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In the movie Food, Inc., there is a scene of a family going through a fast-food drive-thru, spending somewhere around $12 for a meal for the four of them. The family laments that, even though they know that the food they get through the car window is causing major health problems, the fast food is cheap, and, well, fast. It’s what they can afford, and what they have time for. The family is busy and doesn’t have time to cook.

The next scene shows the family shopping in a supermarket, demonstrating just how high the costs of fresh produce are, to prove that families are priced out of healthy eating. But how cheap is this fast food, really? Setting aside the related costs of the health problems that come from eating a diet heavy on fast food, purely in dollars, how much does it really save to eat through the drive-thru? (continue reading…)

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We all want to live an organic, green lifestyle. But we might find ourselves discouraged sometimes because the price of organic food, cleaners and other household items can seem costly and prohibitive. It’s true. If you switch from shopping at Wal-Mart to Whole Foods, your grocery bill will skyrocket and your spending money may disappear. That’s why Whole Foods has received the nickname, “Whole Paycheck.”

But, there are ways to live organic on a budget. The tips and tricks on the list below will help you keep your bills from ballooning, while still achieving the organic lifestyle you desire. (continue reading…)

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Hamburger Helper and similar boxed meal kits are convenient, but leave something to be desired in the area of nutrition.  They usually use white-flour pastas and a string of additives in the flavorings, and can contain up to half of an adult’s recommended daily allowance of sodium in a single serving.  Plus, they tend to be scant on the vegetables.

By making your own dinner kits, you can control the sodium content and eliminate synthetic preservatives.  Plus, you can slip in a serving or two of vegetables into each portion and save some money over the premade, preservative-laden commercial dinner kits.  Dehydrated vegetables, which are easy to make at home and very economical when the vegetables are in season or purchased at a farmer’s market, are an easy way to incorporate vegetables into the meals with no extra prep time after work. Make a few of these dinner kits up ahead of time for quick, no-effort dinners on busy nights. Precook and portion out the meat for even easier weeknight prep. (continue reading…)

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Being “green” minded is about being careful with resources. Money counts as a resource too! Far too often we hear the excuse that natural products are expensive. Eating well doesn’t have to be expensive. Finding ways to incorporate and innovate will reduce food waste and save tons of carbon and cash. And here’s the trick: you don’t have to be a kitchen whiz to stretch your organic food budget further.

Bread Ends Two Ways

Hoagie rolls, French bread, and the heels of sandwich bread always seem to have odd bits left behind. Bread pudding is delicious and easy. The same egg mixture used for French toast can be stirred through mixed bread cubes and baked for a no-fuss pudding. Adding walnuts and dried fruit kicks it up. Want a savory salvage? Make croutons! Seriously. Slice bread leftovers into cubes or rounds and toss with olive oil and seasoning and bake to crisp. Lemon Pepper seasoning makes tangy croutons for summer salads. Mixed Italian blend herbs or any herb blend you have a surplus of will work splendidly. (continue reading…)

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Times are tough financially right now: we’re feeling the extra strain on our wallets. But is your energy meter feeling the strain, too? You could be wasting unnecessary energy (and money!) around the home. Fortunately, some simple tips can help you become more energy-efficient, save money and benefit the environment, too.

Problems With Energy Production

Most electricity comes from power plants, which use coal and oil. Coal generates 49.7 percent of the electricity used in the U.S. (1). Oil and other fossil fuels, made of plants and animals that died millions of years ago, are also used in producing energy. (continue reading…)

©iStockphoto.com - redmal

It is important to provide a healthy environment from whole grains, a rainbow of fresh fruit and veggies, organic food and non toxic cleaners. Unfortunately, with these tough economic times, buying organic is harder. Here are ten hints for saving money on organic and healthy foods when money is tight:

• Always check your weekly store sales ads for organic produce and products.You will often find sections dedicated to organic products. With increasing demand for healthy organic products, stores want to draw people in. Many stores post their weekly sales ads online. Compare all the ads and special offers, planning your meals around the best value items. (continue reading…)
  

©iStockphoto.com - David H. Lewis

If you are a book lover like me, chances are that your book collection is out of control. I have three bookshelves in my house filled to double capacity, a car-sized stack of cardboard boxes in storage in my poor mother’s basement, and an addiction to used book sales that even the best support group (Bookworms Anonymous?) wouldn’t be able to shake. Most of the time, I’m fine with this state of things. After all, there is always a book or 30 to keep me company in the bathtub, and frankly, I like having millions of words worth of knowledge and entertainment just a few steps away.

Last year, though, I began the process of going green, and really took to heart the concept of treading more lightly on the earth. Facing a big move to a new place, I began recycling or freecycling all my unnecessary possessions, and found that not only did I get a cleaner house for my trouble, I got a lighter conscience, too. Soon it became apparent to me that, if others could get good use out of my old DVD/VCR combo, why couldn’t they get good use out of my old books, too? So I searched around on the internet for the best ways to contribute to a sustainable world when buying, selling, and trading old books. (continue reading…)