Yummy Organic Tea

I just discovered a delicious new organic tea - Tazo's Organic Apple Red. It is an African red tea with a touch of apple, cinnamon, and caramel. It is caffeine free, so it is perfect for the cold nights we've been experiencing lately.

Tazo tea boxes are made from 55% post consumer recycled materials and are recyclable. For more information on Tazo's organic teas check out www.Tazo.com.

10 Reasons To Go Veg

Here are some great reasons why you should become a vegetarian:

1. A car driving vegetarian produces fewer CO2 emissions than a bike riding meat eater.

2. Cow farts contribute to global warming.

3. Pig farms pollute local water resources.

4. Rain forests are cut down to create grazing land for cattle.

5. It takes 35 calories of energy to make one calorie of meat.

6. Prevent animal cruelty in factory farms.

7. On average vegetarians live 6 years longer.

8. You’ll reduce your risk of food-borne illnesses.

9. Save money at the grocery store.

10. Pigs are much smarter than dogs, they have the mental capacities of a 3-year-old child.

Pretty Clean Thirteen

As food budgets continue to feel the pinch of the tough economy it is getting harder for some to purchase organic produce. There are many fruits and veggies with a low pesticide use due to their natural defenses against pests or they are grown in climates where pests are not as much of a problem. Here is a list of the pretty clean thirteen - foods you can save on by buying conventional:

1. Onions

2. Avocados

3. Sweet Corn

4. Pineapples

5. Mangoes

6. Asparagus

7. Sweet peas

8. Kiwi fruit

9. Bananas

10. Cabbage

11. Broccoli

12. Eggplant

13. Papayas

Happy National Farmers Market Week

Support your local farmers market this week in honor of National Farmers Market Week. Some benefits of shopping at your local farmers market:

1. Meet the people who grow the food you serve to your family and friends.

2. Connect with others in your community.

3. Help support local farmers and artisans.

4. Purchase fresh products at great prices.

5. Learn from farmers how to pick the best produce.

6. Cut your carbon footprint by purchasing food grown locally which is sold without excess packaging.

Do you love your local farmers market? Help them have a chance to win $5,000 by voting at http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket

Waste Free Lunches

Now that school is back in swing, it's time to look at your child's lunch box and it's impact on the environment. Many typical lunch boxes contain a lot of waste in the form of single serving packages, juice boxes, and plastic baggies. It has been estimated that on average a school-age child using a disposable lunch generates 67 pounds of waste per school year. That equates to 18,760 pounds of lunch waste for just one average-size elementary school. How can you pack a waste free lunch? Start with your lunch box - check out Laptop Lunch systems www.laptoplunches.com. The Laptop Lunches are a lunch system which feature great containers that all fit together to help you pack a healthy lunch. By using the container system, you can reduce the waste of single serving packages and can save money by buying in larger packages. Instead of putting your sandwich in a plastic baggie, check out Wrap-N-Mats a reusable sandwich wrap and placemat in one. Put your child's juice or water in a reusable stainless steel bottle instead of packing a plastic water bottle or juicebox.

Want to make a bigger impact on the environment? Check out ways to encourage your child's school or your workplace to go waste free at www.wastefreelunches.org

Greener Lunch Options

As back to school time approaches, be sure to make green choices for your kid's lunches this year. Using plastic bags for sandwiches and other lunchtime goodies can have a major impact on the environment. Plastic bags are the most dangerous type of litter found in the ocean, when they float on the surface they are mistaken for jellyfish and are ingested by sea turtles and other marine life.

So what are safer options? For sandwiches check out Wrap-N-Mat reusable sandwich wraps which double as placemats - www.wrap-n-mat.com For the other goodies, use reusable plastic containers, just make sure the plastics you choose are BPA free. For a great lunchbox system, check out Laptop Lunches www.laptoplunches.com the lunch system comes with containers that are lead, phthalate, and BPA free and they fit perfectly in the lunchbox - no more searching for a container that fits!. For drinks be sure to use a reusable stainless steel or aluminum bottle.

As far as greener choices for the lunch itself - be sure to pack healthy fruits and veggies from the farmers market or the organic section at the grocery store. Try making some delicious wraps made with whole wheat tortillas or even leftovers can make a delicious lunch.