Green Food

900 Calories (45% of daily value) 54 Grams of Fat (84% of daily value) 570 mg of Cholesterol (190% of daily value) 1840 mg of Sodium (76% of daily value) Based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

The dailies? You know -- milk, bread, eggs -- the dailies. These are the things you eat that you find yourself running out each week (or each day) to purchase. Now, you spend a lot of money on these purchases because of their purchasing frequency, so its important that something worth so much money is chosen carefully.

And it's not just about money; because we all do it several times a day, eating green is perhaps the most impactful single act we engage in. Those dailies we mention above all have very specific impacts -- from where the cows graze before supplying your milk, to how near your home your bread is baked.

Of course, it isn't quite that simple; there are myriad factors throughout the entire life cycle of all your food and its inputs that affect its relative impact. So, how do you navigate all of these choices? Read on.

Top Green Eating Tips

1. Indulge in the Big O
   When you eat organic, don’t just picture the healthy food you are putting in your body, picture the healthy ecosystems which produced that food, the workers who are safer from chemicals, the land, water, and air that is being protected, and the wildlife that is being allowed to thrive. Organic vegetables, fruits, grains, juice, eggs, and meat , are grown and processed in ways that support healthy people and a healthy planet. (While you may not be able to find or afford organic options for everything you need, certain fruits and vegetables are more pesticidy than others.)
2. Compost the leftovers
   Greening your meals isn’t just about the food that winds up on the plate—it’s the entire process, the whole lifecycle shebang. Composting leftovers will ease the burden on the landfill, give you great soil, and keep your kitchen waste basket from smelling. Apartment dwellers and yardless wonders can do it too! And yes, a composting toilet can be part of the miraculous cycle as well. (see below for more resources)
3. Grow your own
   In the garden, in the greenhouse, in the window box, or something fancier. Even urbanites can get quite a bit of good eats from not much space.
4. Just enough
   Put some extra planning into the amount of food you cook will cut back on waste. If it’s something that will spoil quickly, try to avoid making more than you or your family can eat. If you’ve got extra, make a friend happy with a home cooked surprise.
5. Eat it Raw
   Many people swear by the benefits of eating raw. Whatever the health advantages may be, preparing raw food consumes less energy and because raw food is usually fresh by definition, it is more likely to be locally grown.