Author Archive | Jennie Lyon

5 Helpful Tips on Creating Healthy Eating Habits With Nutritious Foods

When it comes to eating healthy, there are a lot of misconceptions out there. For example, people think that they have to deprive themselves of all the foods they love in order to be healthy or that healthy eating is expensive and difficult. This simply isn’t true! In fact, by following a few simple tips, you can create healthy eating habits that include nutritious and delicious foods. Here are five helpful tips for getting started:

Make sure you’re getting enough protein:

Protein is an essential nutrient for our bodies, and it’s important to make sure we’re getting enough of it. Good protein sources include lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, beans, nuts, and seeds.

Protein not only helps to keep us feeling full and satisfied after meals, but it also plays a role in maintaining muscle mass and strength. So if you’re looking to create healthy eating habits that include nutritious foods, be sure to have plenty of protein-rich options in your diet.

As well as including protein-rich foods in your diet, it’s also important to choose quality over quantity when it comes to meat and poultry. Look for products labeled “lean” or “extra lean,” and focus on getting your protein from whole, unprocessed sources.

Incorporate plenty of fruits and vegetables:

Fruits and vegetables are packed with nutrients that are essential for good health, so it’s important to make sure they’re a part of your healthy eating habits. Aim to include various colors and types of fruits like fruit chaat with roasted peanuts in your diet, as each one offers its unique set of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

In addition to being nutritious, fruits and vegetables are also low in calories and high in fiber, making them great foods for weight loss or maintenance. So if you’re looking to create healthy eating habits that help you lose or maintain weight, be sure to fill up on plenty of produce.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to incorporating fruits and vegetables into your diet. You can enjoy them as part of a healthy breakfast, add them to a lunchtime salad or wrap, or include them in a hearty dinner recipe. And don’t forget about snacks! Fresh fruits and veggies make great snack options when you’re looking for something nutritious and satisfying.

Choose whole grains:

Whole grains are a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals and should be a part of any healthy diet. When choosing grain-based products, look for those made with 100% whole wheat or another whole grain. This means that the product contains all three parts of the grain — the bran, germ, and endosperm — which provides more fiber and nutrients than products made with refined grains.

Some examples of whole grain-based products include 100% whole wheat bread, oatmeal, brown rice, quinoa, and popcorn. These foods can easily be incorporated into your diet instead of their refined counterparts. For example, choose a 100% whole wheat sandwich on your next trip to the deli, or enjoy a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast instead of sugary cereal.

Limit processed and sugary foods:

Processed and sugary foods are often high in calories and low in nutrients, making them a less-than-ideal choice when it comes to healthy eating. So if you’re looking to create healthy eating habits, limiting your intake of these types of foods is essential.

When it comes to processed foods, try to choose items made with whole, natural ingredients. And if you crave something sweet, opt for a healthier alternative like fresh fruit or dark chocolate instead of candy or cake. By making these simple swaps, you can still enjoy the occasional indulgence while keeping your overall diet nutritious.

Drink plenty of water:

Water is essential for good health, and it’s important to ensure you’re getting enough of it daily. The recommended daily water intake is eight cups, but you may need more or less depending on your activity level, the climate you live in, and other factors.

In addition to drinking enough water daily, choosing quality over quantity is essential when it comes to your H20. For example, stick to filtered or bottled water instead of sugary beverages like soda or fruit juice, and avoid adding sugar or artificial sweeteners to your water. By making these simple changes, you can help improve your overall health and create healthy eating habits.

Following these six tips can help you create healthy eating habits that are both nutritious and sustainable. So, if you want to improve your diet, incorporate these suggestions into your routine. You can make a significant impact on your health by making small changes!

Eating Doesn’t Have To Damage The Planet

The food that you eat does not have to damage the planet that we live on. There is no reason for this to be the case, and if it is right now then you need to start making some changes. The world that we live in is precious, and we need to be doing everything in our power to take care of it. Even if it’s only small changes to start with, every little helps when it comes to the world. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you can do to change this, so keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

Go Vegetarian/Vegan

The first thing that we are going to recommend is that you go vegetarian or vegan. A lot of the food that we consume requires a lot of carbon, water, and greenhouse gas emissions. A vegan diet however is different and studies have shown that there is a significant reduction in these gasses when the vegan or vegetarian diet is followed by a group of people. While it might not seem like a lot, the gasses are a massive contributor to the fact that there is currently a hole in the ozone layer that cannot be repaired. 

