To eat green does not mean to eat more green fruits and vegetables.  It simply means that we must consider where and  how our food is produced and how it comes to us.  It means eating in a manner that keeps us healthy, and the planet healthy.

Organic foods are healthier foods because they do not contain artificial substances.  Only natural fertilizers are used in the soil that produces the food.  No pesticides or herbicides are used during its growth.  The natural nutritional content may be the same as for similar food that has not been organically grown, however non-organic food has traces of toxic substances that can be dangerous to out health when consumed.  Growing non-organic food damages not only the soil but also the air and water into which traces of toxic pesticides and fertilizers pass.

One way we can obtain organic foods is to grow our own.  Even a small garden, properly tended, can produce a large part of the fruits and vegetables needed for the average family.  Start composting your kitchen waste and add this to your soil.   Get your friends interested in the possibility of eating better food, helping to control some of the pollutants in the environment, and getting some exercise into the bargain.  The stretching, bending, kneeling, digging, and carrying involved in gardening, provide one of the best workouts you can get.  Get help from your children.  There is a wealth of science to be learned in the process of planting, tending, and harvesting.  Preserve your excess for year round savings.  If you cannot raise food yourself, your computer will help you find organic farmer’s markets, and pick-yourself farms in your area.

Of course very few of us have the facilities to grow all our own food, but we should at least make an effort to find out what is in the food we purchase.  Read labels and if unfamiliar ingredients are listed, find out exactly what they are.  Artificial ingredients such as colors and flavors may cause severe reactions, in some individuals, such as indigestion, asthma, and migraines.  Also find out where food comes from, not merely where it has been packaged.   Try to find products that are raised or produced without cruelty to living things or the environment.

In eating green, we should be aware that products that travel long distances to reach us, are also adding to costs and air pollution in the form of carbon emissions.  Try to find similar products within your immediate area.  Of course we are not going to find the tropical treats and warm climate products we may have grown accustomed to, but perhaps we can treat them as just that, treats, and put our dollars and health into the hands of producers closer to us.  Products that come from far away lose some of their freshness and nutrients, as they spend longer in both transit and storage.

Mass produced foods are often cheaper than more healthy foods produced by small local growers and manufacturers.  Many people simply cannot afford the extra cost involved in buying organic foods.  This is understandable as the extra cost can be considerable.  Perhaps select a few.  If you investigate growing and production practices, you will find that some non-organic foods contain larger amounts of harmful ingredients while others much less.  In the production of some products cruelty may be involved.   Choose wisely.   Take care of yourself and the planet.  Everyone profits from the effort.