Bonus tip!
1. Start an organic garden.
If you live in a home with a nice big backyard, this can be simple and easy. However, if your space is more limited, you are not out in the non-organic cold. Setting up a vertical garden takes a week or two, but can pay off in organic produce for years. And you can set one up either indoors or outdoors. A vertical garden uses tiers to grow plants from the floor up, rather than taking up a large horizontal footprint. Here are some good resources for learning more about vertical gardening:
Articles:
- Vertical Gardening – Better Homes and Gardens
- 19 Creative Ways to Plant a Vertical Garden – CountryLiving
- Vertical Gardening Tips – Mother Earth News
Books:
- Vertical Gardening for Beginners: How To Grow 40 Pounds of Organic Food in a 4×4 Space Without a Yard
- The Vertical Garden: From Nature to the City
- Vertical Gardening 101: How to Create Your Vertical Urban Garden And Grow Organic Fruits And Vegetables In A Small Space
Equipment:
2. Reduce or eliminate dairy products
Although it is a popular calcium source in the Western world, dairy cannot be properly digested by about 75 percent of the world’s population. This problem is called lactose intolerance and can lead to a lot of discomfort.
But it tastes so good — and is so prevalent in our food supply! What can you do?
Coconut or almond based ice cream is a fantastic way to indulge, without eating dairy. There are also a wide variety of non-dairy milks available on the market. I prefer almond milk, but you can also find soy milk, sunflower seed milk, coconut milk, hemp milk and more. Try them out and see which you prefer.
3. Buy free range eggs.
Alas, most organic eggs come from cooped up chickens fed organic produce. All that stres in the chickens’ lives affects the nutrition of the eggs. For true free range eggs, find a local farmer on localharvest.org.
4. Be aware of what labels mean.
“Organically made” is not the same as “Organic.” “Freely Traded” is not the same as “Free Trade.” Those former foods aren’t certified. Lack of certification can sometimes mean that corners are cut and loopholes are availed.
5. Choose oils wisely
Avoid cheap vegetable oils at all costs. They’re high in Omega-6 and very unhealthy. And, “canola” oil is made from modified rape seeds, so if you have certain allergies, this oil can be very bad for you.
Missed previous posts in this Organic Living series? Check them out here!
Take Charge of Your Health!
Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.
This Healthy Eating Worksheet will walk you through the process of creating a healthy eating plan. All you need to do is print it out, set aside some time to complete it, and then fill it out. Then you can create your plan, knowing that you have addressed potential obstacles and came up with some creative ways to handle them.
