Good morning – and Happy Earth Day!
I’ve been thinking recently about things I can do for the planet and the environment and I thought today would be a good day to share them and kick off my initiatives!
- Use re-usable bags for grocery shopping. I really do feel horrible using so many plastic bags at the the store. We do re-use them in my house (trash liners, Ben uses them for lunch bags, etc) but still – a re-usable bag is only $.77 at the store – this is a no brainer!
- Biking more to run errands. I’ve got a Target, two grocery stores and my gym all within a 10 minute bike ride. This summer is the summer of bike errands!
- Recycling more. Ben and I are just really bad at this. Luckily, our city is giving out recycling bins the size of regular trash bins this summer, that you can literally put all recyclable materials into – they’re basically making recycling idiot proof!
To save the electricity it takes to cook my oatmeal, today I had raspberry-vanilla yogurt from AE Dairy with slivered almonds and four unsulfured, organic apricots. Perfectly light and refreshing!! I got semi hot during my walk this morning – so this was just what the doctor ordered!
So, did you ever have pork chops and applesauce growing up? Yeah me neither…however I know this is a “classic” combo – so I put a spin on the classic for lunch by making a pork chop and chopped apple salad! I saved half of my pork chop from last night, chopped up a crisp Braeburn apple and laid it over a bed of spinach and mixed greens. Mmmm, I just love savory and sweet combos! I also packed a 100 calorie pack of my “hot chocolate” cocoa roasted almonds 😀 Delish!
Oh also! My beautiful, smart, hilarious friend Natalie brought me the sweetest gift this weekend – Kashi bars!! She brought me one each of the pumpkin pie, dark chocolate coconut and chocolate raspberry bars – isn’t that the nicest thing ever!? I had the pumpkin pie bar immediately – omg, it was like eating a pumpkin pie blizzard – SO good. Then last night for dessert I had the dark chocolate coconut one – it was sooooo good too!! The variety that she gave me all have like a layer of delicious gooeyness on top that make them dessert like – but with not a lot of added sugar or calories. Love these – thanks LG!
So I’m leaving you with two questions today:
- Do you guys like eating “bars”? If so, do you like them as meal replacements, meal supplements or as a snack? I like bars like the Kashi ones for a quick and portion controlled dessert and I like Odawalla and Lara bars for a meal supplement or quick snack.
- Do you guys have any “earth friendly” habits you’d like to start incorporating into your lifestyle?
Stay green today! Don’t litter, conserve water and recycle! 😀
My husband and I recycle – though we should do a better job of it. There’s always the odd plastic item that gets thrown in the trash due to laziness. I also have a TON of reusable bags for grocery shopping but there are occasions when I forget them and feel so bad for getting plastic bags. I really have to get back on that.
However, we grow our vegetables in the summertime and are expanding our garden this year to grow even more, hardy winter vegetables like various squashes.
I also use a reusable water bottle at work and during workouts AND a reusable coffee cup for my tea. Oh, and I try to use more tupperware with my lunch, rather than loading up on plastic baggies (which I’m washing out to reuse when I do have to use them).
As for bars, I used to take them all the time, but lately I’m trying to eat more “whole” foods, so I really haven’t felt the urge to take any. I did get some Kashi ones the other day because I had a free coupon and I find that they’re nice to take when the husband and I are out for the day. However, I’ve grown to love the Lara bars because they contain less ingredients and just seem better for me.
Your breakfast looks delicious!
Hi there :). I just stumbled across your blog and I’ve just got to tell you that it’s a great one!
1) I used to eat bars in the states as snacks or the higher calorie ones as meals when I was running from class to class but since being abroad I’ve just got into the habit of eating whole foods since that’s all that is really available. Not sure if I’ll got back to bars, I guess I’ll have to see :).
2) Once I get home I’m breaking out my bike again… I’m going to try to drive as little as possible and then, of course, return to my vegetarian diet.
I LOVE bars..it’s an obsession really. I never eat them as meal replacements because they don’t fill me up for that long…I just like them! I love Clif bars…the white chocolate macadamia nut is fantastic. I also like Luna bars…especially the chocolate raspberry flavor. I’ve tried the pumpkin pie/dark chocolate coconut Kashi bars…love them as well. Generally, I try to look for bars with high fiber/protein content…low calorie. The Odwalla strawberry pomegranate is good …see…bar fanatic!
I LOVE bars too. I just recently started eating Larabars and I LOVE LOVE LOVE them. I need to have them more as a meal replacement than a snack though.
We use reusable bags when we go to the grocery store and we recycle, turn off the lights and keep the heat/ac as low as possible. We also try to take public transit as often as possible!!
I ride my bike to work during the summer, and don’t have a dishwasher so that saves some! I love ALL bars, z-bars are my fave for dessert/lighter cal, but I love the fullness of clif bars, zone bars, balance, esp if they’re chocolate 😀
I love Luna bars, although I’m getting a bit tired of them. I think I may switch over to Cliff bars for awhile. I don’t find them a good meal replacement, but they’re a nice snack.
I wish I could bike more. But in a suburb near busy streets, it’s really not safe. Unfortunately, I live just a bit too far from work to ride my bike there without adding 2-3 hours of travel time to my day.
OH yes to bringing your own bags to the grocery store! It is soo much easier, because you can stuff more in a bag too. No need for a grocery cart! I can’t wait to start biking.. once this snow is gone.
Just came across your blog and love it. I really need to work on biking places. I remember when I was a teenager (before I could drive) I was great at this, now it just seems quicker to jump in the car, and there is always the problem of carrying it home on my bike. However, I’m bringing my bike in for a tune up this week and I’m hoping to start biking more and hopefully incorporating it into errands.
Kristilyn: GOOD CALL on growing your own veggies. I’m going to try this summer!!!
Danielle: Thanks! Where are you located?
BethAnn: I’m starting to get into Cliff bars too…I just tried the chocolate brownie one this weekend – OMG!
Amber: I’m obsessed w/ Lara Bars too!
Carolinebee: Z bars rule – the honey graham one (I think that’s what it is??) is SO good!
Alison: I sympathize – if I didn’t have a trail conveniently near my house, I wouldn’t be able to ride around a lot of the suburbia either 😦
Sharon: Still snow? Where you at?
Kelly: I know, I hadn’t ridden a bike in years before this Spring. You seriously forget how FUN it is!
Thanks for the shout-out my love! Glad to hear you like the choc / coconut Kashi bars. I eat them for dessert instead of getting peanut M&Ms or Snickers out of the vending machine at work!! 🙂 Now, if I could only kick that Diet Pepsi habit! Miss you!
.,- that seems to be a great topic, i really love it ‘~.