Grow Your Own Food

One of the best things that you can do for yourself and for the planet is to grow your own food. Stay with us here, because the only reason that this sounds so awful to a lot of people is that we have become lazy about having things provided for us. It’s not the idea of growing and eating your own food that bothers you, it’s the fact that you have to put in the effort to make sure the food actually grows, rather than letting it die because you forgot to take care of it. But, how satisfying would it be to sit down to dinner and know that the oven roasted yellow squash came straight from your garden?

You don’t have to do it all straight away, you can start with one thing and work your way up. Just give it a go, as you never know, you might really enjoy it.

Sustainable Cooking Methods

The last thing that we want to mention is looking at sustainable cooking methods. This is going to include using as much of the product as possible to reduce waste, using eco-friendly cookware and so much more. You can learn more about this in another post, giving you plenty of ideas to try out in the future.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do in order to stop what you’re eating from damaging the planet. There is absolutely no reason that what we as humans are consuming needs to have a massive impact on the planet, but this is what’s happening right now. We wish you the very best of luck if you’re going to be making changes.

5 Sustainable Ways to Celebrate the 4th of July

The 4th of July weekend is here! It’s a weekend of reflection, celebration, and a great excuse for a BBQ!

There are many eco-friendly ways to make the holiday more sustainable. To get you started here are 5 quick tips to make your day of red, white, and blue a little more green.

#1: Think Reusable – Not Disposable

If you will be celebrating the 4th of July at home, choose reusable dinnerware instead of the disposable kind. It will only take a few minutes more to load them into the dishwasher and will save the environment a lot! Consider a great recyclable or compostable alternative if reusable simply isn’t an option.

#2: Get it from the Garden

The 4th of July is the perfect time to share the abundance of goodies from your garden with the neighbors. Instead of letting all of those zucchinis and cucumbers go to waste, invite your family and friends over for a vegetarian BBQ and encourage them to bring a vegetarian dish to share – skip the meat and the environment will smile.

#3: Entertain the Kids with Nature Crafts

You don’t have to purchase anything new to entertain the kiddos on the 4th of July, instead, encourage them to create their own to make their own recycled lava lamps, succulent gardens with paint-dipped dinosaurs, or organic pine cone bird feeders. These activities will keep them busy all day long! Other fun options include encouraging them to have a bicycle parade around the neighborhood or a watermelon eating contest.

#4: Use a Natural Bug Repellent

Nothing kills a fun time outside like the toxic smell of bug spray. Check out these natural ways to repel bugs and make your own natural bug spray. These options won’t make you, the environment, or your guests gag.

#5: Skip the Store-Bought Fireworks

Instead of purchasing fireworks that only last a few seconds and create pounds of toxic garbage – visit your local park or beach for the community firework show. They are going to shoot the fireworks off anyways, you may as well enjoy the show.

How will you add a little green to your 4th of July celebration? 

4 Eco-Friendly Home Improvement Projects

There are both major and small methods to make your home more sustainable, from establishing a compost bin to adding solar panels. Sustainable home upgrades can help you save energy while also reducing your impact and enhancing your health and wellbeing.

#1: Bring in Light Efficiency 

LED lights use up to 90% less energy than conventional bulbs. Pulling drapes over your windows during the summer can reduce the load on your air conditioner and help keep your house cool. Consider light colors when choosing curtains because they will reflect the most sunshine away from your property. However, keeping your home cold will consume less energy than keeping it illuminated (especially if you’re using energy-efficient light bulbs), even if you’ll probably need to use your home’s lights more frequently with curtains. 

Consider your climate when selecting where to install windows, how big they should be, and if you’ll want to cover them if you’re creating your own home.

