Shopping... love it or hate it... it is an action in our daily lives
we where we can do some good for the planet.
Shopping, good for the planet?
Yes! You know the saying.... money makes the world go round...so, let's start spending it to make a positive
impact for the planet around the globe.
How so? Well,here are some things to consider...
When you buy fruits and vegetables think about how they were grown.
Conventional
agriculture depends on petroleum to make pesticides and other chemicals that cause cancer for humans and soil depletion.
That doesn't sound good, does it? Did you know? "The role of
organic agriculture, whether in farming, processing, distribution, or consumption, is to sustain and enhance the health of
ecosystems and organisms from the smallest in the soil to human beings."
How about those paper towels you love? If they are not made from post
consumer waste (PCW) content recycled paper your 30 second wipe came from a living tree and the process used to make it so
white released dioxins and mercury into the environment?
And
think of all the plastic and cardboard used for packaging!
All
right....Grab your reusable shopping bags and let's get shopping!
Aisle 1 Fruits and Veggies
Organic food is
always a healthier choice for the human body. When considering organic food from far away (such as grapes from Chile) and
its impact on the planet. Locally grown is always the better choice.
Important tip... Fruits and Veggies have little stickers on them called SKU's. Organic's SKU's always
begin with the number 9. Always! So, if it doesn't have the number 9 in the beginning it is not organic.
Certain food choices should always be organic. The Environmental Working Group
(www.ewg.org) has a great section called Food News where they list a guide of the foods that should be always purchased organic and those which can be conventional. They back
it up with studies-- happy reading!
Here is a list
of the most pesticide-contaminated produce also known as the Dirty Dozen"
apples
bell peppers
celery
cherries
imported grapes
nectarines
peaches
pears
potatoes
red
raspberries
spinach
Books
to explore:
What to Eat, Marian Nestle
Omnivore's Dilema, Michael Pollan
Pesticides, Marvin Levine
Aisle 2 Dairy
Organic Milk is often the first organic product consumers typically purchase.
Hence, it is known as a "gateway' product.
And thank heavens for that! Today's
conventional milk contains rBGH and rBST growth hormones of which studies have proven to be carcinogenic and linked to preteen
puberty. For more on growth hormones visit the Organic Consumer Association.
Need Butter or Cheese?
Go organic there too. Here is why: Residues (POP's) from herbicides and pesticides are found in the fatty tissues
of cows (and other animals including humans). Most dairy products have high concentration of fat and when you ingest them
you are the recipient of those unwanted chemical laced fats!
Eggs
Which came first the chicken or the egg? The incredible edible egg!
Who knows...
When shopping, this is what you need to know. Purchase only "Certified
Organic" eggs. This seal means the hens are fed organic feed, they are allowed access to the great outdoors (where they
actually see sunlight!) and they are regularily inspected so they follow the rules. All other certifications are highly suspicious
regarding how they care for their animals... a couple of words come to mind here -- cluttered coups! Animal Care and United
Egg Producers Certifications merely attests that companies give food and water to the hens.
Aisle 3 Seafood
Save yourself a lot of worrying here and stick with Wild Seafood. Avoid farm
raised fish and prawns as they are known to use additives,antibiotics and they create large areas of pollution. Farm raised
fish have higher levels of chemicals like PCB's, dioxin, and other cancer causing contaminants than found in wild fish. Farmed salmon have more antibiotics administered by weight than any other
form of livestock.
When
considering fish and the environment try to remember this... we are close to over fishing our seas. Fish should not be an
every day choice. Make sure your fish purchases are guided by these great lists Monterey Bay Aquarium www.seafoodchoices.com and www.seafoodwatch.org.
Aisle 4 Chicken
or Beef anyone?
Certified Organic
Aisle 5 Bottle or Glass? discuss virtues of recycling
Aisle 6 The Deep Freeze on Frozen Food -- discuss energy used
Aisle 7 Dinner from a jar? What's so bad about prepared foods?--food
additives, preservatives
Aisle 8 GMO's
and irradiation
Aisle 9 body care products and the
need for green chemistry
Aisle 10 Fair trade
Aisle 11 Teflon and BPAs
