Food & Entertaining

Valentine's Day – Think Outside The (Chocolate) Box

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be all about love, thoughtfulness, and maybe a few decadent treats. But did you know what’s really involved in getting some of the traditional Valentine’s Day gifts to your loved one? It’s not always so rosy. This year, Do Your Part as you send flowers, prepare dinner, or even deliver the sweetest of gifts.

The Flower Delivery

Be informed before you buy that traditional Valentine’s bouquet. Many imported roses can actually contain 50% more pesticides than what’s legally allowed on food in this country. My best advice is to look for retailers who are committed to selling safer flowers. Those selling VeriFlora certified ones meet strict environmental standards. There are other certifications that will give you peace of mind including ones from the Rainforest Alliance and EcoBlooms. And don’t forget how far flowers usually travel only to last a few days. Opting for flowers grown at local nurseries will help cut down on the resources need to ship and store them. Also, potted plants you buy are usually grown locally and will last a whole lot longer than cut flowers. Many can be transplanted outdoors to last for years!

The Dinner and Drinks

Why not show your Valentine you really care by making a thoughtful dinner from scratch? Seeking out organic and locally grown fruits, vegetables, and meats are good for you and the planet. You can visit a farmer’s market for inspiration or even the local section at your favorite supermarket. Adding a delicious local wine is also a nice touch as are a few candles. Instead of traditional petroleum-based candles, light soy or beeswax ones. They won’t pollute the indoor air as you enjoy your meal.

The Dessert

Dessert is always my favorite part of a Valentine’s Day dinner. Whether you are making a decadent chocolate dessert or shopping for that perfect box of candy, know what you are really eating. If you go for organic chocolate, your treats will taste even better because you’ll know that the cocoa beans were grown without any synthetic chemicals, which is better for you, the environment, and the farmers who grow them. If you want to go one step further when it comes to protecting farmers, look for chocolates marked ‘fair trade’, which ensures that those in the field have safe working conditions and were given a fair wage.

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Not All Cookware Is Created Equal

There are lots of reasons to cook at home – everything from trying out a friend’s fabulous dessert to serving up your family’s favorite meal. Most times, it’s enjoyable to cook and usually a whole lot healthier and affordable than eating out. But here’s the thing. Do you know how safe the cookware you use is? It may not be as harmless as you think. Do Your Part to find out how your cookware choice can impact you and your family.

Keep in mind that not all cookware is created equal. To begin with, there is ongoing controversy about certain pans that are designed to be non-stick. Their coating can actually leach a chemical known as perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA when exposed to high heats and especially if scratched. PFOA has been linked to cancer and birth defects. This cookware can also release PTFE which is polytetrafluoroethylene which can actually release toxic fumes known to create health problems for animals. And there’s another important reason to avoid traditional non-stick cookware. It doesn’t break down in our environment.

If non-stick is a must have in your home, there are more safer options than ever. You can now find specifically PFOA-free and PTFE-free cookware in many home goods stores. Most are made to be non-stick by using ceramic and silicone. They come in all shapes and sizes and all price ranges. Earth Pan, Starfrit, and Green Pan are all good options. One word of warning, many chefs suggest avoiding the use of metal instruments on them because it can easily scratch the cookware’s surfaces.

It’s also good to know that safer cookware options are oftentimes much less expensive than those non-stick pots and pans. For general cooking, cast iron pieces are perfect. A standard cast iron skillet is not only durable, it can enhance the flavors of what you are cooking. And, get this – it’ll probably only set you back about ten bucks. Cast iron is beloved by chefs and don’t contain any toxic chemicals.

Other safe bets are are stainless steel and glass cookware. You won’t have to worry about toxic fumes being released while you cook. And, these days, you can even shop for some glass dishes made from recycled materials.

Taking a little extra time when cooking up your favorite dishes will mean you’re cooking up a meal that’s a whole lot healthier. Remember, you can Do Your Part when deciding what to make and how to cook it. Isn’t that a delicious recipe?

Additional Info:

EPA info on PFOA and PTFE

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Best Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to BPA

What are the chances you are buying and bringing BPA right into your own home? Probably pretty good and there is reason to be concerned.  BPA is linked to everything from developmental problems to infertility. Do Your Part and reduce your exposure today.