#2: Fence panels and garden screens 

Fence and screen panels, on the other hand, are frequently overlooked. They define the limits of our property, fence our yard, and protect us. They should be regularly updated or maintained because they are a crucial component of the garden. A fence with openings where your child or pet could escape is not what you want. Contact a fence contractor if you need a complete project completed with your fences and want them professionally done. 

#3: Utilize recycled, reused, or salvaged materials

Reducing, reusing, and recycling should always be practiced when making improvements to a home. Renovations and new construction frequently produce a lot of needless garbage. Most of the time, there is a gap between the origin of the materials for your home and their eventual disposal. Many homeowners are unaware of the significant cost and waste reduction benefits of furnishing (or, in some circumstances, even building) a home with refurbished or salvaged materials.

Consider employing recycled materials while remodeling a room in your house, whether you’re installing new flooring, cabinets, doors, or something else. Wood, beams, doors, flooring, copper, and other repurposed or reclaimed materials are still structurally sound and are offered in quantities and at costs that may surprise you. The biggest barrier to this practice’s broad adoption is still the availability of reused materials.

#4: Get a Compost Bin Going 

Did you know that over 30% of what we throw away is made up of food leftovers and yard waste? Finding a means to reduce, reuse, or recycle this garbage might have a significant environmental impact given that the U.S. produces approximately 300 million tonnes of waste annually (almost 5 pounds per person each day). 

You can convert that trash into organic matter by starting a compost bin, which you can then add to the soil to aid plant growth. Composting enables you to prevent climate change one banana peel or old coffee grind at a time. Healthy soil is essential to halting climate change.

A Simple Guide to Conducting Eco-Friendly Renovations in Your Backyard

Making your backyard eco-friendly is a great way to enjoy the outdoors while doing your part to help preserve the environment. Whether you are looking to install a new deck, add a garden, or build a playset for your kids, there are many ways you can make your backyard renovation project more sustainable. This guide will discuss some simple tips for conducting eco-friendly renovations in your backyard. Let’s get started!

Use sustainable materials

When selecting materials for your backyard renovation project, be sure to choose eco-friendly and sustainably sourced materials. For example, instead of using pressure-treated lumber for your new deck, opt for a more natural wood option like cedar or redwood. You can also look for recycled plastic lumber made from recycled milk jugs and other plastic waste.

Incorporate native plants

Using native plants in your landscaping is a great way to create an eco-friendly backyard. Native plants are naturally found in your area and require less water, fertilizer, and maintenance than non-native species. Not only will this save you time and money, but it will also help to preserve local ecosystems. When planning your garden, select a variety of plant types to provide food and shelter for wildlife. You can also add a compost bin to help reduce waste and nourish your plants.

Use water wisely

Water is an essential resource, so it’s important to use it wisely when conducting backyard renovations. One way to do this is to install a rain barrel or cistern to collect runoff from your roof. This water can then water your plants or wash your car.

You can also reduce water waste by choosing drought-tolerant plants for your landscaping. These plants require less water and are better equipped to withstand periods of dry weather.

Consider solar power

Solar power is an excellent option if you are looking for ways to reduce your energy consumption. Solar panels can be used to generate electricity which can then be used to power lights, appliances, and other devices in your home. In addition, solar power is a renewable resource that doesn’t produce greenhouse gasses or other pollutants. It’s also relatively easy to install, making it an excellent option for eco-friendly backyard renovations.

Build a living fence:

Living fences are a great way to add privacy and beauty to your backyard while also helping the environment. A living fence in Japanese garden design is created by planting a row of trees or shrubs that will grow to form a natural barrier. Not only do living fences provide privacy and enhance the appearance of your property, but they also help improve air quality and provide habitat for wildlife.

When selecting plants for your living fence, be sure to choose native species that are well-suited to your climate. This will help ensure that your fence is low-maintenance and requires less water and fertilizer. You can also consider using fruit trees or other edible plants to create a living wall that provides food for you and the wildlife.

Many simple and effective ways to make your backyard renovation project more eco-friendly. Using sustainable materials, incorporating native plants, and using water wisely can help preserve the environment while creating a beautiful and functional backyard. So get started today and see how easy it is to go green!