Topic: eco-friendly-living

6 Things You Should Never Buy (And Their Fast, Healthy Alternatives)

In the era of convenience, people will buy pre-packaged, processed versions of just about anything. Soup, beans, and even pasta come in cans, sandwiches come from the freezer aisle–and manufacturers are making a killing, because the mark-up on a lot of these products is astronomical. Unfortunately, a lot of convenience foods and other household items are not only expensive, they’re also way less healthy than making them yourself. But there’s good news–it’s not nearly as hard to save money (and your health) by doing it yourself. More »

7 Cool Reasons To Use Eco-Friendly Mason Jars For Everything

Earlier today, The Kitchn featured a product called the Cuppow, which is a rubbery lid that goes over Mason and other glass jars to make sipping from them easier. And while the video and images from Cuppow’s website look like they were ripped straight from a popular website with a dirty word in its name, the fact is that this article reminded me that jars are really actually quite awesome, highly eco-friendly, and not, as you may believe, relegated to hipsters. You can even trick them out with a lot of free or inexpensive stuff. So c’mon. Give jars a chance. More »

Why Vaseline Is Bad For You, And What You Should Use Instead

Vaseline is the panacea of winter skin problems, but lately rumor has it that petroleum jelly is bad. But why? I know some of it has to do with the environment: Petroleum comes from the same place as gasoline, so it’s not exactly “green” beauty. But it’s not just the eco-friendly who shun petroleum; there’s also concern for the bad things it can do to your skin and body. Just don’t ask anyone why—it’s surprisingly tough to find out what’s so bad about petroleum jelly. So I asked around and found some straightforward answers, as well as some ways to make sure your winter skin isn’t left in the lurch. More »

My No-Shampoo Experiment Is Over…And I Still Don’t Want To Use Shampoo

50 days ago, I briefly joined the no-shampoo movement as an experiment. And while I received some dirty looks when I told my friends and family, it was a shockingly clean and grease-free period, which was predetermined to end in the New Year. And so, yesterday I revisited the soapy stuff and, I won’t lie, there were a few things I missed about lathering up–but I don’t think I’ll be making a habit of it. Shampoo and I haven’t broken up completely, but we’re definitely moving toward a “just friends” relationship. More »

Healthy Holidays: Don’t Forget To Recycle Your Christmas Tree

While you’re rounding up yesterday’s unwanted gifts (like a scale or a Thighmaster, perhaps?) for Boxing Day and preparing to get back on track with your workouts, don’t forget to do a little Googling about where, in your town, you can recycle that eco-friendly, real Christmas tree you sprung for. Tree-recycling varies from city to city, but the outcome is the same no matter where you are: a healthier planet in 2012. More »

Healthy Giving: Last-Minute, Eco-Friendly Hostess Gifts

If your weekend got away from you, you may not have had quite enough time to pick up all of the last-minute gifts you’d been meaning to get…like something small and polite to give to the host or hostess of a holiday party you’ll be attending this week. Sure, in a pinch, you could grab a bottle of wine–like everyone else who forgot. Or, you could opt for something healthier and more eco-friendly, that delivers a more heartfelt message. More »

Poinsettias: Not Actually Toxic, But May Increase Your Carbon Footprint

There are some holiday myths, like the one about no one wanting a fruit cake, that persist because, let’s be honest, they’re kind of rooted in truth. But others, like that poinsettias, the ubiquitous red potted flower that’s become as traditional as icicle lights and evergreens, are ultra deadly and poisonous that are just that: myths. Poinsettias aren’t actually bad if accidentally consumed by kids (or even pets)–but they may be bad for the planet if you’re buying one of the millions that will be shipped into the US from other countries each year. More »

I Just Can’t Get Behind Reusable Menstrual Pads

With the DIY movement going strong, crafty women have started making just about everything themselves, which delights my green, tree-hugging heart. But it’s time I came clean on the sustainable something I just can’t do. I admit it: I’m the worst body-positive, eco-friendly-living-espousing feminist of all time. Because, despite my best efforts, I cannot make myself be OK with reusable menstrual pads. More »

This Year, I Want Donations Instead Of Gifts. Sorry Everybody

Next to “yadda, yadda, yadda” and Festivus, the lampooning of giving donations to charitable organizations like the fictional Human Fund (slogan: “Money for People”) as gifts is one Seinfeld‘s greatest gifts to popular culture. Unfortunately, it also makes people who don’t want actual stuff (like this guy) for the holidays feel like self-conscious, pious jerks. But this year, I really don’t need any more things, and there really are organizations and funds that I want to give to. I’m sorry if this makes people uncomfortable, and you may feel free to judge as you please. But hear me out first. More »

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Simple Steps To Green Your Holiday Cards

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas with every Christmas card you write, stop. Because while sending and receiving non-recycled paper cards in the mail is heart-warming and traditional, it also contributes to epic amounts of pollution and waste. Instead of sending your seasonal sentiments out on single-use paper, consider adding a little green to your greetings, by going digital or choosing recycled, and recyclable, cardstock. More »

Week Three Without Shampoo: Asking Questions And Getting Answers

After wrapping up the third week of my no-shampoo experiment, I’m still seeing a lot of the same great hair perks that I saw in the initial two weeks: awesome body, strong strands, fewer fly-aways, and rapid growth that may or may not be because I ditched the stuff. But I’m also seeing a lot of something else: questions about the logistics of this experiment from readers who’d like to give it a shot themselves. More »

New Health-Based Review Sites Hold Restaurants Accountable For Their Food

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the struggle than many diet-conscious diners face when trying to find a restaurant. Sure, plenty of places get positive customer reviews on Yelp and similar websites, but these reviewers seldom answer health-related questions, like those about the sustainability and nutrition of the fare. But just because conventional restaurant review sites don’t cater to healthy eaters and concerned citizens doesn’t mean no one is–and restaurants are taking note. More »

Vegan Holiday Gifts: Cruelty-Free Alternatives To Wool

As the weather gets chilly, you may be looking to pick up a fuzzy new layer for yourself or someone you know. Unfortunately, wool and wool blends just aren’t for everyone, for a myriad of reasons–which you may not be privy to if you’re thinking up holiday gift ideas. And whether you’re a dyed-in-the-wool (pardon the pun) vegan who’d never support an industry that harms animals, or a person whose skin is sensitive to lanolin or wool itself, finding warm pieces that insulate like the real deal can be a tall order. More »

Week Two Without Shampoo: Bright, Shiny, and Defying Science

Here’s how much my mother loves the idea of me going shampoo-free: she made sure she’d stocked up on baking soda and vinegar for me when I stayed in her house over the Thanksgiving weekend, which happened to fall in the middle of my eco-friendly beauty experiment. More »

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