GREEN! It makes perfect sense that I’m sitting here on St. Patrick’s Day reading a friend’s new book, Green Enough: Eat Better, Live Cleaner, Be Happier (All Without Driving Your Family Crazy!) by Leah Segedie. As you know from the recipes I share here, I’m totally in to eating lean, clean and green. In addition to taking charge of my health, I also care about the environment I live in and its people – I attribute most of these leanings to the upbringing of my tree-hugging, humanitarian mom.   

But sometimes all of the hot-topic “green” issues can become confusing, there is so much information to process. And, it can sometimes seem crazy impossible to implement with the busy lifestyle I . . . we . . .  lead. But, founder of Mamavation.com Leah Segedie’s new book Green Enough makes it easy to understand and implement. If you want to learn how to live better, eat better and raise healthier kids without a lot of stress, read on – I’m sharing 10 Easy Ways You Can Be Green Enough Now!

Again, let me say how much I totally appreciate the straight-forward but slightly irreverent approach that Leah takes in her book, Green Enough. And, I think she and I both agree on the approach that you do the best you can (meaning, you’ll NEVER be perfect), and then just chill out. A bunch of small incremental changes in living greener can compound into big, lasting results. Anything, anything at all, that you do to live better, eat cleaner and be more mindful of the planet counts. Here are 10 Easy Ways You Can Be Green Enough Now! 

1. Support Organic. Support the organic food industry whenever possible and to the extent that your budget allows. Organic food is better for you because it is free of pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals that can-do harm to your body and the environment. About a year ago, I was shocked to learned 99% of organic food sold in the USA is IMPORTED. By supporting the organic industry, you also help improve the supply, strengthen to distribution chain and ultimately reduce costs. You can read my post on it HERE.
2. Avoid Anything Artificial. Avoid any food label that says “Artificial Coloring” or “Artificial Flavoring” – as Leah says, these words might as well just say “chemical shitstorm”.
3. Ditch Soda. Switch from soda to water. Regular soda is loaded up with things we should be avoiding like high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavorings and all sorts of weird chemicals. While diet soda may not have the negatives from sugar, it is a concoction of even more chemicals and some research says that it ironically contributes to obesity (by feeding the need for sweets and/or overeating). In addition, did you know the cans soda is packaged in are lined in BPA, synthetic compound used in plastic that can have health consequences such as infertility, heart disease and more.
4. Feed Your Family the “Holy Trinity”: Leah calls protein plus whole grains plus dark leafy greens the holy trinity of meal time and I couldn’t go wrong. These whole foods provide energy and balanced nutrients to keep your family healthy and happy. There are plenty of yummy recipes and meal ideas in Green Enough or you can check out some of mine including Black Eyed Pea Grain Bowl or Shaved Asparagus, Pea & Spinach Salad with Quinoa (in a glass jar) .
5. Take Stock in Food Storage: Bad chemicals, like BPAs, can sneak into your food from the packaging they are surrounded in – either store bought or containers you are using for food storage from home. Step away as fast as you can from Styrofoam and most plastic bags and containers. Instead, go for glass containers to store your food in the safest way.
6. Dial Down Faux Fragrances: The air in your house doesn’t need to smell like a sea breeze or lemon fresh (unless it’s from a bowl of REAL lemons). Those fake fragrances in home cleaning products are filled with endocrine-disrupting chemicals – err, that’s bad.
7. Reduce Indoor Air Pollutants: Open a window and/or use a HEPA air filter to reduce common allergens like mold, pollen and pet dander. Also, did you know certain plants like Boston ferns, English ivy, spider plants, can help to offset toxic chemicals released by furniture, paint, glue and such offenders inside your home? So, get that GREEN thumb in action.
8. Leave Shoes at Door: If you wear your shoes all over the house, not only will you be tracking in dirt, but also all sorts of biological and synthetic yuck – including fecal matter.
9. Make Homemade Cleaners: When you take your finger off the chemical-loaded trigger bottle, it’s healthier for your body and the environment. In addition, you can save a lot of money with DIY cleaners and Leah shares how in her book Green Enough.
10. Get Greener Grooming: When possible, look for grooming and beauty products that are free of synthetic ingredients that can leech into your body and cause problems down the road. I love Leah’s recipe for DIY Deodorant (only 4 natural ingredients) and I’m sporting it right now.

Use glass containers for food storage.

If these 10 Easy Ways You Can Be Green Enough Now (that have touched on living cleaner, eating better, going greener and being happier) have piqued your interest, I strongly encourage you to pre-order her book Green Enough: Eat Better, Live Cleaner, Be Happier (All Without Driving Your Family Crazy!). which is packed with SO MUCH MORE information. The book launches on March 20, 2018, digital and hard copy are available HERE!

There is also a Green Enough book launch TWITTER PARTY at @Mamavation with hashtag #GreenEnough on Tuesday, March 20th at 6-7:30pm PDT / 9-10:30pm EDT. It will be a lively and informative event – with PRIZES!

What are your tips for eating better, living cleaner and being happier? Has it been easy to get your family on board? What are the biggest struggles? Please share in the comments, XOXO, Jennifer