A person's hand holding four radishes wrapped in a cloth is on the left side of the image. A wooden box filled with various green vegetables, including kale, asparagus, leeks, and Swiss chard, is in the center background.

Live Fully

Tips to help you on the path to a healthy you AND a healthy planet

Easy options for living green are more abundant than ever, but we still need to make choices every day to lessen our impact on the environment. Luckily, what’s better for the planet is often what is better for our bodies, making healthy decisions a better option for people and for planet. Whatever options you choose to enjoy this summer, keep in mind the greater health and wellbeing of yourself and our beautiful planet.

Go plastic straw free

The next time you’re out to lunch at your favorite local cafe ask them to hold the straw. According to National Geographic Americans use 500 million single-use, plastic straws in a single day. Sadly, many of those straws end up skipping the recycling bin and go straight into landfills or are improperly disposed of and end up on our beaches and in our oceans. Many companies have created alternatives to single-use plastic straws whether they’re stainless steel, paper, glass or reusable plastic, there are plenty of alternatives to adding to the plastic straw problem.

Organic, organic, organic

Choosing organic options is not only better for environmental health, but it’s also better for people. By supporting companies and stores that produce and sell organic products you’re taking a stand against artificial ingredients, chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and genetically modified foods. These choices are better for our soils, our lakes, ponds, streams, oceans, and specifically the people who grow and harvest the crops our foods are made of.

Bulk is better

Grab your favorite vessels and get to your local bulk bins! The delicious array of ingredients are often cheaper, save on waste, plus you control the amount you’re getting. Many grocery stores now offer bulk dispensers for products like coffee beans, rice and grains, oats, spices, nuts, nut butters, and even oils. That sounds like the beginnings of a delicious smoothie bowl to us!

Scale back on the AC this summer

We’re not suggesting anyone toy with heat stroke, but cranking the AC for months on end is not always necessary and it’s a huge factor in the battle against climate change. There are simple things you can do to keep your house or office cool throughout the warmer months that don’t involve turning on your air conditioning. -Keep blinds, curtains, and windows closed during the warmest part of the day. -Try avoiding using the oven or stove during hotter days. Opt for grilling outdoors and/or enjoy a delicious summer salad and fresh fruit instead. -Opening the windows at night when the temperatures have dropped a significant amount will help to cool off the house from the day’s heat. Close them again in the morning to capture the cooler air inside.

Carbon neutral commuting

Bike, walk, or run to work! Our communities are becoming more walkable and bikeable thanks to great organizations and city planning, but there is a long way to go before the US is known for it’s car-free commuting. Lead the charge and hope on your bike or get out that running pack for your morning commute. Chances are, it will beat sitting in traffic and get your work out out of the way first thing in the morning. Plus, riding bikes is FUN. Happy, healthy summer!

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