1. Eat Locally. Last year my family took the St. Louis Food Challenge. We will do it again this year, too! We learned to cook using locally sourced foods and this meal, is one of the meals we made, using food grown within 50 miles of home. This saves carbon emissions and fuel costs, too.
2. Utilize your local Farmer's Market. The farmers are happy to tell you what they put into the ground, how they nurture the plants, when they picked the veggies in front of you. Can your local grocery do that?
3. Use everything on the plant! This recipe utilizes all parts of the radish plant that we purchased in the above photo. Delicious and we used up all of the plants.
4. Make items from scratch. When you use bulk ingredients, like flour, sugar and seasonings, you are saving the environment from the waste of pre-packaging. I do like to use my cake mixes but it is more environmentally sound to make it from scratch. My homemade limoncello is made from fresh lemons and is stored in a jug that is recycled every time a new batch is made.
5. Eat less meat. Eating more vegetables is good for you! Eating less meat has many health benefits for you, including less hormones in your diet. This recipe is so easy and delicious!
6. Using a slow cooker can be an energy saver for you and your body! Slow cooking, if using an energy efficient model, saves heating an oven and, many recipes incorporate the food into two meals! These slow cooker recipes will be delicious for you and your family throughout the year.
7. Brown bag lunches are fun, especially if you use your dinner leftovers. This delicious Indian food was inspired by the movie, The Lunchbox. So delicious and absolutely even better the next day! Brown bagging saves gas (going to lunch) and uses up leftovers.
8. Grow your own! This salad bowl provides lettuces for my family nearly all summer long! We use them in smoothies, on burgers, to make a small lunch salad, and as garnishes. Kids love to go to the salad bowl and pick their greens. It's a win win for everyone!
9. Reduce your food waste. According to the David Suzuki Foundation, over half of our food is wasted. This pesto recipe is made from the tops of radishes. Use all of the vegetable. Be resourceful and creative!
10. Reconsider your fast food. Many of the foods offered at fast food restaurants can be made at home quickly as well, saving a trip to the restaurant and not to mention the money saved! Give these homemade egg mcmuffins a try!
Try one of these tips to make a change in how your family approaches food. Even small steps are helpful and one might lead to another. Happy Earth Day to all! Check out these other Earth Day posts from great bloggers!
Top 10 DIY Recycled Toys from Our Whimsical Days
Top 10 Earth Day Printables for Kids from Living Life and Learning
Top 10 Cardboard Box Toys from Craftulate
Top Ten Upcycling Projects from Teach me Mommy
Top 10 Lorax Crafts & Activities for Earth Day from Sunny Day Family
Top 10 Earth Day Food Tips by Our Good Life
Top 10 Earth Day Fine Motor Skills Activities from Happy Brown House
Top 10 DIY Bird Feeders from Recyclables from The Resourceful Mama
Top 10 Upcycled Crafts for Earth Day from Play & Learn Every Day
Top 10 Earth Day Sensory Activities from Adventures of Adam
Top 10 Garden Markers for Earth Day by Playground Parkbench
Top 10 Earth Day Resources and Activities from Witty Hoots
We love the farmers' market, co-op and gardening :-) Actually, I need to get off the computer and dig out the rest of my garden beds so I can get my peas and spinach/kale in :-)
ReplyDeleteAll great tips! I use most of them already- except growing my own food. My last attempt was a big fail, but would love to try it again!
ReplyDeleteGreat share today. I already follow a couple but the farmer's markets here do not offer much in produce or food. great tips!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this time of year because we can finally go to farmers markets! Its so fresh and fun and love supporting local!
ReplyDeleteKaren | GlamKaren.com
We love that in California, we have lots of opportunity to eat locally. The markets on Saturday and Sunday are a favorite places to shop.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love farmers markets! And farms stands! I visit them as often as I can in the spring and summer!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips, thanks for sharing Pinning and tweeting,
ReplyDeleteFantastic reminders! We love the Farmer's Market- such a great way to buy healthy food and support local business!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad the slow cooker made the list. I have plans to use mine tomorrow. I try to use it once a week.
ReplyDeleteI love when I see chefs using the whole vegetable. I don't eat fast food so I got that one! And those sweet potato pancakes look so good.
ReplyDeleteWe love to plant a garden when the weather permits. Can't say enough how much I love fresh food from my backyard! We always save the tops of our veggies for our rabbit.
ReplyDeleteSo many great tips! I love homemade lemoncello! And your salad bowl looks like a great way to keep fresh greens available.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips. Like how you mention to eat less meat and use the whole plant. We feel like so much of the plant gets tossed.
ReplyDeleteOO! Everything looks so fresh and delish! I especially love how you remade the McDonald's egg mcmuffins.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I love radishes with a bit of butter and salt on a baguette! Thanks for the other great ideas
ReplyDeleteThese are all such good ideas! I think people forget to extend Earth Day to sustainable food practices!
ReplyDeleteI love the salad bowl idea, it is so cute and a different way to plant things together. We buy at the Farmers Markets often, they have one every weekend downtown and we can easily spend the day there.
ReplyDeleteThose are really all great tips and I try to utilize my famers market a lot more especially during the Spring/Summer. I however can't find myself eating less meat, I know it's better for me but I just love my meat. :)
ReplyDeleteLot's of great ideas for eating a little more "green" (and I'm not talking about kale!). I bet those home made egg muffins are even better than the fast food kind.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for eating locally and growing my own food. As for making my own fast food, it really depends on what it is. I fail at making Chinese at home, but I can make a pretty healthy version of it :)
ReplyDeleteI need to get more usage of my slow cooker! It definitely makes some of the most delicious meals.
ReplyDeleteI love, love the farmer's market....I feel like I have lost an arm when I do not have one near to me
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