BPA can be found in plastic food containers.  Any time you buy foods or liquids in plastic check the bottom. Avoid plastic marked number 7 because it usually contains BPA.

Another way BPA gets into your house is in canned goods.  The chemical is used in the liner of the cans and can  actually leach from the liner into the food itself.  Seek out cans labeled “BPA-free” or choose food items packaged in safer materials.

Glass and ceramics are safer materials.  Use them to heat up foods in the microwave to avoid any risk of BPA leaching into your foods.

Many baby bottles and pacifiers used to be made with BPA. Now, many manufacturers have changed this but it’s still important to look for baby products labeled BPA-free.

And, be careful how you handle certain store receipts. BPA shows up on receipts printed on thermal paper. If you can make an outline with your nail..it probably has BPA on it.

And don’t forget about those reusable water bottles. You want those to be BPA-Free too.  bottom line? Reducing BPA exposure is an important way to create a healthier home for you and your family. Do Your Part to make sure it doesn’t contaminate your food, your body, or our planet.

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Do Your Part: Don't Waste Food Scraps

I consider myself a pretty good gardener, a common sense “greenie”, and a person who does her best to reduce, reuse, and recycle. But, there’s something I must admit. For years now, I’ve resisted composting. It just seemed a bit too difficult and bit too time consuming. That’s all changed. And, if I can make it work, you can too. Let me help you Do Your Part to keep food scraps out of the garbage and turn them into something quite valuable.

Sitting on my kitchen counter right now is a cute, white composting pail I received from a good friend for Christmas. It has become one of my all-time favorite presents although the thoughtful gift giver doesn’t believe me. Anyway, having this pail right near the kitchen sink makes it downright difficult for me to “justify” scraping plates off in the trash or into the disposal.

Here’s the thing. Those little bits of food we so easily trash ultimately account for about a third of the garbage we send to the landfill. This is not only wasteful; it’s also bad for the planet. When bacteria in the landfill eat this type of organic waste, methane is produced, which is another powerful climate altering, greenhouse gas.

Composting your food scraps should not be complicated. In fact, over-thinking the process has been my problem in the past. And there isn’t only one way to make compost. You can designate a corner of your yard to a compost pile, you can buy a compost bin (available in a multitude of shapes and sizes), or you can even find electric units, which turn out a batch of compost every three weeks or so. Pick the system that’s best for you and you’re on your way to whipping up nutritious food for your plants and garden. And the best part is that this newly made fertilizer is absolutely free!

The key to any good composting system is to keep a balance of green and brown. Green waste is rich in nitrogen and can include most of your food waste and lawn clippings. The brown is carbon-rich items like branches, dried leaves, coffee filters, eggshells, or sawdust. It’s important to remember to have a little more carbon than nitrogen. Every so often, give it a stir to help the decomposition process. The one thing you don’t want to do is put meat or dairy products in an outdoor compost pile because it could attract animals.

When the compost is ready, use it to feed your garden plants, lawn, shrubs and trees.  And, as you’re spreading it all out, you will Do Your Part to keep all that food waste from truly going to waste.

Additional Resources:
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Concentrated Juices Will Save Money and Resources

Does your family go through several cartons of juice each month or dozens of juice boxes? The problem is that both can create a lot of waste. Instead, Do Your Part and buy concentrated juice.  You’ll create less trash and you’ll even save some money.

Concentrated juices simply mean that the water has been taken out. Then, you rehydrate it at home by adding a few cans of water.
So, one can can produce the same amount of juice as a much larger jug of juice. The concentrated varieties also take less energy to store and ship because they arrive without all the extra water.  And, its packaging is easily recyclable.

It’s also more economical. You’ll save about a nickel on ounce.  And that adds up.  If someone in your home drinks 12 ounces of juice a day – you’ll save more than 200 dollars a year. You’ll save even more if you swap out juice boxes for concentrated juice you can put into a reusable container. If your child uses one of these a day, you’ll save more than a hundred dollars a year. Plus, juice boxes a tricky to recycle and will be tossed into the trash at most schools.

Do Your Part when shopping for juice. You can go easy on the planet and your wallet by making a few better choices.

