FOOD GUIDE TO GREEN LIVING

You don’t have to sacrifice taste or empty your wallet to eat in an environmentally-friendly way. Here are some ways you can keep your food choices green and your stomach satiated:

Ø  What's organic, exactly? The short answer: Organic food is food certified by the USDA as organic, and bearing the "USDA Organic" logo. What the logo means is that the food was:

o   Produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources, and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.

o   Produced without using most conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge, bioengineering, or ionizing radiation.

In addition, to be certified "organic," meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products must come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones.

Because the process of having a product certified as organic can be costly, however, many small-scale farmers are not certified but may still be organic. Asking questions at the farmer's market about what pesticides and herbicides they use can help you decide whether to trust if a food is organic or not.

"Natural" does not mean organic. Labels such as "free-range" and "hormone-free" also do not mean organic, but are useful indicators of healthier choices. Not sure whether you'll remember all this next time you go shopping? Download this handy wallet-size chart, which can help you determine what produce is safest.

Ø  Save the environment (and lots of money) by using a filter on your faucet to fill up reusable bottles, rather than buying cases of plastic bottles. Americans go through an incredible 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour, and most are not recycled. Furthermore, plastics are made from a mix of petroleum and chemicals that can transfer into the water. Using glass, stainless steel or aluminum with a non-toxic coating is a safer way to go (we like SIGG or Klean Kanteen water bottles), and a lot cheaper than shelling out a buck or two for water when you're thirsty on the go.

Ø  Buying locally produced goods (including food, clothing, toys and beauty products) cuts down on wasted fuel and resources, since most of the products you see in the "big box" stores are imported or transported quite a long way from where they were produced. So look for local products at your neighborhood co-op or farmer’s market, and at independently owned shops that support local clothing designers and merchants. A tip: Try to eat only fruits and vegetables that are in season. If produce is out of season in your area, then it was almost certainly imported from somewhere far away—which means that eating strawberries in December also eats up fuel resources.

Ø  Many of the fish in our oceans are on the verge of extinction, and many more are polluted with toxins, such as mercury from coal-fired power plants. Download a quick reference guide to healthy, sustainable fish choices at www.seafoodwatch.org.

Ø  Packaging material accounts for about a third of the trash that is thrown away in the United States, and the trend in disposables (pre-packaged meals, single-serving meals, meals in trays, snacks in trays, cookies packed in single-serving portions...) means even more waste. Instead, buy items in bulk, and choose reusable containers for products like shampoo, honey, maple syrup, coffee beans, cereals, grains, nuts and pastas. You'll find that you can save a lot of money this way, too.

Ø  Whether you’re giving it as a gift or enjoying it yourself, the best libation is one that's made of ingredients grown without herbicides or pesticides. Look for wines that are low in sulfites and include organic grapes, beer made with organically grown hops and barley, and vodka made from organic rye. Also be sure to ask your local wine merchant about "unlabeled" or "uncertified” organic wines—some vintners in other regions of the world have never used chemical pesticides on their grapes at all, but do not label their wines "organic" even though they meet the standards.

Ø  GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are foods that have had their genetic makeup directly altered by humans. Studies have not been conducted on the long-term effects of GMOs, and the Food and Drug Administration does not require food labels to divulge when GMOs are used. Corn, rapeseed, cotton and soy are among the most popular GMO crops, with as many as 35% of all corn-based products sold in America coming from GMO seeds. The best way to avoid GMO foods in your diet is to buy organically grown food. To find out what foods contain GMO ingredients, research brands online at TrueFoodNow.org.

Ø  Avoid over-packaged food products in general, and know what methods of food packaging are best: Food packaging made from glass, metal or paper is the easiest to recycle. Shop for foods packaged in materials that have been recycled once (look for the recycling label) and are made to be easily recycled again. Avoid polystyrene packaging since there are virtually no places in the country that recycle it, despite the recycling logo. Finally, know what types of plastics (1 – 7) are recycled in your area, and try not to buy products packaged in anything else.

Ø  Shop for "Fair Trade Certified" coffee, chocolate, sugar, wine, fruit and tea. Fair Trade products ensure that the farmers in developing nations get a fair price for their crops and good conditions under which to work. This process of certification helps guarantee freedom of association, prohibits forced child labor, and preserves agricultural traditions by keeping farming profitable, especially for small-scale and family farmers. Look for the Fair Trade logo when buying these products.

Ø  The best way to know you are getting healthy food and products is to educate yourself about certifying labels managed by government or third-party organizations, including USDA Organic, Green Seal, and Fair Trade. It’s important to know the differences and what to look for, especially because many states have their own labels. Visit Eco-Labels.org for information on different types of labels.

Ø  A CSA is an easy and rewarding way to support sustainable farming in your community. CSA members pay a yearly fee for weekly deliveries of locally grown, organic produce, milk, eggs, coffee and flowers. CSAs allow farmers to grow food without worrying about whether there will be a market for their products at harvest time, which helps them hold on to their land and make a living. Find a CSA near you by searching LocalHarvest.org.