Five Simple Steps for Going Green

Is the environmental problem a hoax perpetuated by wealth-seeking lobbyists or a real and unnerving issue? Time will tell, but one thing is certain: we all need to play our part in protecting this earth for ourselves and our children. I have asked myself many times how I can participate in the solution. Many families are on tight budgets and the thought of spending more money on environmentally-friendly products is a bit daunting. Our family is "going green" in the following ways.

1) Purchase re-usable grocery shopping bags.
Most families do some sort of shopping 2-3 times per week. An atrocious number of plastic bags are being dumped into landfills each day. Forests are being decimated to manufacture paper bags. An investment of $10 will get you 10 canvas shopping bags that you can use any time you visit a grocery store, mall, or convenience store. Trader Joe's and Wal-Mart both carry these reusable bags for $1.00 each. Bonus: Keep in your car for extra storage or transporting wet or dirty baby clothes.

2) Invest in stainless-steel drinkware.
Stainless steel water bottles and cups are available through many online retailers. By eliminating plastic water bottle usage, you cut down on the literal tons of plastic waste that takes decades to decompose. A good stainless steel water bottle will cost around $20 (Kleenkanteen.com), but keep your eyes open: I have found 20 oz. stainless steel bottles at Wal-Mart for only $4.88- and they came in fun summer colors! Bonus: you will protect your body from biophosphynols, which are a known cancer-causing agent found in plastic water bottles.