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Pocket Guide to Safer Produce

During the winter months, much of the produce we purchase at the grocery store is imported from thousands of miles away and usually is not organic. The Organic Center claims that certain pieces of imported produce actually contains up to three times the amount of pesticides as produce grown in America. Click here for the organization’s pocket guide that you can print out and keep handy for safer food shopping.

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Keep Clean 15 In Mind When Shopping For Produce

There’s a whole lot of talk these days about what organic foods shoppers should buy. It can be confusing to figure out what’s the best bang for your buck and what’s also the healthiest options. Do Your Part and get to know the Clean 15.

The Clean 15 is a list of the specific fruits and vegetables that have been tested to have the lowest levels of pesticide residue after having been grown on a conventional farm. The ‘Clean 15’ includes onions, avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, mangoes, sweet peas, asparagus, kiwi fruit, cabbage, eggplant, cantaloupe, watermelon, grapefruit, sweet potatoes, and sweet onions.

The reason these fruits and vegetables are free of many pesticides is because they naturally absorb less of the chemicals during the growing process.

The Environmental Working Group conducted the testing and has an online guide to get more information. They also have a free smart phone app that’s helpful on the go.

Pesticide-free produce is clearly better for you and your family. Now you can stretch those organic dollars wisely by knowing which organic options are better for you and your wallet.

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Use All Of That Carved Pumpkin

With Halloween coming up, many of you will be carving a pumpkin or two but many times we simply throw out the pulp and seeds that we scoop out of the pumpkin. Of course you can roast the seeds to make a healthy snack or cook the pulp down to use in a recipe but here’s another use for this scooped out treasure. Use it on your face! Pumpkin is rich in anti-oxidants and beta-carotene plus it’s loaded with vitamins A, C and E. The same vitamins that are found in many expensive skin care lines. When you make a simple mask from pumpkin you’ll be creating less waste, you’ll save money and it’s good for your skin.

It’s super simple. Just put the scooped out pumpkin into a food processor. You can add a few seeds for extra exfoliating power. Rub the pumpkin on your face and neck and let it set for 10 to 15 minutes and then rinse. You will be amazed at how good your skin feels afterwards. You can store any remaining mask in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

So this Halloween, Do Your Part and treat yourself by putting the entire pumpkin to use.

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A Greener Cup of Coffee

Are you someone who enjoys that morning cup of coffee? You’ll enjoy it even more if you Do Your Part to seek out fair trade and organic coffees.

Besides looking for your favorite flavor – look at the labels to find out how the coffee is cultivated and produced. Seeking out organic coffees is important. Look for the USDA organic seal and you’ll know that your coffee bean was grown without pesticides that pollute our land and water. This also means the farmers working that land and the people living in the surrounding communities won’t come into contact with those toxic chemicals either.

Another important label is one that says ‘fair trade’. This ensures that those working to produce your coffee are paid a fair price and are working in good conditions.

And here’s one last thing to look for; if you can, seek out shade-grown coffees. This means the valuable land used to grow the coffee wasn’t clear cut which means the natural habitat for birds and other animals remains intact.

Do Your Part as you enjoy your cup of joe knowing that you picked the perfect blend for you and the planet.

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Make Ahead Meals

There’s no need to make homemade dinners from scratch every night or resort to ordering out. Instead, whip up some ‘make ahead meals.’ It’s one way to Do Your Part to eat better, conserve energy, and save some money all at the same time.

Here’s what I do:  when I’m making a dish that would freeze well…I simply make a double batch. Casseroles, soups, and pasta sauces and the like all work perfectly. So, when I make if I make a double batch of meat sauce, I can either make spaghetti one day next week or use it a lasagna another time.

Freezing dinners doesn’t just save you time – it can save you money. If chicken, beef, or organic produce is on sale at the grocery store, you can create two good meals for a whole lot less than you normally would spend. Making double batches also means you’ll use less overall energy. Plus, you’ll know exactly what ingredients are in them…and the things that are left out – like preservatives.

When freezing foods, make sure they are put in air tight containers to avoid freezer burn. Most meals can stay in your freezer for up to three months.  Mark them with the date so you use the oldest first.

With just a little planning, you can easily work some make ahead meals into your weekly routine. It’s another way to Do Your Part while enjoying a home cooked meal.

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