Make this month greener

Make this Month Even 'Greener'!

Live Healthy. Live Happy. Make a Difference!
Badr Bakry
Copyright © Badr Bakry 2009

Some ideas to make this month even 'greener'!

(Badr's text is in black. My comments are in green.)

Turn off you TV. For this whole month.

Now that Saving Grace is over for the season, and True Blood, Mad Men, Monk, and Psych will soon end, I can turn off my TV most days. I cancelled Showtime, even though it pains me to not watch Dexter. I don’t get premium channels or DVR on my bedroom TV anymore, and I really don’t watch much TV in there anyway. I’d rather read or work on the computer or sleep. I keep saying my ultimate goal is to cancel cable altogether, but I’m afraid my kids will launch a revolt.

Reduce the use of cell phones.

I’d be happier if I didn’t have one period. I only use it for my kids, and the occasional random person call. I don’t like being that connected. But I also don’t like being limited by minutes or texts or any of that. Most of the time it’s at the bottom of my purse, so I tend to miss calls. It’s easier to call me at work or at home.

In fact, I’d like it if my cell phone wasn’t a phone at all. Talking on it is the last thing I do with it! I use it for RSS, calendar, notes, web, text, camera, and if I hold it under the light in the right way, a mirror!

Be informed and learn about the issues in our environment, and know your options.

I would like to attend a discussion on health care reform. I know where the big pieces sort of fit in this picture, but I would like to hear a more practical implementation strategy at the local level.

Eat more greens and whole, unprocessed foods, fruits and vegetables.

There is always romaine in my fridge. I love salads. Usually spinach too. I do my best to shop the “outside” of the grocery store. Actually, there’s a great local market down the street from me, Krieger’s. I buy almost all my produce there. They have a nice supply of vegan/vegetarian items as well. I’ve made fruit salads a couple of times, but we didn’t really eat much of it. Dunno why…it was tasty.

Eat meat, eggs and dairy from grass-fed animals.

I'm transitioning to a meatless diet. Once upon a time, I was a vegetarian, but that was a while ago. I'm really not a big meat eater. Most meals don't have meat or much of it. My daughter has been a veghead for almost two years. My son however, probably bleeds bacon grease. Well, it's really f-acon (turkey bacon), also known as edible paper IMO.

Shop for meats guaranteed to come from animals that have not been given any hormones or antibiotics.

I know Krieger’s buys from local vendors, but I’m not sure where they stand with organic/free range/grassfed meats.

Shop local food and produce, go to the farmers market.

I’m going to a farmer’s market this weekend!

I’m also trying to break up with Wal.M.art. I live right across the street from one, so it’s really hard not to go there when I need poster board or milk at 8:00 at night. I comparison shop and I know for many of the taxable items I buy, they have the lowest prices. I try to use my membership at a local wholesale club (which is not owned by Wally), but sometimes it just can’t be avoided. When you have other people to take care of, convenience becomes a commodity. My time is money!

Make your food colorful and attractive.

I’m not a bad cook. I’m still learning new, healthier and creative ways to prepare meals, and I definitely like it when my friends and family compliment me on a meal.

Read labels carefully. If you don’t understand it, don’t buy it.

Check!

Eat slowly and chew your food.

Duh.

Buy less food this month.

Not possible with the boy in the house.

Avoid all sugar products.

Working on it. Iced tea is a fav. There are a lot of Stevia-ia products out there, Truvia, etc. Don’t think they are budget friendly.

Avoid all refined carbohydrates.

I found a blog on making your own hamburger buns. Seems pretty easy and straight forward..gonna try that this month too. (I'll add the link when I find it!)

I don’t buy sliced bread anymore. I’m trying to get into making wraps, but I haven’t completely transitioned. Right now, the kids get school lunches (gasp). I just can’t beat the convenience factor. I hate making lunches. That’s so lazy, but I do.

Avoid all refined sweeteners, such as sugar, dextrose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup and fruit juices.

I cut all that out a while ago. I don’t buy any juice at all except orange juice.

Avoid all hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats and oils.

Check!

Avoid all refined liquid vegetable oils made from soy, corn, safflower, canola or cottonseed, and all processed oils and hydrogenated oils.

Check!

Avoid all fried food.

Most of the time. The boy likes my fried chicken, so once or twice a month I cook it for him. Once in a while, I will fry potatoes (greasy yummy heaven), but that’s it! I have a stovetop grill, a toaster oven

Avoid drinking the poison called SODA pop.

Even though I have a case a pop and drank one yesterday, I don’t really like it. I only buy it for gatherings, but from now on, I quit!

Stop using microwaves.
I use it less frequently. I never prepare meat or defrost anything in it. Most of the time we use the toaster oven when we can. I also hate those microwave lunches/meals! Even though those are uber-convenient, I don’t like the taste or the way the foods look. The only micromeal I do like are the Tabatchnick soups. The Balsamic Tomato & Rice Soup is yummy!

Car pool to work or take the bus.

I would love to take the bus. But there are no routes from my apartment to my job. Even though I work only 9 miles away, there is no safe bike path either. I would have to cross over a highway on a narrow shoulder, so that ain’t happen! Someone might think I look like Michelle Obama from the back and try to run me down!

Stop smoking.

Don’t smoke anyway! Check!

Avoid using make-up, it causes skin cancer and many other skin problems.

Hmm, Badr. Make-up causes cancer? That’s a first. I usually wear mascara, powder and lip gloss. That’s not so much. On the weekends, I usually don’t bother. I like to play with make-up; it’s fun to put on, but I don’t like wearing too much because I touch my face a lot and end up with smudges everywhere.

Walk at least 20 minutes everyday.

I really need to do this. Really really do.

Give something every day of this month, an advice, a smile, a gift, listen to someone...

I think I do this anyway. Some days I think I do too much of it. But I guess it comes with the territory. Besides, it could be worse. I recall someone once telling me what it was like to go through the day without any physical contact from another person. No acknowledgment of his existence, except as a fleeting customer or bus passenger. He had no one who cared about him or depended on him for anything. I think about that when I think of my parents, who each live alone and each have significant health issues. Days when I think I can’t bear to have a conversation about mundane activities like what I made for dinner or what the kids are up to, I realize for my folks, these accounts are the highlights of their days. I get and give hugs and kisses every day. That’s a beautiful thing. I do my best to share it, even if it is over the phone.

Volunteer work.

I’ve been checking out a few places, but I haven’t done much more than that. I’d like to volunteer at a retirement community, but I don’t really know where one is down here.

Plant a tree or a small garden.

Since my last attempt at gardening failed miserably, I think I will try container gardening. One day.

Recycle and buy recycled paper products.

I stopped buying paper towels a year ago. The kids thought it was weird, but now they’re used to it. I use washable rags instead. When they get gross, I throw them out! Simple!

I carry big purses, so if I’m running errands, I tell the cashier I don’t need a bag. Or I’ll grab the trendy grocery bags from the trunk of my car. It’s much easier to carry them up and down the stairs.

Think positive thoughts and practice forgiveness.

Check! The last few weeks I’ve rekindled my relationship with my father. I love him and missed him dearly. But forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting. We won’t have the type of relationship I’d like, but it will be a functional one. I think he also now understands that I have boundaries that cannot be crossed. I’m hoping for the best, and recognizing my own weaknesses in this process.

(Whew! I didn’t see wine on the list!)