store in Long Beach, and since I moved back to Jersey, I heavily weighed my options on where to live based on its proximity to the limited TJ's here.

The store "skips the middle-man" wherever possible, producing savings for its customers. There are no coupons, as most of the prices are already lower than the bigger chain grocery stores. The majority of their products don the Trader Joe's brand, and are just plain delicious. Their dairy products contain no growth hormones, and there are cage free egg options. I also enjoy it because their organic selections are reasonably priced, and they limit the amount of packaging used, decreasing the amount of waste you produce.

And...(drumroll please) they have a gigantic cheese section, with gourmet cheeses at a reasonable price! My current favorite is the reduced fat smoked gouda.

Here are some of my favorite products, for those with easy access and ready to give the store a try:
1) Sweet Potato Frites (frozen section) - frozen sweet potato fries, easy to bake in the oven with no oil, and somehow, still come out crunchy.
2) Pomegranate Blueberry Sherbet - newer item, fresh and delicious, right in time for summer.
3) Pizza Dough - Traditional, Whole Wheat, or Herb varieties...all good!
4) Fresh Ricotta Cheese - in a little green container, I could eat it straight with a spoon.
5) Pita Bite Crackers - pair with your favorite cheese.
6) Valencia Peanut Butter w/Roasted Flaxseeds - very crunchy, with just the right amount of salty-sweetness.
7) Meatless Meatballs - I really only eat fish these days, so these give me my protein fill and taste delicious.
8) Low Fat Tuscano Marinara Sauce - dare I say the best store bought spaghetti sauce. G is not a big fan of red sauce, and he loves it.
9) Tandori Naan (frozen section) - pop em in the toaster oven and you're good to go.
10) Low Fat Shredded Mozzerella Cheese and Low Fat Shredded Mexican Blend - sometimes, low fat cheeses may taste alright, but do not melt well. These cheeses taste great and melt just fine. People won't know the difference.

Most of the TJ's in NJ cannot sell beer, wine, and liquor, which is truly unfortunate. The exception is the store in Westfield, and I heard a rumor that the one in Princeton may be adding a liquor section. Frequent these locations for the "Three Buck Chuck" (Two Buck in California, but who's counting).

Check it out, I promise you will not be disappointed. Bonus points for bringing your own reuseable grocery bags: most locations hold a Trader Joe's gift card raffle when you BYO :)

http://traderjoes.com/